Articles By Bella Mehta, MBBS, MS
From Cytokine Endotypes to Clinical Reality in Still’s Disease
Recent EULAR 2026 data highlight a paradigm shift in Still’s disease from syndromic management to biologically informed precision therapy.
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LLMs in SLE: From Patient Education to Clinical Decision Support
The emergence of large language models (LLMs) represents a promising shift in how complex diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are communicated and interpreted across both patient and clinical settings. Two EULAR 2026 abstracts highlight the evolving role of LLMs across this spectrum, from patient-facing education to diagnostic reasoning.
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What’s New in Macrophage Activation Syndrome Therapeutics
MAS, the most severe complication of Still’s disease, is increasingly recognized as a cytokine-driven hyperinflammatory state centered on interferon gamma (IFNγ). Therapeutic advances presented at EULAR 2026 demonstrate both consolidation of established pathways and expansion into novel biologic strategies.
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From Skepticism to Reconsideration: 4‑Year CAR‑T Outcomes in Lupus
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T‑cell therapy, long established in hematologic malignancies, is now emerging as a transformative approach in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease historically managed with chronic immunosuppression.
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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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