Chikungunya marches on, at a cost

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A recent article from BMC Global Health suggests that between 2011 and 2020, the mosquito-borne disease chikungunya, has disabled millions and likely amassed close to $50 billion in healthcare and disability-related costs in 110 countries. 

Don’t Buy Guitars (12.6.2024)

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This year at ACR24, the RheumNow faculty and reporters were prolific, generating >800 Tweets, 56 written articles, 117 Videos and 28 podcasts – all in 4 days! You can best review and learn ACR24 by A) Rheumatology Roundup; b) Topic Panel videos; and c) Topic podcasts.

Infertility linked to post-childbrith onset of systemic autoimmune disease

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Women who experience infertility but do not use fertility treatments have a higher risk of developing a group of conditions called systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) in the nine years after a naturally conceived birth compared to women without fertility problems.

Challenge in Measuring Cutaneous Lupus Activity and Severity

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JAMA Dermatology features a discussion by Drs. McMichael and Frey on measuring lupus skin disease in clinical trials and practice using the validated Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI).

Inebilizumab for Treatment of IgG4-Related Disease

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Phase 2b Study of Ianalumab in Sjögren's

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Will the Robots Save Ultrasound?

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Despite all its benefits, ultrasound’s daily clinical use remains the domain of only a subset of interested rheumatologists. If the benefits are so clear, then why is it not universal? In the late-breaking oral abstracts at ACR Convergence, the final abstract presentation was from the Danish rheumatologists behind ARTHUR and DIANA: the robot which holds the MSK ultrasound probe, and the artificial intelligence brains which empowers it. Perhaps the robots will save us?

Diagnostic Delays in PsA

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Despite the remarkable expansion of the therapeutic armamentarium for psoriatic arthritis (PsA), the MONITOR-PsA study highlights a persistent and critical issue: delays in diagnosis. The study findings are stark, with about 25% of patients having erosions at diagnosis.

ICYMI: Taking AI Out of AutoImmunity: Predicting disease before it develops

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the predictive value of a positive ANA test—especially in the absence of other clinical symptoms—remains a challenge. A positive test often leads to further testing, yet it does not necessarily indicate whether a patient truly has an underlying autoimmune disease. The development of AI and machine learning algorithms presents an opportunity to interpret autoantibody tests and predict autoimmune diseases. Here are three studies looking at this issue.

ICYMI: How Online Searches Reveal Patient Needs

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Managing health conditions is rapidly evolving as patients increasingly turn to online resources for answers—over 65% search for health-related questions online. Our study analyzed Google search trends for rheumatic disease topics, offering a fascinating glimpse into how online search behavior can reveal patient needs and experiences. This approach, known as "infodemiology," tracks real-time Google Trends data to understand symptom- and treatment-related searches for rheumatic conditions.