Rheumatology News and Research

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Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatologists mainly deal with clinical problems involving joints, soft tissues and allied conditions of connective tissues.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs modestly reduce risk of acute coronary syndrome

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor drugs (commonly called Anti-TNFs) modestly reduce the risk of acute coronary syndrome, such as heart attacks and angina, in rheumatoid arthritis patients whose inflammation places them at higher risk of developing coronary heart disease, according to new research findings presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in San Diego.

28 Oct 2013

Rituximab drug may be safe, effective for immunoglobulin G4-related disease treatment

Rituximab (Rituxan) — a drug commonly used rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly Wegener's), and certain types of cancers — may be a safe and effective treatment for immunoglobulin G4-related disease (commonly called IgG4-RD), according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in San Diego.

28 Oct 2013

Patellofemoral knee brace can improve pain, bone marrow lesions in knee osteoarthritis patients

Use of a patellofemoral knee brace can improve pain symptoms and bone marrow lesions in patients with a type of osteoarthritis of the knee, according to new research findings presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in San Diego.

28 Oct 2013

Two aggressive therapy approaches effective for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who receive early, aggressive therapy with a combination of medications achieve clinical inactive disease status faster than they would with less aggressive therapy, according to new research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in San Diego.

28 Oct 2013

Patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis more likely to have heart problems

People with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic inflammatory conditions are at higher risk of heart disease. Who is in the most danger, why and how best to prevent and detect cardiovascular complications are important questions for physicians and researchers.

28 Oct 2013

Lupus disparities: Young, black women have highest rate of developing lupus

Young, black women have the highest rate of developing lupus and are most likely to be diagnosed at a younger age than whites and during childbearing years, according to a new University of Michigan study of lupus in Southeastern Michigan.

25 Oct 2013

FDA to phase out all inhaler medical products containing CFCs by Dec. 31

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will complete its phase-out of all inhaler medical products containing chlorofluorocarbons by Dec. 31, 2013. This effort is to comply with an international treaty to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the worldwide production of numerous substances, including CFCs, which contribute to ozone depletion.

24 Oct 2013

FDA approves SC formulation of Genentech's Actemra for rheumatoid arthritis

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a subcutaneous formulation of Actemra (tocilizumab) for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have used one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate, that did not provide enough relief.

22 Oct 2013

Interventions needed to boost hypertension diagnosis in young adults

Diagnosis of hypertension is often delayed in young adults, even if they make regular use of primary healthcare, report researchers.

21 Oct 2013

Phase 2b study of JAK3 inhibitor VX-509 shows improvement in people with active RA

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced 12-week results from an ongoing Phase 2b study of VX-509, an investigational oral, selective Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) inhibitor, dosed once or twice daily in people with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) taking methotrexate

19 Oct 2013

FDA approves Cimzia for treatment of adults with active ankylosing spondylitis

UCB announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) for the treatment of adults with active ankylosing spondylitis.

18 Oct 2013

Blood pressure reduction supported for early-stage kidney disease

Blood pressure reduction per se, rather than the particular antihypertensive used, reduces the risk for cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease, shows a meta-analysis published in BMJ.

14 Oct 2013

FDA approves OTREXUP injection for adults with RA, children with active pJIA

Antares Pharma, Inc. today announced the approval of OTREXUP (methotrexate) injection by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. OTREXUP is the first FDA approved subcutaneous methotrexate for once weekly self-administration with an easy-to-use, single dose, disposable auto injector.

14 Oct 2013

Key findings may have broad implications for future scleroderma therapy

The Scleroderma Research Foundation today said that researchers at The Johns Hopkins University working in a novel mouse model of Stiff Skin Syndrome have made key discoveries that may have broad implications for future scleroderma therapy.

10 Oct 2013

Retirement a sticking point for antihypertensive adherence

Patients’ adherence to their antihypertensive medication may decline when they retire from work, a study shows.

8 Oct 2013

New classification criteria for systemic sclerosis published in ACR journal

New classification criteria for systemic sclerosis have just been published and are more sensitive than the 1980 criteria, enabling earlier identification and treatment of this disabling autoimmune disease.

3 Oct 2013

Gout increases risk of heart attack and stroke

New research published in this month’s Rheumatology journal has found that having gout doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke. The research tracked the health of more than 205,000 gout patients using data spanning five decades to determine links between gout and heart attack and stroke.

3 Oct 2013

Data from Flexion Therapeutics' FX006 Phase 2b trial for OA to be presented at ACR/ARHP meeing

Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that new data from a Phase 2b dose-ranging trial of the company's lead compound, FX006, in osteoarthritis has been accepted for an oral presentation at the 2013 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology and the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals.

2 Oct 2013

Canada should start screening 'Baby Boomers' for hepatitis C virus infection, say liver specialists

Canada should begin screening 'Baby Boomers' for the hepatitis C virus infection, since this age group is likely the largest group to have the illness, and most don't know they have it, say a group of liver specialists in the Toronto Western Hospital Francis Family Liver Clinic. Unlike many other chronic viral infections, early treatment makes hepatitis C curable.

1 Oct 2013

Central BP achieves the same with less

Using central, rather than brachial, blood pressure (BP) to guide treatment decisions results in patients with hypertension being given less medication, show results from a randomized trial.

30 Sep 2013