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Arthritis

News, opinions and meeting coverage in rheumatology.

Infection Risk Seen as Minimal With Denosumab

No increased risk whether administered alone or with DMARDs.

Preterm Birth Common for RA Mothers

Risk for preterm birth was 1.5 times higher with maternal RA.

Novel Marker May Spot RA Early

This marker may differentiate between RA and OA.

Shingles Risks Similar for the RA Biologics

The risk of developing herpes zoster was similar among older patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with the various different biologic agents, a retrospective study found.

Make the Diagnosis: Why Did This Toddler Stop Walking?

Case Study: A fourteen-month-old boy had abruptly stopped bearing weight on his left lower extremity. Parents reported no history of trauma to the limb, but the boy鈥檚 medical history included undescended testes. On presentation, the patient had a fever of 100.4掳F, which rose to 101.5掳F He held his left leg externally rotated and flexed at the hip and refused to extend or bear weight on the limb or crawl. The left hip was tender, but without any palpable masses. He showed minimal signs of discomfort with passive rotation and axial loading. The passive range of motion of the hip showed limitations in extension and adduction.

Zorvolex for OA Approved by FDA

The FDA today approved a new low-dose formulation of diclofenac (Zorvolex) for the treatment of osteoarthritis pain, manufacturer Iroko Pharmaceuticals announced.

Minor Changes in Kidney Function With RA Drug

Slight increases in serum creatinine levels were seen in a small number of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with tofacitinib (Xeljanz) in phase III trials, but the clinical significance of the finding is uncertain.

Smoking Worsens Psoriatic Arthritis

Patients with psoriatic arthritis who smoke have worse patient-reported disease features at baseline and don't respond as well as nonsmokers to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment, a Danish study found.

Arthritis Knee Pain Eased by Chinese Med

The traditional Chinese medicine practice of moxibustion was effective in reducing pain and improving function among patients with knee osteoarthritis, a randomized clinical trial found.

Orencia Combo Tops in Early, Severe RA

PARIS -- In a study of patients with poor-prognosis early rheumatoid arthritis, more patients treated with abatacept (Orencia) plus methotrexate were in remission at 1 year than were those on methotrexate alone, a researcher reported here.

How To Tell Fake Neck Pain From Real: The Pain Medicine News Report

A regular update on what鈥檚 new in surgery from our friends at Pain Medicine News.

Vaccines and Biologics: Questions Remain

Vaccinations for patients with autoimmune diseases -- specifically patients being treated with biologics -- bring with them a variety of issues, including disease-specific, medication-related, and vaccine-associated factors, researchers suggested.

Shingle Risk High in Lupus, RA, COPD

Patients with autoimmune diseases and certain other chronic conditions are at increased risk for herpes zoster, a U.K. case-control study found.

Humira No Help for Arthritic Hands

Treatment of hand osteoarthritis with adalimumab (Humira) was unsuccessful, a randomized multicenter trial found.

RA Patients Living a Decade Longer

LIVERPOOL -- Life expectancy among patients with rheumatoid arthritis has increased dramatically over the past 25 years, a researcher reported here.

Rheuminations: Blame the Pain on the Rain?

Do your arthritis patients complain that their symptoms are influenced by the cold and wet weather? There's plenty of support for this, including a new study out of the Netherlands seeking to quantify this link and examine contributing factors.

A Cure for Chlamydia Arthritis?

Increased understanding of the biology and survival tactics of Chlamydia trachomatis is suggesting that the post-infectious chronic arthritis experienced by many patients may actually be curable.

Top News in Rheumatology: Epstein-Barr and Autoimmunity

Epstein-Barr virus and autoimmunity topped a busy week in rheumatology followed by a study linking smoking and RA and the recall of an arthritis supplement.

High IgG Signals Autoimmunity in Kids

High levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in children -- and particularly girls -- were associated with the development of autoimmune disease, researchers found.

FDA Panel Nixes Humira for Spinal Arthritis

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- An independent panel of FDA advisers overwhelmingly rejected AbbVie's bid to gain approval of Humira (adalimumab) for treatment of spinal arthritis.

