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Obesity and Low Back Pain
EurekAlert!
A large patient population study finds weight gain, increases risk for low back pain - the risk increased 7% for every BMI unit or 10 pounds over ideal weight.
Best of 2025: 2025 BSR Guideline for Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis
Editor's note: This article was originally published April 22, 2025, and is being shared again as part of RheumNow's 'Best of 2025' series as we close out the year. Enjoy!
Best of 2025: Variability of Guidelines on the Perioperative Use of DMARDs in Rheumatic Diseases Patients
More effective treatments in patients with rheumatic diseases have resulted in less need for major surgery, yet a substantial number of RMD patients will undergo surgery often in the setting of DMARDs use. A scoping review looked at numerous clinical practice guidelines/recommendations for the perioperative management of DMARDs and found inconsistencies and low quality evidence, with great reliance on conditional (expert opinion) recommendations.
Best of 2025: ERS/EULAR guidelines for CTD-related interstitial lung disease
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.
Best of 2025: Targeting Obesity in Rheumatic Disease Patients
Sattar et al. has published an informative overview of the effect of obesity on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). They estimate that nearly 70% of RMD patients are overweight or obese.
Best of 2025: GRAPPA vs. EULAR on Complex/Difficult-to-Manage Psoriatic Arthritis
The “Difficult” framework has now reached PsA. At EULAR 2025, two independent definitions were presented: one by the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis and another by EULAR. This short review explores the similarities and differences between these definitions and discusses their potential implications for clinical practice and research, especially for the increasingly perplexed rheumatologist.
Best of 2025: Contraception in SLE
Pregnancy in SLE gets a lot of press in the rheumatology literature, and deservedly so, since pregnancy risks can be markedly increased. It was not that many years ago that women with SLE were counseled to avoid pregnancy.
Best of 2025: Hydroxychloroquine for Everyone
Nearly 25 years ago, while lecturing on best therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I loudly stated that hydroxychloroquine was “useless” and, deservedly, I was “boo-ed” off stage. My point then was that rheumatologists needed to be aggressive, if not overly aggressive, in treating all RA patients. And my view was that HCQ was representative of under-treatment. I have reconsidered the use of HCQ in RA substantially in the last few years, based on its merit.
Best of 2025: Glossary for Giant Cell Arteritis
Dejaco and colleagues have published a glossary of terms often used in conjunction with giant cell arteritis. The glossary of definitions for 23 signs and symptoms of GCA was developed through a consensus process involving international experts.
Best of 2025: Glucocorticoids in SLE: how to start, how to follow, how to stop
Current guidelines recommend limiting the use of glucocorticoids by coining the new concept of “bridging therapy”, that is, use GCs when the disease is active and get rid of them as soon as you can. This way of thinking is conceptually attractive, however, the formula for translation to real life settings is not included.
Best of 2025: Distinguishing Septic and Gouty Arthritis
A single center, retrospective review of patients undergoing knee joint fluid aspirations for presumed crystalline arthritis (CA) showed that synovial WBC may provide a useful diagnostic marker for SA with an optimal threshold of 50,000 cells/mm3.
Best of 2025: Dermatomyositis Reviewed
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have published an open-access review of dermatomyositis (DM) - its manifestations, hallmark cutaneous features, etiopathogenesis and treatment options.
Best of 2025: Vitamin D for Prevention of Disease
JAMA has published a clinical guideline on the use of vitamin D to prevent disease in children and adults.