Top in rheumatology: ‘COVID toes,’ global vaccination efforts

At a recent medical conference, Alisa N. Femia, MD, a dermatologist at NYU Langone Health, reviewed case reports of dermatological conditions, such as “COVID toes,” that rheumatologists may encounter.

A summary of her talk was the top story in rheumatology last week.

Another top story was about global vaccination efforts. A researcher who helped developed the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine emphasized the need to vaccinate “the entire world” to protect everyone — even fully vaccinated individuals — from new, more dangerous variants.

Read these and more top stories in rheumatology below:

Diagnosing 'COVID toes' and other challenges in the derm-rheum overlap

So-called “COVID toes” and other cutaneous manifestations of the virus are not the only dermatologic challenges that a rheumatologist may face, according to a presenter at the 2021 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology-East. Read more.

J&J COVID vaccine researcher: US 'can't be safe' until entire world is vaccinated

So long as COVID-19 continues to spread and develop variants around the world, no one — even those in areas with high vaccine coverage — can be safe, according to Dan Barouch, MD, PhD, whose lab helped develop the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Read more.

From 'success' to 'madness': Rheumatologists share their worldwide COVID-19 experiences

Attendees at the Association of Women in Rheumatology 2021 Annual Conference heard global perspectives from their rheumatology colleagues in Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Brazil and India. Read more.

Global tocilizumab shortage intensifies after demand spikes to treat delta variant

Demand for tocilizumab IV (Actemra, Genentech) has outpaced the global supply, exacerbated by increased demand following the drug’s emergency use authorization for COVID-19 and the surge in delta variant cases, the American College of Rheumatology reported. Read more.

COVID-19 spurs rheumatologists to wear additional 'immunologist, virtualist' hats

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, rheumatologists have experienced a dramatic expansion of their typical roles, taking on attributes of immunologists and virtualists to effectively manage care, according to a presenter. Read more.