April 11, 2020 Q&A: Rheumatologist Dr. Randy Cron on COVID-19 and the cytokine storm In this Q&A, Randy Q. Cron, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatric rheumatologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, discusses the role of rheumatologists in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with COVID-19, particularly those who are critically ill and experiencing a cytokine storm syndrome.   Rheumatic Disease Outcomes Being Tracked in COVID-19 Registry In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Global Rheumatology Alliance has been created to collect data on how the virus is affecting patients with rheumatic diseases or those who are taking immunosuppressive therapies. The alliance, which includes 300 rheumatologists, scientists and patients from throughout the world, has created a registry for physicians to report COVID-19 cases.   Quiz: What RA drugs are under study as possible COVID-19 treatments? The American College of Rheumatology has issued a series of COVID-19 guiding principles for healthcare professionals who treat patients with rheumatic disease. In this quiz, we highlight a few of the key points the organization, and other healthcare experts, have made in recent weeks.   Awkward Conversations: Assessing and Responding to Domestic Violence Shelter-in-place orders have led to a "horrifying surge in domestic violence," says the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The World Health Organization asks that healthcare workers be cognizant of the signs and symptoms of domestic violence in their patients. In today's "Awkward Conversations" column, Dr. Kim Gorgens and Margaret Port cover domestic violence among chronically ill patients.   TNFi Dose Reduction Shows No Benefit for Spondyloarthritis A new study shows there is little to no clinical benefit in reducing TNFi treatment dosages for patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).   Impaired Microbiota May Lead to Spondyloarthritis A comprehensive review of published studies on gut microbiota, immunity and arthritis suggests that having a microbial imbalance may precede the development of spondyloarthritides and osteoarthritis.   Diagnosis Check-in: The Link Between Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Inflammatory Arthritis Can a patient with hidradenitis suppurativa develop rheumatoid arthritis? Apparently so, according to researchers writing in JAMA Dermatology this month.   Job Opportunities in Rheumatology Visit Rheumatology Network for easy access to new job opportunities in rheumatology. As a service to our readers, we've posted a national "Job Board" in the upper right-hand corner of the site. Suggestions for other content sections? Email the editor at areyes@mmhgroup.com.