2018 updated European League Against Rheumatism evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis of gout – Annals of Rheumatic Disease (free)

Safety of Opioids in Osteoarthritis: Outcomes of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis – Drugs & Aging (free)

Tramadol for osteoarthritis – Cochrane Library (free)

Summary: Tramadol for osteoarthritis – Cochrane Library (free)

“tramadol alone or in combination with acetaminophen probably has no important benefit on mean pain or function in people with osteoarthritis, although slightly more people in the tramadol group report an important improvement”

Dactylitis: A hallmark of psoriatic arthritis – Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (free)

Exercise for ankylosing spondylitis: An evidence-based consensus statement – Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (free)

Mixed exercise training for adults with fibromyalgia – Cochrane Library (free)

Summary: Mixed exercise programmes for adults with fibromyalgia – Cochrane Library (free)

Impact of the pattern of interstitial lung disease on mortality in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis – Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Lung Disease in RA: Which Factors are Linked With Mortality? – MedPage Today, via RheumNow (free)

NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: 2019 Updates – The ASCO Post (free)

Ocular Manifestations of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Review of the Literature – Ophthalmology and Therapy (free)

Nintedanib for Systemic Sclerosis–Associated Interstitial Lung Disease – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Nintedanib slows lung function decline in SSc-associated interstitial lung disease – Medicine Matters (free)

Just Presented at the 2019 Meeting of the American Thoracic Society.

Millions Take Gabapentin for Pain. But There’s Scant Evidence It Works. – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)

Related: Meta-Analysis: Anticonvulsants in the Treatment of Low Back Pain and Lumbar Radicular Pain (free) AND Benefits and safety of gabapentinoids in chronic low back pain (free) AND Less is More: A Clinical Overview of Off-label Use of Gabapentinoid Drugs (link to abstract)

Medications associated with fracture risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Opioids, SSRIs and Steroids Increase Fracture Risk in RA – RheumNow (free)

EULAR recommendations for the management of antiphospholipid syndrome in adults – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Related: Diagnosing and treating antiphospholipid syndrome: a consensus paper – The Netherlands Journal of Medicine (free PDF) AND Guidelines on the investigation and management of antiphospholipid syndrome – British Journal of Haematology (free)

New concepts of pain – Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology (free)

Is insulin resistance the cause of fibromyalgia? A preliminary report – PLOS One (free)

Commentary: Fibromyalgia: Is insulin resistance ‘the missing link?’ – Medical News Today (free)

Is incident rheumatoid arthritis interstitial lung disease associated with methotrexate treatment? Results from a multivariate analysis in the ERAS and ERAN inception cohorts – BMJ Open (free)

Commentary: Methotrexate Use Not Linked to Interstitial Lung Disease in RA – RheumNow (free)

Association of High Intakes of Vitamins B₆ and B₁₂ From Food and Supplements with Risk of Hip Fracture Among Postmenopausal Women in the Nurses’ Health Study – JAMA Network Open (free)

Treatment consensus for management of polymyositis and dermatomyositis among rheumatologists, neurologists and dermatologists – The Journal of Dermatology (free)

The world-wide burden of musculoskeletal diseases: a systematic analysis of the World Health Organization Burden of Diseases Database – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Musculoskeletal conditions now second global cause of years lived with disability – BMJ (free) AND Musculoskeletal conditions 2nd global cause of years with disability – OnMedica (free)

Related Commentary on Twitter

#Musculoskeletal diseases are the second leading cause of years lived with #disability worldwide report @Lupusreference and colleagues in @ARD_BMJ https://t.co/DVdFVJsSyg #MSK pic.twitter.com/yvrQ3dvsTX

— The Lancet Rheumatology (@TheLancetRheum) May 2, 2019

MRI and ultrasound of the hands and wrists in rheumatoid arthritis. Part I: Imaging findings – Skeletal Radiology (free)

MR and ultrasound of the hands and wrists in rheumatoid arthritis. Part II. Added clinical value – Skeletal Radiology (free)

An updated algorithm recommendation for the management of knee osteoarthritis from the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) – Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (free)

Management of inflammatory rheumatic conditions in the elderly – Rheumatology (free)

2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Screening, Monitoring, and Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis–Associated Uveitis – Arthritis & Rheumatology (free)

2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Therapeutic Approaches for Non‐Systemic Polyarthritis, Sacroiliitis, and Enthesitis – Arthritis & Rheumatology (free)

A Novel System to Categorize the Symptoms of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – Arthritis Care & Research (free)

Medication to reduce stomach acid may increase risk of hip fractures – NIHR Signal (free)

Original Article: Proton pump inhibitors and risk of hip fracture: a meta-analysis of observational studies – Osteoporosis International (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Combined immunosuppressive treatment (CIST) in lupus nephritis: a multicenter, randomized controlled study – Clinical Rheumatology (free)