Abortion Rate No Higher in Women on RA Drug

Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) being treated with methotrexate had no increase in the rate of induced abortions despite the drug's known teratogenicity, a case-control study showed.

Model Predicts MRSA in Septic Arthritis

CHICAGO -- A model that included easily obtainable values early in treatment successfully ruled out most cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in children with septic arthritis, researchers found.

Enbrel Best Buy Among Anti-TNFs

LAS VEGAS -- The tumor necrosis factor inhibitor etanercept (Enbrel) was more cost-effective for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis than were two other biologic agents in this class, a budget impact analysis found.

TB No Barrier to Anti-TNF Treatment

WASHINGTON -- Patients being treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors who develop tuberculosis may safely reinstitute their biologic before completing the lengthy TB treatment regimen, a retrospective study suggested.

Enbrel Best for RA If Taken Over Long Term

WASHINGTON -- Most rheumatoid arthritis patients who achieve a state of low disease activity taking etanercept (Enbrel) fare better if they remain on therapy, even if only at a lower dose, a researcher reported here.

Anatomy of an Epidemic: The Opioid Movie

The national clamor over abuse of prescription opioids is now at a fever pitch, but little has been said about what drove the boon in opioid prescriptions. This latest report from 麻豆传媒/ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analyzes a pivotal Oxycontin marketing video, it's impact and its aftermath.

50-Year-Olds Get New Knees in Record Numbers

During the past three decades there has been a dramatic increase in knee replacement surgeries, particularly among individuals in their 50s, a Finnish study found.

ACR: Enbrel May Be Enough for Some RA Patients

CHICAGO -- Monotherapy with etanercept (Enbrel) can keep some rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in long-term remission, researchers said here.

Knee Pain Eased With Combo Treatment

Combination treatment using ibuprofen plus acetaminophen provided better relief of chronic knee pain than acetaminophen alone -- but at the cost of increased side effects, a British randomized study found.

Lab Notes: Red Wine Before Radiation and Red Clover for Hair Loss

Red is the color of the day, as components of red wine and red clover lead this week's Lab Notes, but the blues get their turn in the spotlight, too, as depressed people outshine cheerier folks in some elements of decision making.

AAOS: Arthritis Common Career Killer for GIs

SAN DIEGO -- Osteoarthritis is the most common reason for discharge from the military following battlefield injuries, according to a cohort study conducted by U.S. Army doctors.

Oral Prednisolone and Naproxen (Aleve) Equal for Gout Pain

NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands, May 29 -- For the acute pain of monoarticular gout over four days, it's a tossup between oral prednisolone and naproxen (Aleve), a randomized trial found.

Gabapentin (Neurontin) Eases Chronic Pain in Fibromyalgia

CINCINNATI -- For treating the chronic pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia, the anticonvulsant gabapentin (Neurontin) proved safe and effective, researchers here reported.

After Meniscectomy, Thigh Muscle Weakness Impairs Knee Function

MALM脙鈥�, Sweden -- Four years after surgery to repair a non-traumatic meniscus tear, loss of muscle strength in the quadriceps left patients with a painful, unstable knee prone to future osteoarthritis, researchers here reported.

FDA Approves Rituxan for Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis

ROCKVILLE, Md. - The FDA today approved Rituxan (rituximab) for use in combination with methotrexate to treat moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis that has not responded to traditional treatments.

Short-Term Use of High-Dose Ibuprofen Linked to GI Bleeding

HAMILTON, Ontario - Taking high doses of Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) even for a few days can significantly increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, researchers reported today.

IBD Patients Prone to Other Autoimmune or Inflammatory Disorders

PHILADELPHIA-Patients with the inflammatory bowel disorders ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are significantly more likely to suffer from other conditions with an inflammatory or autoimmune basis, said researchers in two separate studies.

Bad News for Cox-2 Inhibitors Was Good News for Mobic

WASHINGTON-The departure of Vioxx (rofecoxib) from pharmacists' shelves last September triggered a boomlet for the NSAID Mobic (meloxicam), which then boosted its prices by 9%, according to a Consumers Union analysis.

Obesity Putting Pressure on the Knees

SALT LAKE CITY-Americans are buckling under their own weight insofar as their knees are concerned.