Ixekizumab, with or without concomitant methotrexate, improves signs and symptoms of PsA: week 52 results from Spirit-P1 and Spirit-P2 studies.

Background: The efficacy and safety of ixekizumab (IXE) with and without continuous concomitant methotrexate (MTX), for up to 52 weeks of treatment, were evaluated in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: Patients with active PsA who were biologic-naive (SPIRIT-P1) or had prior inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (SPIRIT-P2) were randomized to 80 mg IXE every 4 (IXE Q4W) or 2 weeks (IXE Q2W), after a 160-mg initial dose. In this post hoc analysis, efficacy and safety were assessed up to week 52 in the subgroups of patients who received (i) IXE as monotherapy and (ii) IXE along with a stable dose of MTX (no dose tapering or increase).

Overview of Auditing for the Busy Rheumatologist.

Medical audits have become commonplace in the United States. A variety of companies service government and private payers to document accuracy of medical services provided as reflected in the medical record. When audited, the physician may not understand the nature of the inquiry, jurisdictions, methods, or purpose.

Hypercalcemia from sarcoidosis successfully treated with infliximab.

Sarcoidosis is a systematic inflammatory condition with a variable clinical course. While many patients have a benign, indolent illness, some patients have more severe manifestations. Therapy is determined by an individual patient's disease manifestations and the response to treatment.

The 6-month safety and efficacy of abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who underwent a washout after anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy or were directly switched to abatacept: the ARRIVE trial.

Objective: To assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had failed anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy and were switched to abatacept directly or after completing washout.

Methods: In this international, 6-month, open-label trial, patients had active RA, an inadequate response to anti-TNF therapy for 3 months or longer and a disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28 (C-reactive protein; CRP) of 5.1 or greater.

A multicenter, randomized, open study to evaluate the impact of an electronic data capture system on the care of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To examine the impact of an electronic data capture system on patient satisfaction and patient-physician interactions in a rheumatology clinical setting.

Study Design: In this multicenter study, 1079 patients with rheumatoid arthritis completed questionnaires quarterly about their health and satisfaction with care using a computer. At 6 months, 901 eligible patients were randomized 2:1 to receive or not to receive graphical summarized health information or Health Tracker (HT) reports.

Treatment of resistant adult still disease with infliximab: a report of 2 cases.

Adult Still disease is characterized by high fever, arthritis, leukocytosis, hepatosplenomegaly, rash, and lymphadenopathy. It affects primarily young adults and is often disabling or even fatal. Many patients achieve long-term remissions, while others may develop a chronic illness refractory to multiple therapies.

Open label study to assess infliximab safety and timing of onset of clinical benefit among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To assess the timing of onset of clinical benefit following the initial infusion of infliximab and to obtain additional safety experience of infliximab when given in an office setting to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, the safety of reducing the infusion time from 2 hours to 1 hour was evaluated.

Methods: Patients (n = 553) with active RA despite receiving methotrexate (MTX) were treated with infliximab 3 mg/kg given over 2 h at baseline (Week 0), and Weeks 2, 6, and 14 in this multicenter open-label trial.

A modified scleroderma skin scoring method.

The extent of skin thickness in scleroderma has been reported to correlate with the degree of internal organ involvement. An objective method for the clinical evaluation of skin involvement (skin score) in scleroderma is described. In this preliminary study, the method was tested in twenty scleroderma patients.

Cellular immunity to collagen and laminin in scleroderma.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from scleroderma patients and normal controls were cultured in the presence of types I and IV collagen, intima collagen, laminin, and phytohemagglutinin. PBMC from 9 of 19 patients (47%) demonstrated lymphocyte transformation in response to laminin, and those from 2 of 17 patients (12%) demonstrated reactivity to type IV collagen. None of the patient PBMC were responsive to type I collagen or to intima collagen.