ACR on Air

In this episode, Dr. Kim Steinbarger, PT, MHS, DHSc, Asst. Professor at Husson University, and Talitha Black, an occupational therapist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), help us clarify some common misconceptions about exercise for people with rheumatic diseases. We'll discuss tips and strategies to increase physical activity for people of all ages, explore who would benefit from physical or occupational therapy. We'll discuss bracing, taping, and other strategies that people may use to reduce pain and improve function.

• Tough Choices: Exploring Medication Decision-Making During Pregnancy and Lactation Among Women With Inflammatory Arthritis. ACR Open Rheumatology.
• Improving Knowledge of Lactation Compatibility of Antirheumatic Medications Among Providers Who Care for Patients With Rheumatic Disease. ACR Open Rheumatology.
• Improved Pregnancy Outcome in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Followed an Ideal Clinical Pathway. ACR Arthritis Care & Research.

In this episode of ACR on Air, we reach the final installment of our vasculitis guideline miniseries. Dr. Hausmann is once again joined by Dr. Sharon Chung, lead author of the 2021 ACR/VF guidelines for managing systemic vasculitis, to discuss Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN). Dr. Chung weighs in on CTA over MRA for abdominal vascular imaging, and blind biopsy. Dr. Hausmann and Dr. Chung examine various patient scenarios for PAN symptoms and why they would meet the criteria for data testing.

In this episode of ACR on Air, we continue into part two of our Vasculitis miniseries with Dr. Sharon Chung, lead author of the 2021 ACR/VF guidelines for managing systemic vasculitis. Dr. Chung addresses how the guidelines were developed, the use of use temporal artery biopsy, and the on-going challenges with treating Takayasu's arteritis. She also highlights the success of non-invasive ultrasound techniques in Europe for diagnosing Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) and discusses the treatment approaches for GCA.

In this episode of ACR on Air we begin the first entry in our Vasculitis miniseries with Dr. Sharon Chung, where we take a detailed examination of the 2021 ACR/VF guidelines for managing systemic vasculitis. In part one of the series Dr. Chung will discuss the importance and creation of the guidelines along with the impact the author's hope to achieve. We then dive into the recommendations for ANCA-associated vasculitis, including: GPA, EGPA and MPA. We'll address controversial questions for treatment and the impacts that arise for COVID-19 vaccinations.

It's been seven months since the ACR released its COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Guidance for Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases, and we continue to learn more about navigating COVID-19 in rheumatology patients. Some real-world data has become available on patient outcomes. The FDA has issued an EUA for 3rd doses of an available mRNA vaccine in certain immunocompromised patients. Antibody testing continues to be heavily debated. And monoclonal antibody treatment has received an EUA to be used as a prophylaxis measure in patients at high risk for developing severe COVID-19. Dr. Jeff Curtis, Chair of the ACR COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance Task Force, joins us to discuss these developments, updated task force recommendations, and more.

On episode 21, we discussed alternative therapies that providers and patients can consider to support treatment plans for rheumatic diseases. On this episode, Dr. Monica Guma joins the show to talk about how diet may impact these conditions, positively or negatively.

The host, Dr. Guma nor the ACR suggest that patients with rheumatic conditions forgo traditional treatment plans recommended by trained rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals. Patients should continue to see their rheumatologist to discuss complements to their treatment plan.

So, what are we talking about today? A topic that comes up often between providers and patients—alternative and integrative therapies to help treat rheumatic conditions. Dr. Chenchen Wang joins the show to talk about a few of the popular therapies available for common conditions, address a few myths, and offer insight on how rheumatologists can support patients interested in these alternative options.

While we are taking time to discuss this popular topic, the host, Dr. Wang nor the ACR are suggesting that patients with rheumatic conditions forgo traditional treatment plans recommended by trained rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals. Patients should continue to see their rheumatologist for updates or additions to their treatment plan.