News Roundup from Rheumatology Network

Black Box Blues for Gout Treatment Febuxostat. Aryeh M. Abeles, M.D., talks with Rheumatology Network about the FDA's black box label for febuxostat, a gout treatment which, according to the results of one clinical trial, was shown to be associated with an increased risk of mortality. In this Q&A, Dr. Abeles, says the decision was based on flawed data. 

FDA Approves Ixekizumab for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Lilly has announced that it received FDA approval for Taltz (ixekizumab) for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis (radiographic axial spondyloarthritis). (©iQoncept,AdobeStock)

Introducing The Lancet Rheumatology.This week, the British medical journal The Lancet, launched a new journal that focuses strictly on rheumatology. Aptly called "The Lancet Rheumatology,"  the journal's mission is to "provide an independent voice to the rheumatology community and to the millions of patients living with these conditions."

Follow-ups may prevent prescription abandonment. Nonadherence to a medication regimen is a problem in all of medicine, not just rheumatology. About 50 percent of all medications for chronic diseases are not taken as prescribed. Put another way, about two in every three Americans who have regular prescriptions aren’t taking them or aren’t taking them on schedule. (©Burlingham,Shutterstock.com)

September is Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month. September is more than back to school and the arrival of pumpkin-spice-flavored everything. It is also Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month, a national effort created by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in 2016 to bring attention to the more than 100 conditions that fall under the umbrella of rheumatic disease. (©Bobex73,AdobeStock)

Early-Onset Gout May be Associated with Increased Cardiovascular Disease. Patients diagnosed with gout at age 40 or younger may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and recurrent gout compared to those diagnosed later in life, according to a new study published in ACR Open Rheumatology. (Painful gout inflammation on ankle joint. ©ShutterRyderShutterstock.com)

Musculoskeletal Disease May Follow a Total Knee Replacement. Roughly half of patients who undergo total knee replacement subsequently experience musculoskeletal symptoms in previously unaffected bodily areas, researchers reported in ACR Open Rheumatology. (©Virojt, AdobeStock)

PsA Quiz: Is there a link between gluten containing food products and arthritic flares? Can gluten-containing food products trigger a psoriatic arthritis flare? How well does the average psoriatic arthritis patient understand their condition? Learn more in today's psoriatic arthritis quiz. (©Bubutu,Adobestock.com)

The Negative Consequences of a Missed Diagnosis. A missed diagnosis can have negative consequences for patients, making it critical for providers to have a better understanding of vasculitis and its related syndromes. In a presentation given at the Rheumatology Nurses Society annual meeting earlier this month, Jeffrey Kaine, M.D., an independent rheumatology consultant based in Cullowhee, N.C., discussed the challenges in diagnosing and treating vasculitis. In this Q&A, Dr. Kaine covers some of the high points from his talk. (©Vichie81,AdobeStock)

Arthritis Patients Missing Out on Life-Changing Interventions. Routine daily activities may be impossible for some arthritis patients, but are they really? This study suggests patients have not been offered evidence-based interventions that could improve quality of life. (©Michaeljung,AdobeStock)