Arthritis/Rheumatic Disease
Physician-authored summaries and comments on the latest research in rheumatic diseases, with special attention to arthritis, drawn from across the Journal Watch specialities. Sign up now for monthly e-mail alerts on new content.
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
New Drug Holds Some Promise for Treatment-Failure Gout
- December 18, 2008
- Deborah M. DeMarco, MD
- General Medicine
IV pegloticase every 2 to 4 weeks effectively controlled uric acid levels, but the incidence of adverse events was high.
- Reviewing:
- Arthritis Rheum 2008 Sep
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Reducing GI Risks from Antiplatelet and NSAID Therapy
- November 21, 2008
- Aaron E. Bair, MD, MSc, FAAEM, FACEP
- Emergency Medicine
Consensus recommendations from the ACC, AHA, and ACG
- Reviewing:
- Circulation 2008 Oct 28
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Lupus Patients Are at Risk for Vitamin D Deficiency
- October 24, 2008
- Craig A. Elmets, MD
- Dermatology
Disease in these patients flares with sun exposure, but photoprotection can produce vitamin D deficiency.
- Reviewing:
- Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2008 Oct
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
IL-18: A Novel Cytokine Is Implicated in Cutaneous Lupus
- October 24, 2008
- Craig A. Elmets, MD
- Dermatology
Interleukin-18 influenced an elevated inflammatory response in the keratinocytes of patients with CLE.
- Reviewing:
- Arthritis Rheum 2008 Oct
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Statins Might Benefit Digital Ulcerations and Raynaud Phenomenon
- October 17, 2008
- Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
- Dermatology
These relatively inexpensive agents hold promise for resolving digital ulcers in sclerosis-related Raynaud phenomenon.
- Reviewing:
- J Rheumatol 2008 Sep
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
More Results from a Study of Glucosamine and Chondroitin
- October 16, 2008
- Allan S. Brett, MD
- General Medicine
Radiographic data show no benefit of glucosamine or chondroitin for attenuating joint space narrowing. Interview
- Reviewing:
- Arthritis Rheum 2008 Oct
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Marketing, Disguised as Research
- October 9, 2008
- Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
- General Medicine
Seeding studies are trials that are funded entirely by drug manufacturers for the primary purpose of exposing physicians to new drugs.
- Reviewing:
- Ann Intern Med 2008 Aug 19
DRUG WATCH
TNF-
Blockers and Invasive Fungal Infections
- September 10, 2008
- Lynn L. Estes, PharmD
- Infectious Diseases
A boxed warning regarding the risk for invasive fungal infections must be added to the prescribing information for tumor necrosis factor– blockers.
- Reviewing:
- 2008 Sep 4
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
TNF Antagonists for Treatment of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- September 25, 2008
- Deborah M. DeMarco, MD
- General Medicine
In children, adalimumab with or without methotrexate reduced disease activity and number of flares.
- Reviewing:
- N Engl J Med 2008 Aug 21
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Meniscal Damage on Knee MRI in the General PopulationFree
- September 18, 2008
- Allan S. Brett, MD
- General Medicine
Only about one third of people with meniscal damage reported knee pain, aching, or stiffness. CME
- Reviewing:
- N Engl J Med 2008 Sep 11
