Lupus nephritis is one of the most silent and severe manifestations of SLE. When not captured early, patients are at high risk of progressing to end-stage renal disease, which would require dialysis or transplantation. Renal biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis and disease classification. However, the procedure is invasive and very painful. Non-invasive measures are critical for early detection and continuous monitoring.

Are emulation ‘trials’ helpful, despite the biases that occur with observational data, or do they truly mimic the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)?

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com

Rates of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) were doubled in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) relative to other people of the same age and sex, researchers found.On the other hand, risk for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) wasn't significantly higher in the RA patients, according to Katherine Liao, MD, MPH, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues.