Rheumatology News Roundup: Crisis in Osteoporosis Care
In this week's news roundup from Rheumatology Network, we highlight this week's leading stories including two stories on new developments in osteoporosis treatment. In one, a physician-scientist describes "a crisis in the treatment of osteoporosis" due to severe side effects. Learn more about this story and others in this week's news roundup.
Could nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates protect against pneumonia?
Patients taking nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates have a lower risk of developing and dying from pneumonia after hip fracture compared with patients taking other types of medication for osteoporosis or no drugs for osteoporosis at all, a study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research has found.
Delaying Denosumab Injections Increases Risk of Vertebral Fractures, Study Shows
Delays to denosumab injections increase the risk of vertebral fractures, a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has shown, highlighting the importance of trying to ensure that, while covid-19 is disrupting many medical services, the pandemic does not impact on the timing of denosumab injections.
Belimumab Promising as Adjunct Therapy for Lupus Nephritis
Belimumab (Benlysta, GlaxoSmithKline) can improve the kidney health of people with lupus nephritis, a new phase 3 clinical trial suggests.
Individualized Approach Needed for Bisphosphonate Use in Women
In women 50 years of age or older, the risk of atypical femur fracture increased with longer bisphosphonate use, Asian ancestry, shorter height, higher weight and glucocorticoid use for one year or more, but this risk rapidly decreased after bisphosphonate discontinuation, according to a study recently published in New England Journal of Medicine.
Optimized Treatment Strategies in Axial Spondyloarthritis: an Unmet Need
Despite major advances in axial spondyloarthritis and an increasing number of therapeutic options, questions remain related to the optimized treatment strategies and to the individual drug choice, according to a review published in Current Rheumatology Reports.
Source of Pain in Fibromyalgia Identified
Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome may present with elevated intramuscular pressure, which might represent a diagnostic aid in fibromyalgia syndrome and a target for treatment to reduce muscle pressure, according to a study recently published in The Journal of Rheumatology.
COX-2 Inhibitors Best Traditional NSAIDS for Acute Gout
In patients with acute gout, cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, especially etoricoxib (Arcoxia, Merck & Co.), may result in a greater clinical response than traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), according to a study published in BMJ Open.
Genomic Risk Scores May Enhance JIA Diagnosis
In juvenile idiopathic arthritis, predictive genomic risk scores may enhance current diagnosis protocols, prioritizing higher-risk patients for follow-up and reducing treatment delays, according to a study published this month in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.
