RhAPPcast

In this essential episode of RhAPPcast, the official podcast of Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers, host Amanda Mixon, PA-C, is joined by lupus expert and RhAPP faculty member Monica Richey, NP, to discuss the latest ACR guidelines for lupus nephritis and what they mean for advanced practice providers (APPs). Together, they explore how these updated recommendations mark a significant shift i...

Join Audrey Gibson, PA-C, from the Arthritis Center of North Georgia, as she explores the latest clinical comparisons between IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors in managing moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The ECLIPSE trial, published in The Lancet, compared Guselkumab (IL-23 inhibitor) vs. Secukinumab (IL-17 inhibitor) over 48 weeks. Guselkumab showed superior long...

Join Jessica Farrell, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist at Albany Med’s Division of Dermatology and professor at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, as she explores a key head-to-head clinical trial comparing Ixekizumab (IL-17 inhibitor) vs. Guselkumab (IL-23 inhibitor) for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. This British Journal of Dermatology study, published in December 2019, provides...

Join Danielle Gatti Palumbo, Clinical Pharmacist at Northwell Health's Division of Rheumatology in Long Island, New York, as she provides an in-depth breakdown of the mechanism of action of Voclosporin (Lupkynis), a next-generation calcineurin inhibitor used in the treatment of lupus nephritis and other autoimmune diseases. Voclosporin plays a critical role in immune modulation by inhibiting calci...

The 2024 ACR guidelines introduce important updates for the screening, treatment, and monitoring of lupus nephritis, with a focus on preserving renal function, reducing chronic kidney disease morbidity, and minimizing medication-related toxicities. In this video, Lisa Asfahani, PA-C, a rheumatology expert with over 11 years of experience, breaks down these new recommendations. She discusses the im...

Join Amber Hudgins, PharmD, a pharmacist specializing in rheumatology and specialty pharmacy at Novant Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as she provides a concise yet insightful review of the long-term safety of Guselkumab in patients with psoriatic disease, including psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. This discussion highlights a comprehensive integrated analysis of 11 Phase 2 and Phase 3...

Join Danielle Gatti Palumbo, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist and RhAPP Board member, alongside Monica Richey, NP, a renowned rheumatology specialist and educator, as they discuss a challenging and unexpected clinical case live from the RhAPP National Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. This special RhAPPcast episode explores a real-world scenario of a patient who unexpectedly became pregnant while o...

Stacey Johnson, NP, a rheumatology specialist at Montana Arthritis Center, discusses key updates in the 2024 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines for lupus nephritis, with a strong emphasis on minimizing glucocorticoid exposure to prevent long-term complications. The updated guidelines focus on achieving a daily glucocorticoid dose of 5 mg or less within six months of initiating thera...

Join Katie Springer, PA-C, a rheumatology specialist at Northwestern Medicine in Lake Forest, Illinois, as she dives into critical tools for measuring disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and how they shape treatment strategies for improved patient outcomes. Accurate assessment of PsA requires disease-specific tools beyond traditional rheumatoid arthritis (RA) measures. The Disease Activi...

Claudia Rivera Salas, DNP, a nurse practitioner at Pine Hollow Partners in East Lansing, Michigan, shares firsthand insights into the rapid efficacy of Ixekizumab in treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. One of the most common questions patients ask is how quickly they can expect relief, and the answer is simple—fast. From the first injection, many patients begin to see significant improveme...

Monica Richey, NP, a seasoned rheumatology specialist with two decades of experience, provides an in-depth review of the 2024 lupus nephritis screening and diagnosis guidelines. As systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains a leading cause of kidney-related complications, early detection and accurate diagnostic methods are essential for improving patient outcomes. This expert-led discussion explor...

In this episode of RhAPPcast, Amanda Mixon, PA-C, President of RhAPP and a practicing physician assistant in Northern Colorado, is joined by Jennifer Mylod, NP, a seasoned rheumatology provider at Arizona Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates in Phoenix, Arizona, to discuss the latest American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guideline updates for lupus nephritis. With the first ACR guideline update...

