Articles By Bella Mehta, MBBS, MS
Deep Learning Model Accurately Detects Ankylosing Spondylitis on MRI
AI continues to move from research labs into rheumatology clinics, promising to reshape how inflammatory diseases are diagnosed and monitored. Ankylosing spondylitis, in particular, poses a diagnostic challenge—its early imaging findings are subtle, and radiographic changes may take years to appear and require specific musculoskeletal radiology expertise. A new deep learning model offers a glimpse into how AI could bridge this diagnostic gap.
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Bone Density in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a burden on the bones—both literally and diagnostically. The disease’s dual nature, marked by chronic inflammation and abnormal new bone formation, complicates the assessment of bone health.
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Beyond the Breakthrough: Equity and Access in CAR-T Cell Therapy for RA
At ACR Convergence 2025, abstract 1039 entitled, “Global Cost-Effectiveness and Equity in CAR-T Cell Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis” adds a critical dimension to the growing enthusiasm around cellular therapies in autoimmune disease.
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Pregnancy in SLE: Risks Extend Beyond Clinical Concerns
While clinical comorbidities such as lupus nephritis, hypertension, and thrombocytopenia have traditionally dominated risk assessments, new findings presented at EULAR 2025 spotlight the critical—and often underrecognized—role of social determinants of health (SDOH) in shaping maternal outcomes.
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ICYMI: GLP-1 Agonists Show Promise in Slowing Kidney Disease in Lupus Nephritis
A retrospective cohort study presented at #ACR24 explores the benefits of GLP-1Ras in reducing the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) for patients with lupus nephritis. Drawing on data from the TrinetX global research database, the study examines how GLP-1Ras may reduce ESRD progression in a population where 10-20% progress to ESRD within five years, even with immunosuppressive therapies.
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Standardizing Still’s Disease Research: Global Data Harmonization Needed
A recent study presented at #ACR24 convergence highlights significant gaps and inconsistencies in the research of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD).
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ICYMI: How Online Searches Reveal Patient Needs
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.
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GLP-1 Agonists Show Promise in Slowing Kidney Disease in Lupus Nephritis
A retrospective cohort study presented at #ACR24 explores the benefits of GLP-1Ras in reducing the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) for patients with lupus nephritis. Drawing on data from the TrinetX global research database, the study examines how GLP-1Ras may reduce ESRD progression in a population where 10-20% progress to ESRD within five years, even with immunosuppressive therapies.
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How Online Searches Reveal Patient Needs
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.
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Personalized Exercise may have Key Benefits in Axial Spondyloarthritis
In a very interesting study at #EULAR2024, researchers demonstrated that personalized, supervised exercise therapy significantly improves physical function and quality of life for individuals with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and severe functional limitations. This finding marks a critical advancement in the treatment of axSpA, particularly for patients with sustained disease activity, severe ankylosis, or significant comorbidities, who have historically been under-represented in research.
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