The FDA approved a new indication for the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor golimumab (Simponi injection; Janssen Biotech) for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis that is refractory to previous treatment or that requires continuous corticosteroid therapy.
By Kavita Nair, PhD; Vahram Ghushchyan, PhD; and Ahmad Naim, MD Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in the joints; it occurs when the patient’s immune system attacks healthy tissue. RA is ranked among the highest of all chronic diseases for its adverse impact on health-related quality of life (QOL), limitations in physical function, increased pain and fatigue, and diminished work performance and attendance.
By Wayne Kuznar San Diego, CA—An assessment of infliximab (Remicade) use patterns for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) indicates that patients are usually maintained on the medication for longer than 2 years and that changes in dosage or dosing frequency are rare.
By Wayne Kuznar In patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), moderate or severe patellofemoral (PF) OA (PFOA) that coexists with tibiofemoral (TF) OA may limit knee extension strength and range of motion, which manifests as difficulty going down stairs, found investigators at the University of Pittsburgh.
By Phoebe Starr New Orleans, LA—The role of opioids in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is controversial. A 2011 Cochrane Review showed insufficient evidence to support the role of weak opioids in this setting for >6 weeks, or for the role of strong opioids (Whittle SL, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;[11]:CD003113)
By Phoebe Starr New Orleans, LA—An interactive, online tool shows promise in helping patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) self-manage their pain and could prove to be a useful adjunct to office visits for this patient population, according to a poster presented at the 2013 American Pain Society annual meeting by a team of investigators from Inflexxion, Newton, MA. They presented findings from an intervention called painACTION, an online program for the self-management of patients with pain associated with rheumatic disease.
By Rosemary Frei, MSc Winnipeg, Manitoba—For the first time, a study has confirmed that acceptance of pain among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a strong predictor of their engaging in the recommended 150 minutes or more of weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for this patient population. Pain intensity does not appear to be a significant predictor for physical activity level in these patients.
By Wayne Kuznar Washington, DC—In patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have an inadequate response to a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor, switching to rituximab (Rituxan) may be a better option than switching to another TNF inhibitor, according to data discussed by Andrea Rubbert-Roth, MD, a Rheumatologist and Senior Physician at the Klinik I für Innere Medizin at the University of Cologne, Germany.
By Rosemary Frei, MSc Winnipeg, Manitoba—A study on the influence of pain and catastrophizing on quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia has answered some questions and raised others.
By Rosemary Frei, MSc Winnipeg, Manitoba—There are lessons for rheumatologists and for family physicians in how courts adjudicate cases of fibromyalgia that were alleged to have been caused by or exacerbated by workplace injury, according to a new study presented at the Canadian Pain Society’s 2013 annual meeting and was published simultaneously (Fitzcharles MA, et al. J Rheumatol. 2013;40:323-328).
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