PANLAR consensus statement on biosimilars – Clinical Rheumatology (free)

Long-Term Drug Therapy and Drug Discontinuations and Holidays for Osteoporosis Fracture Prevention: A Systematic Review – Annals of Internal Medicine (free)

See also: Long-Term Drug Therapy and Drug Holidays for Osteoporosis Fracture Prevention: A Systematic Review – Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (free) AND Full Report (free PDF) AND Evidence Summary (free PDF)

Comparison of Risk of Osteoporotic Fracture in Denosumab vs Alendronate Treatment Within 3 Years of Initiation – JAMA Network Open (free)

Commentary: No difference in fracture risk with denosumab vs alendronate – Medicine Matters (free)

Gradual tapering TNF inhibitors versus conventional synthetic DMARDs after achieving controlled disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: first-year results of the randomised controlled TARA study – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: RA flare rates unaffected by tapering strategy – Medwire News (free)

Source: EvidenceAlerts

Diagnosing and treating antiphospholipid syndrome: a consensus paper – The Netherlands Journal of Medicine (free PDF)

Related: Guidelines on the investigation and management of antiphospholipid syndrome – British Journal of Haematology (free)

Exercise as a Prescription for Patients with Various Diseases – Journal of Sport and Health Science (free)

This review summarizes the latest exercise prescription treatments for 26 different diseases.

Prevalence of giant cell arteritis relapse in patients treated with glucocorticoids: a meta‐analysis – Arthritis Care & Research (free PDF)

Current concepts in joint pain in knee osteoarthritis – Der Schmerz (free)

Trial of atorvastatin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (TRACE RA): A multicenter, randomized, placebo controlled trial – Arthritis & Rheumatology (free)

Commentaries: Statins safe for rheumatoid arthritis patients – University of Dundee (free) AND Statins safe for preventing cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis patients, study suggests – Wiley (free)

Prevention of complications from use of conventional immunosuppressants: a critical review – Journal of Nephrology (free)

#147 Rheumatoid Arthritis for the Internist – The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast (free audio and summary)

Use of vitamin D drops leading to kidney failure in a 54-year-old man – Canadian Medical Association Journal (free)

“Vitamin D toxicity is rare, but clinicians must be aware of the risks of vitamin D use to limit complications related to hypercalcemia”.

2019 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Related Guidelines: Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus by the Mexican College of Rheumatology – Reumatología Clinica (free) AND The British Society for Rheumatology guideline for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults (free) AND First Latin American clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (free) AND Canadian Rheumatology Association Recommendations for the Assessment and Monitoring of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – The Journal of Rheumatology (free PDF)

Pharmacological Management of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline – The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (free PDF)

News Release: Many postmenopausal women do not receive treatment for osteoporosis (free)

Commentary: Managing Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women: An Endocrine Society Guideline – Endocrinology Advisor (free)

See also: Point of Care Algorithm (free)

Evaluating the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate – JAMA (free for a limited period)

Neurological Disease in Lupus: Toward a Personalized Medicine Approach – Frontiers in Immunology (free)

Related Reviews: Clinical Features of Neuropsychiatric Syndromes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Other Connective Tissue Diseases (free) AND Management of Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Current Approaches and Future Perspectives (free) AND Laboratory and Neuroimaging Biomarkers in Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Where Do We Stand, Where To Go? (free)

2018 APLAR axial spondyloarthritis treatment recommendations – International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Related Guidelines: Spondyloarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management – NICE Updated Guideline (free) AND 2016 update of the ASAS-EULAR management recommendations for axial spondyloarthritis (free) Treating axial spondyloarthritis and peripheral spondyloarthritis, especially psoriatic arthritis, to target: 2017 update of recommendations by an international task force – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Low Back Pain, a Comprehensive Review: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. – Current Pain and Headache Reports (free)

Diagnosis and Management of Paget’s Disease of Bone in Adults: A Clinical Guideline – Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (free)

Laboratory tests in rheumatology: A rational approach – Cleveland Clinical Journal of Medicine (free)

Source: Hospital Medicine Virtual Journal Club

Swedish Society of Rheumatology 2018 guidelines for investigation, treatment, and follow-up of giant cell arteritis – Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology (free)

Inclusion body myositis: clinical features and pathogenesis – Nature Reviews Rheumatology (free)

Consensus-based recommendations for the management of juvenile localised scleroderma – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Paracetamol versus placebo for knee and hip osteoarthritis – Cochrane Library (free)

Summary: Paracetamol for treating people with hip or knee osteoarthritis – Cochrane Library (free)

Related: Paracetamol: widely used and largely ineffective (free)

