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Rheumatology
Hydroxychloroquine Monitoring: A Common Drug Seen in Primary Care
Posted By: 
Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | October 25, 2019
Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) has been a staple for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), and discoid lupus for many decades. It is also indicated for prevention and treatment of malaria caused by four types of protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. more >
Found in: Rheumatology
Medical Marijuana, Fibromyalgia, and PTSD
Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | August 23, 2019
Have you made up your mind about the use of medical marijuana in your practice? I haven’t yet, but writing this posting has improved my knowledge of its more >
Lyme Arthritis—From High Index of Suspicion to Diagnosis and Treatment
Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | August 20, 2019
An effusion of the knee(s) is the most common manifestation of Lyme arthritis, a late stage of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, the tick involved more >
How Do Drug Pricing Systems Work? If There Is More Competition, Shouldn’t the List Price Go Down?
Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | June 22, 2019
Have you ever noticed how much more expensive drug prices become every year? I think we have all noticed this increase, so this week I decided to look in to more >
What is the Best Treatment for Painful Osteoporotic Compression Fractures of the Spine?
Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | April 19, 2019
Pop quiz: What is the best method of treatment for osteoporotic compression fractures of the spine? Nonsurgical treatment (NST) Balloon kyphoplasty more >
A View of Rheumatology From 31 Years And 30,000 Feet
Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | April 16, 2019
The last 31 years of my PA career has been in the subspecialty of rheumatology. As I reflect on the changes in the field, I have become aware of the incredible more >
Expanding JAK Inhibitor Market for RA on the Horizon in 2019: “Which One Is the Best?”
Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | March 22, 2019
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatments continue to improve outcomes in the latest clinical trials. At the 2018 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) meeting more >
CARES Study Prompts FDA Boxed Warning on Febuxostat
Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | March 19, 2019
On February 21, 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a boxed warning on febuxostat. This was a result of the CARES study published in the more >
How Do You Make a Diagnosis of Gout Without Seeing MSU Crystals Under a Microscope?
Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | February 22, 2019
Primary care/urgent care/emergency rooms are all settings where acute monoarthritis is seen. The differential diagnosis includes acute crystal arthritis (gout, more >
Is Long-term Survival Associated With the Use of Nitrogen-containing Bisphosphonates?
Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | February 20, 2019
In the January issue of Osteoporosis International, there was an article entitled, “Mortality Risk Reduction Differs According to Bisphosphonate more >