Polymyalgia rheumatica immunological puzzle further illustrated

Save

Infiltrating macrophages expressing IL-6 and GM-CSF may drive the subacromial bursitis often seen in polymyalgia rheumatica, according to new research (abstract OP0015) prese

A Big Leap in Modulating Rheumatoid Disease

Save

Intervention in individuals predisposed to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with a holy grail of prevention of RA, has long been a hot topic. It is well known that seropositivity for rheumatoid factor and antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (ACPA) can precede RA disease by many years. Many, but by no means all, patients also seem to go through a pre-RA arthalgia phase of varying duration characterised by the presence of increasing joint pain without frank arthritis.

Bridge Prednisone Use Fails to Improve Outcomes

Save

A one year, X-ray outcome trial has shown that the initial use of prednisone (high or low dose) in newly treated active early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) did not improve radiographic outcomes.

RNL 2022: Spondyloarthritis Spectrum

Save

This RheumNow Live 2022 session features highlights from lectures on Spondyloarthritis.

- Microbiome in Spondyloathritis - Jose Scher, MD

- Axial Psoriatic Arthritis - Philip Mease, MD

- Juvenile Spondyloathritis - Pamela Weiss, MD

Polygenic Risk Scores to Identfy Severe Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis

Save

Prevention of knee and hip osteoarthritis would obviate considerable disability and future surgery.  We may be one step closer according to a prospective European GWAS study showing polygenic risk scores (PRSs) significantly associated with higher risks for knee and hip OA joint replacement.

Diagnostic Delays in Spondyloarthritis Still Prolonged

Save

Previously quoted average  delay in diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) may be improving as a recent UK study shows the mean average time to diagnosis in two different NHS trusts was between five and six years. 

Prolonged TNF Inhibitor Use Delays Sacroiliac Progression

Save

While tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) have been shown to alter/retard X-ray outcomes in peripheral inflammatory arthritis, the inhibitor effects of TNFi on axial skeletal progression in spondylitis has been difficult to prove, owing to difficulties in study design, identifying best cohorts and a presumed slower rate of change in the spine.