Related Commentary on Twitter

New Cochrane Review – 'Paracetamol (acetaminophen) versus placebo for knee and hip osteoarthritis' https://t.co/gGQs23456x @CochraneMSK High‐quality evidence indicated that paracetamol provided only minimal improvements in pain and function for people with hip/knee osteoarthritis

— The Cochrane Library (@CochraneLibrary) February 25, 2019

Relative risk of tuberculosis in patients with rheumatic diseases managed with anti‐tumour necrosis factor‐alpha therapy: A nationwide cohort study – Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics (free)

Commentary: The Risk of Tuberculosis with TNF Inhibitors – RheumNow (free)

Joint AAD-NPF guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with awareness and attention to comorbidities – Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (free)

Commentary: New psoriasis guidelines emphasize management of comorbidities, use of biologics – ACP Internist (free)

Related Guidelines: Joint AAD-NPF guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with biologics – Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (free) AND French guidelines on the use of systemic treatments for moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis in adults – Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (free)

FDA adds Boxed Warning for increased risk of death with gout medicine Uloric (febuxostat) – U.S. Food & Drug Administration (free)

Commentaries: FDA Adds Boxed Warning About CV Risks to Gout Drug Febuxostat – TCTMD (free) AND FDA: Gout Drug Raises Death Risk – MedPage Today (free)

Related Research: Cardiovascular Safety of Febuxostat or Allopurinol in Patients with Gout (free study and commentaries)

IgG4-Related Disease: What A Hematologist Needs To Know – Haematologica (free PDF)

A new decision tree for diagnosis of osteoarthritis in primary care: international consensus of experts – Aging Clinical and Experimental Research (free)

From Systemic Inflammation to Neuroinflammation: The Case of Neurolupus – International Journal of Molecular Sciences (free)

Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus: links and risks – Open Access Rheumatology: Research and Reviews (free)

Enthesitis-related arthritis: current perspectives – Open Access Rheumatology: Research and Reviews (free)

Effect of Magnetic Resonance Imaging vs Conventional Treat-to-Target Strategies on Disease Activity Remission and Radiographic Progression in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The IMAGINE-RA Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study Finds No Benefit to MRI-Guided Treatment – MedicalResearch.com (free) AND MRI-guided treatment strategy unnecessary for RA in clinical remission – Medwire News (free)

Mycophenolate mofetil versus cyclophosphamide for remission induction in ANCA-associated vasculitis: a randomised, non-inferiority trial – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Randomized data back EULAR guidelines for mycophenolate mofetil use in AAV – Medwire News (free)

Subacromial decompression surgery for adults with shoulder pain: a clinical practice guideline – The BMJ (free)

Commentaries: Expert panel strongly recommends against surgery for the most common shoulder pain – MedicalXpress (free) AND Guidelines Recommend Against Surgery for Subacromial Pain Syndrome – NEJM Journal Watch (free)

Related Systematic Reviews: Subacromial decompression surgery for adults with shoulder pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis – British Journal of Sports Medicine (free) AND Subacromial Decompression Surgery for Rotator Cuff Disease – Cochrane Library (link to study and randomized trials on the subject)

Fetal Toxicity of Immunosuppressive Drugs in Pregnancy – Journal of Clinical Medicine (free)

Position article and guidelines 2018 recommendations of the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology for the indication, interpretation and performance of nailfold capillaroscopy – Advances in Rheumatology (free)

Interstitial Lung Disease and Other Pulmonary Manifestations in Connective Tissue Diseases – Mayo Clinic Proceedings (free)

Central Nervous System Involvement in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: What Neurologists Need to Know – Frontiers in Neurology (free)

Guidelines of the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology for the treatment of systemic autoimmune myopathies – Advances in Rheumatology (free)

Management and treatment of glomerular diseases (part 1): conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference – Kidney International (free)

Part 2: Conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference – Kidney International (free)

Related: See All KDIGO Guidelines (all free)

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus by the Mexican College of Rheumatology – Reumatología Clinica (free for a limited period)

Related Guidelines: The British Society for Rheumatology guideline for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults (free) AND First Latin American clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (free) AND Canadian Rheumatology Association Recommendations for the Assessment and Monitoring of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (free)

Related Reviews: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Primary Care: An Update and Practical Messages for the General Practitioner (free) AND Infection in systemic lupus erythematosus, similarities, and differences with lupus flare (free)

Comparative Clinical Effectiveness of Nonsurgical Treatment Methods in Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA Network Open (free)

Commentary: Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Non-Surgical Options Compared – MedicalResearch.com (free)

Interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc-ILD) – Respiratory Research (free)

Exercise-induced hypoalgesia: A meta-analysis of exercise dosing for the treatment of chronic pain – PLOS One (free)

Subacromial decompression surgery for rotator cuff disease – Cochrane Library (free)

Summary: Surgery for rotator cuff disease (free)

Related Studies: Subacromial Decompression vs Diagnostic Arthroscopy for Shoulder Impingement (free study and commentaries) AND Arthroscopic subacromial decompression for subacromial shoulder pain (free study and commentaries)

“The data in this review do not support the use of subacromial decompression in the treatment of rotator cuff disease manifest as painful shoulder impingement.”

