The Evidence Based Rheumatology Podcast

E96: Long COVID - Where to After Norway?

Today I cover the recently published long-COVID study from Norway. It's a great paper that challenges much of the prevailing wisdom. I think there are some interesting limitations, but anyone who sees post COVID patients (aka all of us) would do well to read it. Or have a listen here! 

 

PDF: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2802893

E95: Rituximab or Cyclophosphamide in ANCA Vasculitis

Fun study this week from JAMA Network Open and the French Vasculitis Study Group. They used a target trial emulation (one of my favorites) to ask whether RTX > CYC in AAV (another one of my favorites). I tried to use this to compare between observational and randomized data. 

 

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2799018 

E94: Steroids and Psoriasis Flares

This week I hope to debunk one of rheumatology's "paradoxes." We love to talk about these and subject our fellows to memorizing them for the boards. We often use them to guide clinical practice, but I suspect that many "paradoxes" are actually the result of shoddy epidemiology. Todays' paper from JAMA dermatology covers one that I have heard frequently, which is that steroids cause psoriasis flares. I hope you enjoy!

Follow me @ebrheum and check out my newsletter where I cover more of these (links on ebrheum.com) 

E93: Azathioprine is the Worst

Today I'll be reading one of my recent newsletters! It's kind of a fun run-down of my anti-azathioprine stance. As I say in the piece, some patients may benefit from azathioprine and I am not saying it is an entirely useless drug or that nobody should ever prescribe it. Rather, I am just saying that it is likely the worst option for nearly every indication for which it could be prescribed.

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E92: Are muscle symptoms from statins imaginary?

Today I review a recent large meta analysis of randomized controlled trials of statin use. Super interesting findings that have changed my clinical practice. Check out the paper here and listen to the episode! 

 

Paper: https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(22)01545-8/fulltext

"Internet driven cult" editorial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28738422/

 

E91: Clinical Innovation in Rheumatology: Past, Present, and Future

Change of pace today! I interviewed Jason Liebowitz and Phil Seo about their new book entitled "Clinical Innovation in Rheumatology: Past, Present, and Future." I thoroughly enjoyed the book and had a great time interviewing them about some of their "futuristic" topics. Grab the book (or better yet, have your division get some copies) at the link below and be sure to share the podcast with friends! 

 

https://www.routledge.com/Clinical-Innovation-in-Rheumatology-Past-Present-and-Future/Liebowitz-Seo/p/book/9781032074917

E90: There Is No Diagnosis of Exclusion in Rheumatology

Quick episode this week to share an editorial I recently wrote with Jay Patel and Anisha Dua. We cover one of my least phrases in medicine, the "diagnosis of exclusion." 

 

Hope you enjoy! Find the original paper here: https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/advance-article/doi/10.1093/rheumatology/keac278/6584804

E89: Vitamin D to Prevent Osteoporotic Fractures

Exciting (negative) results from a large RCT on the podcast this week as well as a (mini) rant about how we should be spending our time as rheumatologists and the false security of ineffective treatments. 

Let me know what you think on twitter @ebhruem

 

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2202106

E88: HCQ Dose Reductions and SLE Flares

Interesting case-crossover study today evaluating the association between HCQ dosing and risk of SLE flares. Super worth your time to read the paper or listen to this episode! 

 

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2796634

E87: IVIG for Dermatomyositis

Podcast is back! This week I discuss a pivotal RCT in dermatomyositis. Check it out and be sure to subscribe to my newsletter at ebrheum.com!