The Rheumatology Podcast

Dr Marwan Bukhari talks to Dr Susan Goodman, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA, about her paper on management of perioperative TNFα inhibitors in RA patients undergoing arthroplasty. Evidence from the literature suggests an increase in surgical site infections in patients either currently or recently using TNF inhibitors. They discuss the need for these findings to be confirmed by prospective studies in the context of other infection risks such as higher disease activity, corticosteroid use, smoking and diabetes.

Dr Faith Matcham, King’s College London, UK, discusses her recent paper on the relationship between depression and biologic treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis with Dr James Galloway. Analysis of data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register showed patients who reported symptoms of depression at baseline had a reduced likelihood of having a good treatment response and a much-reduced improvement in disease activity at 1-year follow-up. They discussed the importance of considering mental health comorbidity when treating patients.

Dr Faith Matcham, King’s College London, UK, discusses her recent paper on the relationship between depression and biologic treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis with Dr James Galloway. Analysis of data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register showed patients who reported symptoms of depression at baseline had a reduced likelihood of having a good treatment response and a much-reduced improvement in disease activity at 1-year follow-up. They discussed the importance of considering mental health comorbidity when treating patients.

Prof Seror, Université Paris, France and Dr Marwan Bukhari discuss the recently published study investigating the link between smoking status and the risk of incident RA. The study found that passive exposure to smoking in childhood may increase the risk of RA in future light and non-smokers. Prof Seror highlights the importance of ensuring a tobacco free environment for children, especially when a family history of RA is present.

Prof Seror, Université Paris, France and Dr Marwan Bukhari discuss the recently published study investigating the link between smoking status and the risk of incident RA. The study found that passive exposure to smoking in childhood may increase the risk of RA in future light and non-smokers. Prof Seror highlights the importance of ensuring a tobacco free environment for children, especially when a family history of RA is present.

Dr Marwan Bukhari and Dr John Hanly, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, talk about his paper on the frequency and outcome of lupus nephritis in a prospective SLE inception cohort. In the SLICC inception cohort study, 38% percent of patients developed lupus nephritis within the first 5 years of disease, with 10% of these developing end stage renal disease at 10 year follow-up.

Dr Marwan Bukhari and Dr Edward Roddy, Keele University, UK, talk about the recently conducted gout audit.

Dr Marwan Bukhari and Dr Edward Roddy, Keele University, UK, talk about the recently conducted gout audit. In this, data from 91 UK rheumatology departments was collected, assessing on the concordance of gout management with evidence-based best-practice recommendations. Dr Roddy states the audit found most areas of gout management concorded well with guidelines for treatment, with treat to target being the main area with shortfalls. He highlights the importance of increasing efforts to achieve treat to target recommendations to improve gout patients’ quality of life.

Dr Marwan Bukhari and Dr Edward Roddy, Keele University, UK, talk about the recently conducted gout audit. In this, data from 91 UK rheumatology departments was collected, assessing on the concordance of gout management with evidence-based best-practice recommendations. Dr Roddy states the audit found most areas of gout management concorded well with guidelines for treatment, with treat to target being the main area with shortfalls. He highlights the importance of increasing efforts to achieve treat to target recommendations to improve gout patients’ quality of life.

Dr Marwan Bukhari and Dr Edward Roddy, Keele University, UK, talk about the recently conducted gout audit. In this, data from 91 UK rheumatology departments was collected, assessing on the concordance of gout management with evidence-based best-practice recommendations. Dr Roddy states the audit found most areas of gout management concorded well with guidelines for treatment, with treat to target being the main area with shortfalls. He highlights the importance of increasing efforts to achieve treat to target recommendations to improve gout patients’ quality of life.