RhAPPcast

In this journal club episode, Jeannette Hart, PA-C—co-founder of PNW Arthritis and Rheumatology and practicing at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Washington—reviews pivotal findings from the SAPPHIRE trial, which led to the FDA approval of sarilumab for the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Published in the New England Journal of Medicine in October 2023, this phase 3 randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy an...

In this FAQ video, Claudia Rivera, NP, a rheumatology nurse practitioner from East Lansing, Michigan, discusses when to consider a steroid-sparing agent in the management of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and what treatment options are available. While prednisone remains the cornerstone of PMR therapy, long-term steroid use poses significant risks including osteoporosis, diabetes, adrenal suppression, and infection. Claudia reviews g...

In this video, Kyle George, PA-C, a rheumatology physician assistant with St. Luke’s Rheumatology in Idaho, reviews the key clinical takeaways from the 2015 ACR and EULAR treatment guidelines for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). PMR is a common inflammatory condition in older adults, marked by bilateral shoulder or hip girdle pain and stiffness. Kyle discusses the diagnostic criteria, the hallmark rapid response to low-dose glucocorti...

In this video, clinical pharmacist and RhAPP faculty member Danielle Gatti Palumbo breaks down the mechanism of action of methotrexate, explaining how this folate antimetabolite works to inhibit DNA synthesis, reduce inflammation, and regulate immune response.

Methotrexate is a folate antimetabolite that plays a crucial role in inhibiting DNA synthesis, repair, and cellular replication, making it a widely used treatment for autoimm...

In this journal club session, Danielle Gatti-Palumbo, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist at Northwell Health Division of Rheumatology, explores the safety and efficacy of deucravacitinib, a first-in-class, oral selective TYK2 inhibitor approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (Feb 2025) by Dr. Milan Shaw and colleagues, the expert consensus review highlights six ...

In this episode of RhAPPcast, the official podcast of Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers (RhAPP), host Amanda Mixon, PA-C, dives into the evolving role of TYK2 inhibition in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Joined by special guest and PsA expert Eileen Lydon, NP, the episode unpacks the science behind the TYK2/STAT signaling pathway, how it differs from traditional JAK inhibition, and what this means for patient ca...

Hydroxychloroquine is a cornerstone therapy in rheumatology, offering significant benefits for mild rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and lupus. In this video, Jessica Farrell, PharmD, clinical pharmacist in rheumatology at Albany Medical Center and faculty at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, explores the dosing, safety, and clinical applications of hydroxychloroquine.

Jessica Farrell explains the weight-based dosing strategy...

In this FAQ Video Module, Christy Vath, PA-C, a seasoned rheumatology expert from Seattle Rheumatology Associates, explores how the selectivity of TYK2 and JAK enzyme inhibition impacts safety profiles. She provides a clear comparison between traditional pan-JAK inhibitors and selective TYK2 inhibitors like deucravacitinib, highlighting their differing mechanisms of action and clinical implications.

Christy breaks down how TYK2’s se...

Join Monica Richey, NP, with 20+ years of experience in Rheumatology, as she breaks down the latest 2024 ACR guidelines for monitoring lupus nephritis. Learn the best practices for urine testing, protein-creatinine ratios, and medication adjustments to ensure optimal patient care.

She emphasizes the importance of regular urine tests, protein-creatinine ratio checks, and full blood panels to track disease progression and adjust treat...

Join Audrey Gibson, PA-C, a seasoned rheumatology provider at the Arthritis Center of North Georgia with 18 years of clinical experience, as she explores the question: Can patients recapture their response to IL-17 inhibitor therapy after an interruption or discontinuation?

In this discussion, Audrey reviews key findings from a pivotal clinical trial by Landewé et al., which examined the recapture and retreatment rates of Ixekizumab...

In this expert-led video, Stacey Johnson, NP-C, from the Montana Arthritis Center, breaks down the 2024 ACR Guidelines for Lupus Nephritis and highlights key treatment strategies—including hydroxychloroquine dosing, steroid pulse and taper regimens, and the role of triple therapy. Learn how to tailor treatment for Class III, IV, and V Lupus Nephritis using combinations like mycophenolate, belimumab, calcineurin inhibitors, and low-...

Join Iris Zink, a rheumatology nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience, as she explores the safety profile of TYK2 inhibitors, with a focus on deucravacitinib—an oral, first-in-class selective TYK2 inhibitor. In this video, Iris reviews key findings from a February 2025 expert consensus published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, where 10 leading dermatologists across the U.S. assessed the safety of deucravacitini...

Join Danielle Gatti Palumbo, Clinical Pharmacist at Northwell Health Division of Rheumatology, as she presents an integrated analysis of clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of voclosporin in the treatment of lupus nephritis. Drawing from the AURA-LV and AURORA-1 trials—two of the largest lupus nephritis studies conducted to date—this update highlights voclosporin’s unique role as a novel calcineurin inhibitor that do...

In this video, Iris Zink, rheumatology nurse practitioner and clinic owner in East Lansing, Michigan, breaks down the mechanism of action of deucravacitinib, a first-in-class oral selective TYK2 inhibitor, and explains its role in managing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. With over 25 years of experience serving underserved populations, Iris uses memorable analogies to simplify the complex TYK2/STAT signaling pathway and help you...

In this episode of RhAPPcast, host Amanda Mixon, PA-C, is joined by Monica Richey, NP, and Danielle Gatti-Palumbo, PharmD, for a practical and engaging discussion on how to apply the 2023 ACR guidelines for lupus nephritis to real-world clinical practice. Together, they walk through a complex patient case, highlighting key decision points including when to order a kidney biopsy, how to interpret proteinuria and complement levels, a...

Join Cassie Dolecki, PharmD, a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Rheumatology at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as she explores the real-world effectiveness of Guselkumab in the management of psoriatic arthritis.

This discussion highlights recent findings from the CorEvitas Psoriatic Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis Registry, which assessed six-month persistence and effectiveness rates in adult PsA patients. The ...

Join Iris Zink, a seasoned rheumatology nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience, as she explains the TYK2/STAT signaling pathway and the immunologic rationale behind TYK2-directed therapy for treating psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. This video breaks down how TYK2 inhibitors—like deucravacitinib—selectively target the regulatory domain of the TYK2 enzyme, distinguishing them from traditional JAK inhibitors and minimi...

Join Amanda Mixon, PA-C, President of RhAPP, as she hosts an insightful discussion with Will Saalfeld, NP, a leading rheumatology expert and RhAPP faculty member. In this episode, they break down the key differences between IL-17A and IL-17F inhibition and explore how these distinctions impact patient outcomes in rheumatology.

IL-17A and IL-17F play central roles in inflammation and autoimmune disease, but their unique functions mea...

In this video, Jessica Farrell, PharmD—clinical pharmacist at Albany Medical Center and professor at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences—explains the clinically meaningful differences between voclosporin and other calcineurin inhibitors, such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus, in the treatment of lupus nephritis. She highlights how voclosporin’s unique molecular structure leads to increased potency, faster elimination, and ...