Apremilast (Otezla®) received FDA approval on March 21, 2014 for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). It is the first oral medication in the U.S. with an approved indication for the treatment of PsA. The recommended dose is 30 mg BID
Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®) gained FDA approval in September/October 2013 for two new indications, adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and adults with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Ustekinumab (Stelara®) received FDA approval in September 2013 for a new indication of the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), alone or in combination with methotrexate.
Depression and anxiety are more common among individuals with arthritis than among the general population. Yet, these mood disorders are still underdiagnosed and undertreated in arthritis patients despite data that depression and anxiety affect important outcomes such as functional ability, pain, and quality of life.
Screening for latent TB in patients with inflammatory arthritis who will be starting TNFα inhibitors is important to prevent complications of TB-reactivation. However, currently there is no ‘gold standard’ for the diagnosis of latent TB.
Many autoimmune diseases have a female predominance. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are no exception. Both of these diseases can affect young women in their reproductive years, but little is known about the impact of RA and SLE on a woman’s opinion regarding pregnancy or, further, how this translates into family planning.
