The Evidence Based Rheumatology Podcast

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! 

Mixing it up again this week to discuss an editorial by Miguel Hernan and a systematic review of target trials in rheumatology. It's kind of a fun free-form stream of consciousness. Hope you enjoy! Links:    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5888052/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32381560/  

Quick episode today. I wanted to share an editorial that was recently published in Rheumatology, where I and co-authors (Shannon Tai and Natalie Anumolu) discuss lessons from recent trials in AAV and SLE.    Link to editorial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35438142/ 

After some delay, I finally get around to discussing ORAL-Surveillance, a post-marketing safety study of tofacitinib for rheumatoid arthritis. It's an incredibly important trial that will likely affect how all of us practice for the foreseeable future. Link to paper:    https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2109927

After a winter hiatus, the podcast is back! Today I wanted to dive into a 'hotbutton' issue - the question of whether (or not) COVID-19 vaccines "work" for patients with rheumatic diseases. My answer is an emphatic "yes," albeit with a few caveats. Here are the papers I discuss:    https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(22)00034-0/fulltext https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3...

Hello again! Snappy episode this week about the exciting LoVAS trial, which compared a reduced dose steroid taper for ANCA vasculitis. Be sure to drop by my website at ebrheum.com to subscribe to my newsletter! 

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Andy Abril, Chair at the Division of Rheumatology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida.  Dr. Abril is one of the lead authors for the 2021 ACR Guidelines on  Takayasu’s arteritis. This project was done in partnership with the Vasculitis Foundation. To review the complete guidelines, visit https://dev.vasculitisfoundation.org/2021-acr-vf-vasculitis-guidelines/...

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Jason Springer, Co-Director of the Vanderbilt Vasculitis Center, about the guidelines for PAN  He is one of the lead authors for the ACR/VF Guidelines for Polyarteritis Nodosa. This project was done in partnership with the Vasculitis Foundation. To review the complete guidelines, visit https://dev.vasculitisfoundation.org/2021-acr-vf-vasculitis-guidelines/ or vascu...

On today's episode I discuss GCA with Dr. Mehrdad Maz.  He is the Division Director of the Kansas University Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Section and served on the Steering Core Committee of the ACR-VF Vasculitis Treatment Guidelines. We cover a lot of great topics! This project was done in partnership with the Vasculitis Foundation. To review the complete guidelines, visit https:...

In today's episode, I talk with Dr. Mehrdad Maz about the newly published guidelines for giant cell arteritis (GCA).  Dr. Maz is the Division Director of the Kansas University Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Section. He serves on the Steering Core Committee of the ACR-VF Vasculitis Treatment Guidelines.  This project was done in partnership with the Vasculitis Foundation. To review t...

The guidelines have finally arrived!  I'm kicking off the series today with a conversation about the ANCA vasculitis guidelines.  My guest is Dr. Sharon Chung, the director of the UCSF Vasculitis Clinic and the lead investigator on the ACR/Guideline committee. She provided a LOT of great insights; have a listen and let us know what you think!  This project was done in partnership with the Vasculit...

Hopping in this week to round out my thoughts on ADVOCATE (avacopan in AAV) and covering the recently published AURORA trial for SLE nephritis. Back to the Vasculitis Guidelines Podcast after as soon as they are released! 

In this episode we'll be introducing the process by which the 2021 ACR/VF guidelines were produced.  My guest is Dr. Sharon Chung.  She's the director of the UCSF Vasculitis Clinic and the lead investigator on the guideline committee.  Please follow along with future episodes - you can find me @ebrheum and the Vasculitis Foundation is at @vasculitisfound and their website vasculitisfoundation.org.

Welcome to the first episode of the Vasculitis Guidelines Podcast! In Episode 1, I interview Joyce  Kullman, Executive Director of the Vasculitis Foundation, about collaborating with the ACR in updating these guidelines, and how patients with vasculitis will ultimately benefit from them. We discuss the complex process of updating these critical guidelines involve years of input from researchers, p...

Quick update on a new series! 

Steroid free remission! Or is it? This week I discuss a really exciting trial in ANCA vasculitis.  

I stole some time to tackle a pressing issue for rheumatologists - to hold or not to hold immunosuppression in patients who are receiving a COVID19 vaccination.  We obviously don't have any data on this, but I have always loved this study on influenza vaccination.  PDFs at ebrheum.com/twts and follow me on twitter @ebrheum! 

We have a great show for you this week!  Anisha Dua will be moderating a debate between myself and Max Konig on this motion: "Hydroxychloroquine levels should be monitored in patients with SLE."  I learned a ton and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Be sure to vote on the post-debate twitter poll to decide the winner! 

This week I cover another of my meta-research projects, this one on systematic review and meta analysis (SRMA) growth as compared to randomized clinical trial (RCT) growth.  Short and to the point - hope you enjoy! I highly recommend checking out the associated graphs - just take a quick peek at some point while listening. Find them on my twitter handle @ebrheum 

Active comparator trial! Always my favorite.  Lots of fun topics in this one, including noninferiority trials, crafty endpoints, and PROs.  Check it out and let me know what you think! @ebrheum 

Another day, another lupus trial, another round of endpoint shenanigans.  Why does that matter? How big is the benefit from belimumab in SLE nephritis? Will this save lives and prevent ESRD / RRT? I try to tackle these issues this week and (hopefully) avoid getting myself in trouble.  Hope you enjoy the episode!  Let me know what you think @ebrheum on twitter! 

Great paper to discuss this week - one that may be too good to believe? I highly recommend checking out the pdf first (ebrheum.com/twts) - their graphics are wonderful and do a great job of conveying their message.  Also, check out the "2-5-10" rule that I referenced!  This is required reading for anyone who rotates with me - easily one of the most useful EBM papers I have ever read. 

Quick podcast this week that expands on issues I discuss in Episode 55.  Go back and listen to that one first if you have time!  I think this is an important issue and it's one I'd like to highlight.  Let me know what you think @ebrheum and please share with friends! 

The podcast is back!  I tune in briefly here to explain where I've been, what I'm doing, and where this will be headed. Feel free to skip right ahead if you'd rather just dig back in! 

PEXIVAS has landed!  This week I go over the trial and my take on it's results.  Impressive undertaking that answered two questions for a subset of patients with AAV - well worth the time to kick back and read the trial in full. Let me know what you think about the podcast @ebrheum!