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Treating RA

Triple Therapy / Combination Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Kelly Young 5 Comments ,
Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis In the past few decades, Rheumatoid Arthritis has been treated with therapies designed for other diseases. It was not always clear how these drugs treated Rheumatoid Arthritis / Rheumatoid Disease, but they were found to reduce immune activity in various ways. Because researchers recognized certain drugs could slow or modify progression of...Continue reading      5 Comments » Read more

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Treat to Target

Kelly Young 2 Comments , ,
The treat to target (T2T) approach involves defining a treatment goal or “target” and modifying the therapy if the target is not reached. Treating to a target of remission or low disease activity Treat to target (T2T) is an approach to treating Rheumatoid Arthritis / Rheumatoid Disease (RD) that combines aggressive or intensive treatment with disease modifying...Continue reading      2 Comments » Read more

Efficacy of Xeljanz, Biologics, & DMARDs in Rheumatoid Disease

Kelly Young 44 Comments , , ,
Why should I feel like I failed? I’m not alone We probably agree it’s unfair to say, “patients fail treatments” instead of the reverse, but there is still disappointment. I was optimistic that my Rheumatoid disease would respond to Xeljanz, the new oral DMARD (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug) from Pfizer. Unfortunately, my joint stiffness and inflammation,...Continue reading      44 Comments » Read more

Ciprofloxacin / Fluoroquinolone Tendon Dangers with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Kelly Young 37 Comments ,
My brief story about ciprofloxacin and Rheumatoid Arthritis I got a kidney infection shortly after starting Enbrel. It was Good Friday 2009. My kidney hurt and fever spiked to 104.5, after 3 days of UTI. Before then, I’d only had a minor UTI  with pregnancy. This is when my GP got the nickname “Good GP” because...Continue reading      37 Comments » Read more

Xeljanz Rejected by European Medicines Agency

Kelly Young 29 Comments ,
EMA rejects Xeljanz authorization Late yesterday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) rejected the Pfizer’s application to market Xeljanz (tofacitinib). The EMA application was refused because the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) “adopted a negative opinion” on approving Xeljanz, stating they were unconvinced its risks outweighed benefits. Last November, the FDA approved the 5mg...Continue reading      29 Comments » Read more

New Blood Test for Rheumatoid Arthritis: 14-3-3eta

Kelly Young 27 Comments ,
New Rheumatoid Arthritis test based on blood marker 14-3-3η Yesterday, April 9, 2013, Quest Diagnostics announced a new blood test for Rheumatoid Arthritis based on a new protein biomarker, 14-3-3η. The test is available in the U.S. only at Quest labs through an exclusive agreement with Augurex Life Sciences, Corp. Several studies have investigated the relationship...Continue reading      27 Comments » Read more

Where the Rubber Meets the Road or What If Only the Cancer in Dave’s Kidneys Was Treated?

Kelly Young 21 Comments , ,
Measuring disease activity: where rubber meets the road Recently a rheumatologist friend told me of needing to prove ACR20 (a measure of 20 percent improvement) in order for a patient to continue receiving a biologic treatment. I don’t know whether it was private or government insurance, but something bothered me about it. Of course, 20 percent improvement...Continue reading      21 Comments » Read more

Why Rheumatoid Disease Patients Still Fall through the Cracks

Kelly Young 69 Comments ,
“Well, at least it’s nothing serious.” How many rheumatoid patients have heard that, some even from doctors? Last week, after Danita’s story, I wanted to share with you this letter to the editor of Musculoskeletal Network, but health issues and life and a board meeting delayed me. The letter below is my response to the Musculoskeletal...Continue reading      69 Comments » Read more

21 Tips to Prepare for a Biologic Infusion

Kelly Young 18 Comments ,
How can patients get ready for a Biologic infusion? Doreen asked how to prepare for her upcoming Rituxan infusion. Here are some general tips that might help with any kind of Biologic infusion. As usual, I’ve learned most of these from other patients and from the effective teacher called experience. The orange Rituxan blanket was a gift...Continue reading      18 Comments » Read more
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