The Rheumatology Podcast

Digital and Co-Editor Dr James Galloway interviews Prof. Dr. med. Wolfgang Schmidt (Immanuel Krankenhaus Berlin, Germany) about his review on the use of ultrasound in diagnosing and managing giant cell arteritis (GCA). They discuss the importance of further clinical investigation when dealing with possible cases of GCA, as well as the benefits and challenges of using MRI and PET scans. Prof. Schmidt’s review was published in February 2018.

Digital and Co-Editor Dr James Galloway interviews Prof. Dr. med. Wolfgang Schmidt (Immanuel Krankenhaus Berlin, Germany) about his review on the use of ultrasound in diagnosing and managing giant cell arteritis (GCA). They discuss the importance of further clinical investigation when dealing with possible cases of GCA, as well as the benefits and challenges of using MRI and PET scans. Prof. Schmidt’s review was published in February 2018.

Editor-in-Chief Dr Marwan Bukhari interviews Dr Laura Cappelli (Johns Hopkins University, USA) about her recent paper, which examines the frequency of shared epitope (SE) alleles in patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced inflammatory arthritis. The study found that over 60% of these patients possessed at least one SE allele, and included comparisons to both rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy controls. This paper is the Editor’s Choice for March 2019.

Editor-in-Chief Dr Marwan Bukhari interviews Dr Laura Cappelli (Johns Hopkins University, USA) about her recent paper, which examines the frequency of shared epitope (SE) alleles in patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced inflammatory arthritis. The study found that over 60% of these patients possessed at least one SE allele, and included comparisons to both rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy controls. This paper is the Editor’s Choice for March 2019.

Dr James Galloway talks to Dr Sujith Subesinghe, Kings College London, about his recent paper which looked at biologic prescribing decisions following serious infection in RA patients.

Dr James Galloway talks to Dr Sujith Subesinghe, Kings College London, about his recent paper which looked at biologic prescribing decisions following serious infection in RA patients.

Dr James Galloway talks to Dr Sujith Subesinghe, Kings College London, about his recent paper which looked at biologic prescribing decisions following serious infection in RA patients. Analyses of data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register showed that patients who continued or switched their TNFi post-index SI had a lower risk of recurrent SI infection compared with those who stopped the drug. Reasons for this are discussed, and the clinical implications of the findings are highlighted.

Dr James Galloway talks to Dr Sujith Subesinghe, Kings College London, about his recent paper which looked at biologic prescribing decisions following serious infection in RA patients. Analyses of data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register showed that patients who continued or switched their TNFi post-index SI had a lower risk of recurrent SI infection compared with those who stopped the drug. Reasons for this are discussed, and the clinical implications of the findings are highlighted.

Dr James Galloway talks to Dr Chris Holroyd, consultant rheumatologist at University Hospital Southampton, UK, about the new and updated BSR biologic DMARD safety guidelines in inflammatory arthritis. This guideline provides updates on screening before commencing a biologic, particularly the requirement for every patient to be screened for tuberculosis, using a tuberculin skin test (TST) or IFN-γ release assay (IGRA). In addition, there are changes for vaccination requirements before starting a biologic, and what to do before surgery.

Dr James Galloway talks to Dr Chris Holroyd, consultant rheumatologist at University Hospital Southampton, UK, about the new and updated BSR biologic DMARD safety guidelines in inflammatory arthritis. This guideline provides updates on screening before commencing a biologic, particularly the requirement for every patient to be screened for tuberculosis, using a tuberculin skin test (TST) or IFN-γ release assay (IGRA). In addition, there are changes for vaccination requirements before starting a biologic, and what to do before surgery.