Multidisciplinary recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of foot problems in people with rheumatoid arthritis – Journal of Foot and Ankle Research (free)

Proton pump inhibitors and risk of hip fracture: a meta-analysis of observational studies – Osteoporosis International (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: PPIs up risk for hip fracture in large meta-analysis – Univadis (free registration required)

Related Commentary on Twitter

Metanalysis of 24 PPI studies, 319,568 hip fracture pts, suggests PPIs associated with a greater risk of hip fracture (RR 1.20, 95% CI 1.14–1.28, p < 0.0001) and may be greater with higher dose (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.20–1.40, p < 0.0001). https://t.co/nbiEIPRaXg

— Dr. John Cush (@RheumNow) December 17, 2018

Korean Guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis – Journal of Bone Metabolism (free)

Related: 2017 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis (free)

Update of the evidence based, interdisciplinary guideline for anti-inflammatory treatment of uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis – Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (free)

Adrenal insufficiency in systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS): A systematic review – Autoimmunity Reviews (free)

Guidelines for biomarkers in autoimmune rheumatic diseases – evidence based analysis – Autoimmunity Reviews (free)

Diagnostic performance of temporal artery ultrasound for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature – Autoimmunity Reviews (free)

Scleroderma Renal Crisis: Not so easy to diagnose and manage… – emDocs (free)

Chronic low back pain and postural rehabilitation exercise: a literature review – Journal of Pain Research (free)

Physical Therapy Approaches in the Treatment of Low Back Pain – Pain and Therapy (free)

Antiphospholipid Syndrome and the Neurologist: From Pathogenesis to Therapy – Frontiers in Neurology (free)

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS): a look at the evidence for treatments – Evidently Cochrane Blog (free)

Novel Treatments in Lupus – Frontiers in Immunology (free)

Comorbidities in polymyalgia rheumatica: a systematic review – Arthritis Research & Therapy (free)

Oral manifestations of autoimmune connective tissue diseases – Indian Journal of Rheumatology (free)

2018 American College of Rheumatology/National Psoriasis Foundation Guideline for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis – Arthritis Care & Research (free)

The Use of Vitamins and Minerals in Skeletal Health: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and The American College Of Endocrinology Position Statement (free PDF)

Commentary: AACE statement questions efficacy of dietary supplements for bone health – Healio (free registration required)

AAPT Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia – The Journal of Pain (free)

Related Guidelines: EULAR revised recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia (free) AND Canadian Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia syndrome: Executive summary (free)

Assessing Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Literature Review – Rheumatology and Therapy (free)

Audiovestibular Symptoms in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases – Journal of Immunology Research (free)

Vaccination Guidelines for Patients With Immune-Mediated Disorders on Immunosuppressive Therapies – Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery (free)

Musculoskeletal and Rheumatic Diseases Induced by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Review of the Literature – Current Drug Safety (free)

The Challenges of Approaching and Managing Gout – Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America (free)

Update on Vertigo in Autoimmune Disorders, from Diagnosis to Treatment – Journal of Immunology Research (free)

Conventional and biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials – Rheumatology (free)

Expert consensus for the diagnosis and treatment of patient with hyperuricemia and high cardiovascular risk – Cardiology Journal (free PDF)

The Vasculopathy of Juvenile Dermatomyositis – Frontiers in Pediatrics (free)

The clinical and cost-effectiveness of corticosteroid injection versus night splints for carpal tunnel syndrome (INSTINCTS trial): an open-label, parallel group, randomised controlled trial – The Lancet (free)

Invited Commentary: Steroid injection or wrist splint for first-time carpal tunnel syndrome? (free)

“A single corticosteroid injection shows superior clinical effectiveness at 6 weeks compared with night-resting splints, making it the treatment of choice for rapid symptom response in mild or moderate carpal tunnel syndrome presenting in primary care.”

