The Evidence Based Rheumatology Podcast

E30: The Quality of RCTs in the Rheum Literature

We're back!  This week I discuss work I did for the rheumatology winter clinical symposium on the quality of RCTs in the rheumatologic literature.  Be sure to follow the twitter handle for a descriptive slide and to weigh in on the podcast! @ebrheum

E29: CIRT and CANTOS - Immunotherapy for Cardiovascular Disease

Double episode this week and then I'll be taking the holidays off.  I decided to combine two trials of immunotherapy for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, the CANTOS trial (canakinumab vs. placebo) and the CIRT trial (methotrexate vs. placebo).  It was a good opportunity to debunk both therapies and take a few pot shots at observational trials, "bioplausibility," and surrogate endpoints. Both papers are available on my box account here.

E28: Nurse Run Treat to Target vs. Usual Care? in Gout

Interesting trial this week pitting an elaborate nurse led group against suboptimal usual care.  Suboptimal usual care lost pretty badly, but what to make of this?  And does it support the rheumatologist side of the treat to target controversy?  Listen to find out and be sure to follow on @EBRheum if you have your own thoughts! 

E27: Opioids vs. Non-opioids for OA Pain: The SPACE RCT

Great article that (kind of) proves something a lot of us already believed; non-opioids management of chronic pain is preferable to opioid management.  Lots of caveats, there, as this was a pragmatic trial (literally) with a number of interesting limitations. Follow me @EBRheum to give feedback and go here to get all of the papers!

E26: Housekeeping 1

Every 25 episodes I'd like to step back and touch base about where the podcast is headed.  Thanks to everyone who has been listening! Apologies for nothing exciting or useful this week.  

E25: MAINRITSAN 2 - Fixed vs. Tailored Rituxan for AAV

Interesting trial this week evaluating a fixed schedule of rituximab vs. a tailored approach to therapy. See you all at ACR this week! 

E24: Intra-articular Steroid vs. Placebo for Knee OA

Solid RCT this week that may rock your faith in all those pesky knee injections! Worth a listen before you do another.  Find the original article here as usual. 

E23: Stress Related Disorders and Subsequent Autoimmune Disease

Great article this week on stress related disorders and their relationship with subsequent autoimmune disease. One of my favorite recent papers from my least favorite way to do a study!  Remember, all my articles can be found here!

E22: Ustekinumab for Giant Cell Arteritis

Quick episode today on a small prospective trial on ustekinumab for giant cell arteritis.  Papers can all be found here! 

E21: ACE Levels for Sarcoidosis

This weeks episode discusses the utility of the ACE level in sarcoidosis. Lots of LRs, sensitivty, and specificities today!