Join Amanda Mixon, PA-C, President of RhAPP and a practicing physician assistant in Northern Colorado, as she highlights the critical role of early detection and management in lupus nephritis. With up to 50% of lupus patients developing kidney involvement, proactive screening and timely intervention are essential to preventing severe complications, including end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Lupus n...

Join Jennifer Mylod, NP, from Arizona Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates in Phoenix, as she breaks down the differences between randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and real-world evidence (RWE) in assessing psoriatic arthritis treatments. While RCTs provide highly controlled data on efficacy and safety, RWE offers valuable insights into how treatments perform in everyday clinical practice. RCTs...

Join Amanda Mixon, PA-C, a physician assistant in Northern Colorado and President of RhAPP, as she unpacks the latest ACR guidelines for lupus nephritis. These updates mark a major shift in treatment, incorporating new therapies that enhance disease management while reducing medication toxicity. Previous guidelines relied heavily on high-dose steroids with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or cyclophosp...

In this episode, Danielle Gatti Palumbo, PharmD, clinical pharmacist, RhAPP faculty member, and RhAPP Board member, explores a pivotal study evaluating the effectiveness of Methotrexate (MTX) and Leflunomide as steroid-sparing agents in Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR). Published in Rheumatology Advances in Practice, this multicenter observational study examines data from 23 rheumatology clinics acros...

In this episode of RhAPPcast, Amanda Mixon, PA-C, President of Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers (RhAPP), is joined by Audrey Gibson, PA-C, a seasoned rheumatology provider with nearly two decades of experience in private practice near Atlanta, Georgia. Together, they explore the latest clinical findings from the Discover trials, discuss the anticipated STAR trial (2025), and highlight how...

Join Amber Hudgins, PharmD, CPP, as she unpacks the findings from the SPIRIT Head-to-Head Study, providing critical insights into biologic therapy selection for PsA management. How does Methotrexate (MTX) influence the efficacy of Ixekizumab (IXE) compared to Adalimumab (ADA) in biologic-naïve Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) patients? The study highlights key differences in treatment response with and w...

Join Kyle George, PA-C, a rheumatology expert in Idaho, as he breaks down two key radiographic scoring systems for psoriatic arthritis (PsA)—the Modified van der Heijde Sharp Score (mVHS) and the Modified Total Sharp Score (MTSS). These tools help clinicians assess structural damage, track disease progression, and guide treatment decisions. The mVHS score evaluates joint erosion, joint space narro...

Join Jessica Farrell, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist at Albany Medical Center’s Division of Rheumatology and Professor at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, as she examines the efficacy of Ixekizumab (Taltz) across key GRAPPA (Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis) domains in treating psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis. This discussion highlights how...

Join Cassie Dolecki, PharmD, BCPS, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Rheumatology at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, PA, as she reviews the comprehensive safety data of Guselkumab (Tremfya) in the management of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis. The Discover-2 trial provides critical insights into the safety of Guselkumab compared to placebo in biologic-naïve PsA patients, highlighting...

Join Kyle George, PA-C, a practicing physician assistant in Idaho, as he answers a frequently asked question: How does axial psoriatic arthritis (Axial PsA) differ from ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in clinical presentation, genetic associations, and radiographic findings? This session delves into critical distinctions between these conditions, including differences in joint involvement, disease pro...

Join Jessica Farrell, PharmD, clinical pharmacist at Albany Medical Center’s Division of Rheumatology and faculty at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, as she delves into real-world evidence on Guselkumab for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). In this session, she breaks down findings from a study published in Rheumatology and Therapy (August 2023) by Dr. Miscol, which evaluates the six-month...

Join Amanda Mixon, PA-C, President of RhAPP, and Candace Ryan, PA-C, as they explore the evolving discussion around IL-17 inhibitors and their potential impact on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in this episode of RhAPPcast. IL-17 inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis, offering targeted therapy for chronic inflammatory conditio...

Join Heather Mambretti, PA-C, a rheumatology expert in Houston, Texas, and RhAPP member, as she explores the critical role of CD64-positive binding in IL-23 inhibition and its impact on autoimmune disease treatment. CD64, a high-affinity receptor expressed on myeloid lineage immune cells, plays a pivotal role in inflammatory signaling. IL-23, a key driver of inflammation in psoriatic arthritis, ps...