Association of Depression With Risk of Incident Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Women Assessed Across 2 Decades – JAMA Psychiatry (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Depression May Increase Risk of Developing an Autoimmune Disease – MedicalResearch.com (free) AND Depression Tied to Double the Risk for Lupus in Women – Medscape (free registration required)

Evaluation of the diet wide contribution to serum urate levels: meta-analysis of population based cohorts – The BMJ (free)

Editorial: The role of diet in serum urate concentration (free)

Commentary: Diet Might Play Less of a Role in Gout Than Previously Thought – Physician’s First Watch (free)

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis – The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology: Vitamin D supplementation in adults does not prevent fractures, falls or improve bone mineral density – The Lancet (free) AND Vitamin D supplements don’t help bone health, major study concludes – The Guardian (free) AND Millions of Americans take vitamin D. Most should just stop – VOX (free)

Related: Vitamin D, the Sunshine Supplement, Has Shadowy Money Behind It (free commentaries and NICE Guideline) AND Vitamin D Not Linked to Fracture Risk (free study and commentaries)

Effect of Early Surgery vs Physical Therapy on Knee Function Among Patients With Nonobstructive Meniscal Tears: The ESCAPE Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA (free for a limited period)

Commentary: PT an Alternative to Surgery for Some Meniscal Tears – Physician’s First Watch (free)

Related: Adverse Outcomes After Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy (free study, commentary and guideline on the subject)

“Our Dutch multi center RCT demonstrates noninferiority of physical therapy compared with early surgery with arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for improving self-reported knee function in patients with nonobstructive meniscal tears.” (via @RudolfPoolman see Tweet)

Fracture Prevention with Zoledronate in Older Women with Osteopenia – New England Journal of Medicine (free)

Editorial: A Not-So-New Treatment for Old Bones (free)

Commentary: Study Suggests More Older Women May Benefit From Bone Drugs – The Associated Press (free)

Efficacy of Low-Dose Amitriptyline for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Low-dose antidepressants ease back pain – Australian Hospital + Healthcare Bulletin (free) AND Antidepressant Amitriptyline Might Help Ease Low Back Pain – Physician’s First Watch (free)

Pulmonary vasculitis – Journal of Thoracic Disease (free)

Development of a New Classification System for Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies Based on Clinical Manifestations and Myositis-Specific Autoantibodies – JAMA Neurology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: New Classification of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies – RheumNow (free)

Comparisons of Guidelines and Recommendations on Managing Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody–Associated Vasculitis – Kidney International Reports (free)

#113 Gout: Uric acid targets, urate lowering therapy, and random questions from social media – The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast (free)

Diclofenac use and cardiovascular risks: series of nationwide cohort studies – The BMJ (free)

Commentary: Diclofenac Again Tied to Major Cardiovascular Events – NEJM Physician’s First Watch (free) AND ‘A major safety concern’: World’s most common NSAID doubles CVD risk – Cardiovascular Business (free)

Canadian Rheumatology Association Recommendations for the Assessment and Monitoring of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – The Journal of Rheumatology (free PDF)

Related Guidelines: The British Society for Rheumatology guideline for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults (free) AND First Latin American clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: Latin American Group for the Study of Lupus (GLADEL, Grupo Latino Americano de Estudio del Lupus)–Pan-American League of Associations of Rheumatology (PANLAR) – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

The British Society for Rheumatology biologic DMARD safety guidelines in inflammatory arthritis—Executive summary – Rheumatology (free)

Commentary: New BSR Guidelines on Biologic Safe Use with Inflammatory Arthritis – RheumNow (free)

Assessment of the genetic and clinical determinants of fracture risk: genome wide association and mendelian randomisation study – The BMJ (free)

Commentaries: Vitamin D: a pseudo-vitamin for a pseudo-disease – The Conversation (free) AND Fracture risk not linked to low vitamin D or calcium levels – OnMedica (free)

Related: Vitamin D, the Sunshine Supplement, Has Shadowy Money Behind It (free commentaries and NICE Guideline)

Guideline for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis – Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (free PDF)

News Release: Updated osteoarthritis guideline designed to reduce unnecessary imaging and surgery (free)

Commentary: Australia hopes to reduce unnecessary imaging, surgery with updated osteoarthritis guidelines – Health Imaging (free)

““The Guideline for the management of knee and hip osteoarthritis,” offer up exercise and weight loss as a first line defense, and warn against costly treatments using glucosamine, opioids and arthroscopic surgery, said David Hunter, co-chair of the RACGP group responsible for the update.” (from Health Imaging)

Association of Statin Exposure With Histologically Confirmed Idiopathic Inflammatory Myositis in an Australian Population – JAMA Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Rare Inflammatory Muscle Inflammation Increased With Statin Exposure – MedicalResearch.com (free) AND Statin Associated with an Increase in Inflammatory Myopathy – RheumNow (free) AND Statin use may increase risk for idiopathic inflammatory myositis – Healio (free registration required)

First Latin American clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: Latin American Group for the Study of Lupus (GLADEL, Grupo Latino Americano de Estudio del Lupus)–Pan-American League of Associations of Rheumatology (PANLAR) – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Commentary: Latin American Clinical Practice Guidelines for Lupus – RheumNow (free)

Related Guideline: The British Society for Rheumatology guideline for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults (free) AND Executive Summary (free)

