When Myositis Hits the Lungs: What Every Rheumatologist Should Know About ILD

Save

When idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) affect the lungs, the consequences can be serious. ILD is not only common in IIM, but also one of the leading causes of death, contributing to up to 80% of mortality in this patient group. For rheumatologists, two subsets stand out: anti-synthetase syndrome (ASyS) and anti-MDA-5 positive dermatomyositis (MDA5-DM). These patients present with distinct clinical clues, very different disease trajectories, and unique treatment challenges. Recognizing ILD early and acting decisively can make the difference between stabilizing a chronic course and facing a rapidly progressive, often fatal decline.

Equal Safety of JAK Inhibitors and TNF Inhibitors

Save

STOP-RA: Hydrochloroquine Fails in ACPA+ Arthralgia

Save

Deane et al has published the results of the STOP-RA trial, demonstrating that 12 months of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) did not prevent the development of clinical RA at 36 months. 

Hitting the Target: T2T Therapy in SLE

Save

Treat-to-target strategies are not a new concept in rheumatology. It has shown to improve patient outcomes and quality of life in RA and PsA, and is now being increasingly adopted not only in SLE research but also in clinical practice. This article reviews key highlights from Dr. Eric Morand’s plenary session lecture on Treat to Target in SLE: Current Evidence and Future Directions, presented during the recent APLAR 2025 Congress.

RheumNow Podcast – Ro, Ro, Ro52 (9.12.2025)

Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Are there benefits to diet or vegan diets? What's the effect of menopause on CTD?  Ro52 makes a big entrance with all our ILD coverage this month.

SMART study - Single vs. Split Dose Methotrexate in RA

Save

Split dose weekly, oral methotrexate (MTX) was shown to be superior to single dose MTX in treating active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

How to assess ILD in your patients?

Save

Have a high index of suspicion in your patients with connective tissue disease (especially systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myositis), and rheumatoid arthritis.

SLE and Osteoporosis

Save

In one of the SLE sessions at the APLAR 2025 Congress, Prof. Sandra Navarra discussed the assessment and management of osteoporosis in SLE patients, particularly glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) and this article reviews the highlights and key takeaways from her talk.

PAH diagnosis and management in the context of CTD ILD

Save

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious complication of connective tissue disorders. Approximately 25% of patients with PAH have an underlying CTD, making CTD-PAH the second most common cause of PAH. During the session on Management of Lung Complications in CTD at APLAR 2025, Prof. Dinesh Khanna and Masataka Kuwana provided an excellent overview of PAH diagnosis and management strategies the context of CTD-ILD.

Antifibrotics - A New Class of Therapies in Rheumatology?

Save

Rheumatologists typically manage systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) and associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) with immunosuppressants. However, evidence increasingly supports also the use of antifibrotic agents in this setting.

ERS/EULAR guidelines for CTD-related interstitial lung disease

Save

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) have published clinical practice guidelines for the evaluation and management of connective tissue diseases (CTD) associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) in two simultaneous publications in the European Respiratory Journal and Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

COLCHICORT Trial

Save

The COLCHICORT trial in acute calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal arthritis patients showed that colchicine was inferior to prednisone treatment and that responses were also influenced by other factors.