Rheumatology
Clinical discussions on autoimmune diseases, biologic therapies, vasculitis, and musculoskeletal conditions.
Recent Discussions
Are there certain disease domains in a patient with psoriatic arthritis that will make bimekizumab a particularly good option?
Bimekizumab has shown comparable efficacy in PsA patients who are TNFi naive and TNFi inadequate responders. Therefore, I would choose bimekizumab in bDMARD-IR patients. My second answer might surprise you - I would choose bimekizumab in a PsA patient with recurrent uveitis.
How would you approach a patient with high CRP, rising liver enzymes and new biopsy proven liver granulomas 6 months after starting methotrexate and Rituximab therapy for ANCA vasculitis?
What does the liver biopsy show in detail? I'd be far more worried about infection than AAV. Sarcoid could also present this way. How did they get the AAV diagnosis?
Should TNF inhibitors be held in patients undergoing radiation therapy?
We do not hold TNF inhibitors when needed for patients undergoing radiation therapy.
Do you use hydroxychloroquine for patients with asymptomatic primary Sjogren syndrome to treat hypergammaglobulinemia without other concerning features?
I routinely use hydroxychloroquine in a significant proportion of my patients. While the JOQUER trial (Gottenberg et al., PMID 25027140) did not meet its primary endpoint, defined by improvement of the common symptoms of pain, fatigue, and dryness, I think there is a broad consensus among experience...
What is your typical steroid taper regimen for managing RA flares?
I tend to avoid doing steroids to my patients with RA. When I do, I use low doses, 5 mg to 7.5 mg QAM for no more than 2 weeks or so. Generally, I tend to avoid the use of steroids in this population unless absolutely necessary, e.g., RA vasculitis, etc. However, there are patients who require more...
What is your approach to nephrology referral for patients with lupus nephritis?
The answer to this question "depends" on many factors.I had the luxury of learning under some lupus nephritis greats in the 1990s (John "Jack" Klippel, H Austin, and J Balow... the high-dose NIH CYC regimen guys). Therefore, I am fortunate to feel confident in my abilities to care for LN better than...
Would you consider starting short-term metformin in an otherwise healthy patient who is beginning high-dose glucocorticoids to prevent glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance?
Sustained use of glucocorticoid therapy is well recognized for causing hyperglycemia in patients without known dysglycemia. Rates of 15-25% have been reported depending on the clinical situations and the doses and duration of steroid use. A safe, effective, and cost-friendly approach to prevent this...
Do you offer LDRT for psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or polymyalgia rheumatica or fibromyalgia?
I have treated for RA and PA. I have not had any referrals for PMR or fibromyalgia. I have not considered for fibromyalgia, as I don't understand the condition well. For RA/PA, in many cases, they have not had any relief from medications, therapy, NSAIDs, and relying on opioids and other, at times, ...
Is there any benefit to the use of low dose radiation in patients with osteoarthritis who have already undergone joint replacement?
I've treated a lot of patients with LDRT for OA, but not many with joint replacements. The ones that still have pain after a joint replacement - I have told them that mechanistically it does not make a whole lot of sense to treat - I don't imagine it will have that same anti-inflammatory effect, as ...
When would you recommend uric acid-lowering therapy for a patient with asymptomatic hyperuricemia without comorbidities but with family history of gout?
I would not recommend treating asymptomatic hyperuricemia unless the patient has clinical gout or concern for proven urate nephropathy (such as with uric acid kidney stones). The family history component is important to acknowledge that the patient may be at greater risk in the future, however, it d...