Association of Osteoporosis Medication Use After Hip Fracture With Prevention of Subsequent Nonvertebral Fractures: An Instrumental Variable Analysis – JAMA Network Open (free)

Commentaries: Osteoporosis Treatment After Hip Fracture: Bad News and Getting Worse – JAMA Network Open (free) AND Rate of Osteoporosis Drug Treatment to Prevent Recurrent Fractures Dropping – AJMC (free) AND Osteoporosis treatment often not started after hip fracture in elderly patients, study finds – ACP Internist (free)

Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of ankle sprains: update of an evidence-based clinical guideline – British Journal of Sports Medicine (free)

Drug Therapy for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review Update – Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (free)

See also: Full Report (free PDF)

Hydroxychloroquine prescription trends and predictors for excess dosing per recent ophthalmology guidelines – Arthritis Research & Therapy (free)

Commentary: Nearly half of female hydroxychloroquine users in UK excess-dosed – Healio (free registration required)

2018 EULAR recommendations for physical activity in people with inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis – Annals of Rheumatic Disease (free)

Methotrexate in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: advice and recommendations from the MARAJIA expert consensus meeting – Pediatric Rheumatology (free)

Rheumatoid arthritis in adults: management – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (free)

Immunosuppressive treatment for proliferative lupus nephritis – Cochrane Library (free)

Summary: Immunosuppressive treatment for people with proliferative lupus nephritis – Cochrane Library (free)

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of non-specific low back pain in primary care: an updated overview – European Spine Journal (free)

Anticonvulsants in the treatment of low back pain and lumbar radicular pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis – Canadian Medical Association Journal (free)

Commentaries: Class of drugs used as alternative to opioids for back pain are ineffective, have potentially serious side effects: report – The Globe and Mail (free) AND Anticonvulsant drugs ineffective for low back pain and can cause harm, despite increased prescribing – CMAJ, via EurekAlert (free)

Related Meta-Analysis: Benefits and safety of gabapentinoids in chronic low back pain (free research and commentaries)

Guidelines for the management of osteoporosis and fragility fractures – Internal and Emergency Medicine (free)

Related Guidelines: UK clinical guideline for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis – Archives of Osteoporosis (free) AND Treatment of Low Bone Density or Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures in Men and Women: A Clinical Practice Guideline Update from the American College of Physicians – Annals of Internal Medicine (free)

Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement – JAMA (free)

Editorials: Screening for Osteoporosis (free) AND Osteoporosis Screening—2 Steps May Be Too Much for Women Younger Than 65 Years (free)

Author Interview: USPSTF Recommendation Statement: Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures (free)

See also: USPSTF Final Recommendation Statement (free)

Intentional Weight Loss for Overweight and Obese Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: Is More Better? – Arthritis Care & Research (free PDF)

Commentaries: Long-term weight loss of at least 20% helps improve outcomes in overweight, obese patients with knee osteoarthritis – ACP Internist (free) AND When it comes to weight loss in overweight and obese adults with knee osteoarthritis, more is better – Wiley, via ScienceDaily (free) AND More weight loss tied to less knee pain for obese people – Reuters (free) AND More Weight Loss Linked To Greater Decrease in Knee Arthritis Pain – MedicalResearch.com (free)

Conventional and biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials – Rheumatology (free)

Commentary: OA: DMARDs fail to relieve pain in meta-analysis – Univadis (free registration required)

NSAIDs Account for Large Part of Osteoarthritis-CVD Link, Study Suggests – TCTMD (free)

Association of Stress-Related Disorders With Subsequent Autoimmune Disease – JAMA (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Association of Stress-Related Disorders With Subsequent Autoimmune Disease – University of Iceland (free) AND Stress disorders tied to increased risk of autoimmune diseases – Reuters (free) AND Does Psychological Stress Trigger Autoimmune Disorders? – MedPage Today (free registration required)

Antiphospholipid Syndrome Nephropathy: From Pathogenesis to Treatment – Frontiers in Immunology (free)

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Primary Care: An Update and Practical Messages for the General Practitioner – Frontiers in Medicine (free)

Hip arthroscopy versus best conservative care for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (UK FASHIoN): a multicentre randomised controlled trial – The Lancet (free)

Commentaries: Hip arthroscopy: an evidence-based approach – The Lancet (free) AND New surgery for groin pain found to be more effective than physiotherapy – University of Warwick (free)

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III trial of duloxetine in Japanese patients with knee pain due to osteoarthritis – Journal of Pain Research (free)

Hydroxychloroquine: An old drug with new relevance – Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine (free)

Source: Hospital Medicine Virtual Journal Club

Concomitant fibromyalgia complicating chronic inflammatory arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis – Rheumatology (free)

Commentary: Comorbid fibromyalgia common in patients with inflammatory arthritis – MedwireNews (free)

Effect of Usual Medical Care Plus Chiropractic Care vs Usual Medical Care Alone on Pain and Disability Among US Service Members With Low Back Pain: A Comparative Effectiveness Clinical Trial – JAMA Network Open (free)

Commentaries: Innovating to Improve Care for Low Back Pain in the Military: Chiropractic Care Passes Muster – JAMA Network Open (free) AND Chiropractic Care Improves Usual Management for Low Back Pain – Medscape (free registration required) AND Adding chiropractic to back pain care may reduce disability – Reuters (free)

Canakinumab for the Treatment of Autoinflammatory Recurrent Fever Syndromes – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Autoinflammatory Syndromes Show Dramatic Response to Canakinumab – RheumNow (free)

EULAR recommendations for the health professional’s approach to pain management in inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Commentary: EULAR Releases Recommendations for Pain Management in OA, Inflammatory Arthritis – Rheumatology Advisor (free)

Obesity, Weight Loss, and Progression of Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis – Arthritis Care & Research (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Obesity may hasten disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis – Wiley, via ScienceDaily (free) AND Obesity tied to worse disability in rheumatoid arthritis – Reuters (free)

The Role of Imaging in Diagnosing Axial Spondyloarthritis – Frontiers in Medicine (free)

Education plus exercise versus corticosteroid injection use versus a wait and see approach on global outcome and pain from gluteal tendinopathy: prospective, single blinded, randomised clinical trial – The BMJ (free)

Commentary: The ongoing reduction in pain became the inspiration to never go back to “ground zero” – The BMJ Opinion (free)

Goodpasture’s syndrome (anti-GBM disease): ED presentations, evaluation, and management – emDocs (free)

State of the Art Review: Increased cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis: mechanisms and implications – The BMJ (free for a limited period)

Drugs for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis – Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (free)

Source: EvidenceAlerts

Racial/ethnic variation and risk factors for allopurinol-associated severe cutaneous adverse reactions: a cohort study – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Commentaries: Ethnicity Matters in Allopurinol Reactions – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Allopurinol: Extra Caution Urged in High-Risk Groups – Medscape (free registration required)

Exercise interventions and patient beliefs for people with hip, knee or hip and knee osteoarthritis: a mixed methods review – Cochrane Library (free)

Association Between Glucocorticoid Exposure and Healthcare Expenditures for Potential Glucocorticoid-related Adverse Events in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis – The Journal of Rheumatology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: How Safe Are Low-Dose Steroids in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis? – NEJM Journal Watch (free for a limited period)

Musculoskeletal ultrasonography basics – Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine (free)

2018 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of Behçet’s syndrome – Annals of Rheumatic Disease (free)

Commentary: Behcet’s Syndrome: Treatment Guidelines Updated – MedPage Today (free registration required)

Diagnostic and management of life-threatening Adult-Onset Still Disease: a French nationwide multicenter study and systematic literature review – Critical Care (free)

Percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture – Cochrane Library (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Summary: Featured Review: Vertebroplasty for treating spinal fractures due to osteoporosis – Cochrane Library (free)

“High quality evidence shows that vertebroplasty does not provide more clinically important benefits than placebo but may cause people harm”.

Consensus-based recommendations for the management of uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: the SHARE initiative – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Efficacy of foot orthoses for the treatment of plantar heel pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis – British Journal of Sports Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Pricey orthotic insoles aren’t worth the cost – UPI (free) AND Custom-Made Foot Orthotics No Benefit for Plantar Heel Pain – Physician’s Briefing (free) AND Custom-made foot orthoses appear to be no better than over-the-counter insoles or other treatments – MedicalXpress (free) AND Foot orthotics may not be superior to conservative treatment for relieving plantar heel pain – ACP Internist (free)

Low Back Pain – New Series from The Lancet Journals

– Homepage and Executive Summary (free)

– Article 1: What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention (free registration required)

– Article 2: Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions (free registration required)

– Invited Commentary: Low back pain: a major global challenge (free registration required)

– Viewpoint: Low back pain: a call for action (free registration required)

Commentaries: Low Back Pain Affects 540 Million People Worldwide, but Too Many Patients Receive the Wrong Care – University of Warwick, via NewsWise (free) AND Lower back pain being treated badly on a global scale, study says – The Guardian (free)

Effect of tai chi versus aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia: comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial – The BMJ (free)

Commentaries: Time to rethink exercise for fibromyalgia care – The BMJ Opinion (free) AND The unintended consequences of tai chi for fibromyalgia – The BMJ Opinion (free) AND Tai chi may be as effective for fibromyalgia as standard exercise – NHS Choices (free) AND Tai chi at least as beneficial as aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia – OnMedica (free)

