A nearly $1.8 million grant given a research team at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in Florida will be used to study an enzyme that controls cell survival and death, with the goal of developing drug candidates to treat inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved immune globulin subcutaneous [human], 20% solution (Cuvitru) to treat adults and children aged 2 years and older who have primary immunodeficiency.

Patients who are prescribed oral methotrexate for treatment of autoimmune disorders should take the medication ____________________.

a. daily

b. weekly

c. twice a week

d. a or b

e. b or c

-----

Answer: e

By Will Boggs MD

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A variety of health maintenance issues faced by patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) require joint management by the gastroenterologist and the primary care team, according to a new clinical guideline from the American College of Gastroenterology.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases in the country with total health care costs approaching $19 billion each year. Over time, the chronic inflammation, left unabated can lead to progression of joint disease and irreversible destruction. The key to successfully treating this dreaded disease is to rapidly control the illness and maintain control.

Patients diagnosed with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are at an elevated risk for fracture and osteoporosis compared to the general population and patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a recent study by Ogdie and colleagues.¹

Research recently presented at the 2016 Advances in IBD Conference showed that more than one-fifth of patients who were prescribed biologic therapy for inflammatory bowel disease were nonadherent.

Results of a multinational, randomized, equivalence study show that the investigational biosimilar PF-06410293 demonstrates equivalent efficacy to the biologic Humira (adalimumab; AbbVie) in patients with severe to moderate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had an inadequate response to methotrexate therapy.

Called REFLECTIONS B538-02, the study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of PF-06410293 compared to the biologic Humira in patients with moderate to severe RA.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has undergone rapid and significant changes in the past decade. With the advent of treat-to-target strategies, patients have seen improved outcomes, and clinicians have tackled the challenges of incorporating precise measurements, including biomarkers, into their daily practice.

For patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), the use of ultrasound is a technique that is demonstrating increased success in assessing the disease, according to Gutierrez and colleagues.¹ Researchers are expanding the use of ultrasound for the assessment of extra musculoskeletal area such as skin and nails.