#ACC18 – Cardiovascular Safety of Febuxostat or Allopurinol in Patients with Gout – New England Journal of Medicine (free)

Commentaries: Gout Drug Febuxostat Linked to More CV Deaths Without Uptick in CV Events: CARES Trial – TCTMD (free) AND CARES: Increased Risk of Death With Febuxostat in Patients With Gout and CV Disease – American College of Cardiology (free) AND

Calcium and vitamin D supplementation and increased risk of serrated polyps: results from a randomised clinical trial – Gut (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Calcium and vitamin D supplements may raise risk of polyps – MedicalNewsToday (free) AND Calcium Supplements Up Risk for Precancerous Serrated Polyps – Medscape (free registration required)

See related meta-analysis of RCT showing calcium and vitamin D don’t prevent bone fractures

Relative efficacy and safety of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies – British Journal of Sports Medicine (free)

EVOLVE: The Australian Rheumatology Association’s ‘top five’ list of investigations and interventions doctors and patients should question – Internal Medicine Journal (free) (via @RSiemieniuk)

See other lists of low-value practices in Choosing Wisely U.S. / Choosing Wisely UK / Choosing Wisely Australia AND Choosing Wisely Canada

Another interesting list of commonly used low-value practices that should be questioned.

Comparative cardiovascular safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with hypertension: a population-based cohort study – British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Cardiovascular Risk Compared Among COX-2 Selective, Nonselective NSAIDs – MPR (free)

Posterior Cruciate Ligament: Current Concepts Review – The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery (free)

One year in review 2017: Behçet’s syndrome – Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology (free)

Controversies in diagnosis and management of Kawasaki disease – World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics (free)

Related guideline: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Long-Term Management of Kawasaki Disease: A Scientific Statement for Health Professionals From the American Heart Association (free)

Related reviews: Dissecting Kawasaki disease: a state-of-the-art review – European Journal of Pediatrics (free) AND Diagnosis and Management of Kawasaki Disease – American Family Physician (free)

Randomized double-blind controlled study of bedtime low dose amitriptyline in chronic neck pain – European Journal of Pain (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Low-dose amitriptyline reduces idiopathic chronic neck pain – Univadis (free registration required)

Diagnosis, Evaluation, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorder: Synopsis of the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes 2017 Clinical Practice Guideline Update – Annals of Internal Medicine (free)

Hydroxychloroquine Effectiveness in Reducing Symptoms of Hand Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Trial – Annals of Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Hydroxychloroquine no more effective than placebo for relieving osteoarthritis hand pain – American College of Physicians, via EurekAlert (free)

Vitamin D Screening and Supplementation in Primary Care: Time to Curb Our Enthusiasm – American Family Physician (free)

Related: Your vitamin D tests and supplements are probably a waste of money – VOX (free) AND Why Are So Many People Popping Vitamin D? – The New York Times (free)

Long-term Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids in COPD and the Risk of Fracture – CHEST (free)

Commentary: Long-term usage of inhaled corticosteroids may increase risk of bone fractures in patients with COPD – American College of Chest Physicians, via EurekAlert (free)

The Science Behind Biosimilars: Entering a New Era of Biologic Therapy – American College of Rheumatology (free PDF)

News release: The American College of Rheumatology Recommends Biosimilar Use in New White Paper (free)

Stopping biological drugs for rheumatoid arthritis can lead to twice the relapse rate – NIHR Signal (free)

Original article: Risk of losing remission, low disease activity or radiographic progression in case of bDMARD discontinuation or tapering in rheumatoid arthritis: systematic analysis of the literature and meta-analysis – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Developments in rare bone diseases and mineral disorders – Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Diseases (free)

A surgical procedure for shoulder pain is less effective than previously thought – NIHR Signal (free)

Original article: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression for subacromial shoulder pain (CSAW): a multicentre, pragmatic, parallel group, placebo-controlled, three-group, randomised surgical trial – The Lancet (free) AND Editorial: No benefit of arthroscopy in subacromial shoulder pain (free)

EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Bisphosphonates for Paget’s disease of bone in adults – Cochrane Library (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Cyclophosphamide for connective tissue disease–associated interstitial lung disease – Cochrane Library (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Aspirin dose in Kawasaki disease – the ongoing battle – Arthritis Care & Research (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: High-Dose Aspirin Preferred for Kawasaki’s – MedPage Today (free registration required)

State of the Art Review: The role of the gut microbiome in systemic inflammatory disease – The BMJ (free for a period)

Myeloablative Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation for Severe Scleroderma – The New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Stem Cell Transplant for Severe Scleroderma Improves Survival, Quality of Life – NIH (free) AND Stem Cell Transplantation Offers Hope For Severe Scleroderma – MedicalResearch (free)