All articles tagged: Arthritis & Rheumatism

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with mono- or oligo-arthritis and high Patient Global Assessment (PGA) at diagnosis remain the most fatigued, according to a study published in the June issue of Rheumatology.

The Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Multi-Dimensional Questionnaire (BRAF-MDQ) and Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI-C) scores show consistency in assessing fatigue with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published online June 14 in Immunity, Inflammation and Disease.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded indications for AbbVie's Rinvoq (upadacitinib) to now include pediatric patients (ages 2 years and older) with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Researchers at The University of Manchester are to trial a system that allows people living with rheumatoid arthritis to send their daily symptoms securely to their health record, in a first for the NHS.

EULAR—The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—has previously made recommendations for lifestyle interventions in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The overarching principles define the need for a healthy lifestyle, with specific recommendations that emphasize the importance of a healthy, balanced diet.

A study from physician-scientists at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) points to a potential novel approach for treating autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis—preventing antibodies and immune cells from leaving the bloodstream and entering joints and other organs where they cause inflammation and injury. The findings were published on June 10 in JCI Insight.

There is a need to improve cross-sectoral care for people with inflammatory arthritis. The Danish Centre for Expertise in Rheumatology (CeViG) at the Danish Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Sønderborg, Denmark, is a unique institution—which aims to share knowledge with people involved in the care and management of inflammatory arthritis.

Immediately after childbirth, a large number of women have sacroiliac bone marrow edema (BMO) visible on MRI. Although generally attributed to mechanical stress, these transient postpartum lesions bear a striking resemblance to the inflammatory lesions seen in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) results from a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Past efforts to identify JIA's environmental risk factors have been restricted due to limited high-quality data and small sample sizes, mirroring the rarity of the disease.

EULAR—The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—recommends patient self-management for people with inflammatory arthritis. The intention is to empower people to acquire a good understanding of their disease and build their ability to deal effectively with the practical, physical, and psychological impacts.

Rheumatological diseases can affect people during childhood, the most common being juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). As well as a need to generally raise awareness of childhood arthritis, there is also a crucial need to ensure effective transition for these young patients from pediatric to adult care. EULAR—The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—included sessions on childhood ar

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is a chronic, severe autoimmune disorder that carries a risk of early organ damage. Identifying specific predictors in children is vital for preventing such damage.

The exact origin and precursor differentiation route of tissue macrophages remains controversial. At the 2024 congress of EULAR—The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—new work sheds light on blood precursors of pathogenic tissue macrophages.

In patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and persistent disease activity for which adapting treatment is recommended, treatment intensification should be considered for patients with persistently high disease activity. EULAR—The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—in collaboration with the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS), states that high disease

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis which appears in around one-third of people with psoriasis. EULAR—The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—is committed to reducing the impact of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases on both the individual and society. At the 2024 EULAR congress, new data suggests it could be possible to prevent the evolution from skin p

New work presented at the 2024 congress of EULAR—The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—assesses the power of multi-modal analysis of synovial tissue inflammation in treatment-naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The hope is to identify predictive biomarkers for treatment response.

There are many treatment options for psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and EULAR—The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—recommends a practical and progressive approach to management based on specific manifestations and disease activity. But assessment of treatment outcomes primarily focuses on improvement in the number of affected joints, disregarding their specific locations.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of pain and joint stiffness. And while physical activity is known to ease symptoms, only one in 10 people regularly exercise.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease of unknown origin that affects around 18 million people worldwide, according to World Health Organization data. It produces chronic inflammation that mainly affects the joints. In addition, it can increase the possibility of suffering heart disease by 50%, among other consequences.

Scientists should focus on the interactions between T and B cells to find better treatments for autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, according to a new study from the University of Surrey. The study has been published in Clinical and Translational Medicine.

Informal caregivers looking after a loved one with arthritis are financially worse off than non-caregivers to the sum of $388 million, Griffith University research has discovered.

A dissertation at Umeå University shows that ultrasound can help patients with a type of rheumatic disease to live longer and healthier lives. These patients have so far had an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which contributes to premature death.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and atopic dermatitis (AD) can coexist, and the presence of both conditions may mean special attention should be given to selecting optimal treatment, according to a study published online April 17 in the Journal of Personalized Medicine.

A study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise reveals that people who participated in regular bicycling over their lifetime had a lower prevalence of frequent knee pain, radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) and symptomatic radiographic osteoarthritis (SOA).

A new study has provided valuable insights into the ongoing debate surrounding two types of shoulder replacement surgery: reverse total shoulder replacement and anatomical total shoulder replacement as a treatment for patients with osteoarthritis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) all have a unique and diverse set of antibodies that are involved in the development of the disease. Researchers at Utrecht University unveiled the complexity of these antibodies using powerful lab tools capable of analyzing our immune system at molecular levels. Their discovery suggests that current assumptions about the origin of RA are too simple. Their f

A blood test successfully predicted knee osteoarthritis at least eight years before tell-tale signs of the disease appeared on X-rays, Duke Health researchers report.

Self-administered acupressure (SAA) is an efficacious and cost-effective approach to relieve knee pain in middle-aged and older adults with probable knee osteoarthritis (OA), according to a study published online April 19 in JAMA Network Open.

The addition of arthroscopic surgery to nonoperative management of knee arthritis does not delay or hasten total knee arthroplasty (TKA) during 10 years of follow-up, according to a study published online April 18 in JAMA Network Open.

A Louisville, Colorado, company is studying whether cells taken from patients' fat could reduce knee pain and improve motion in people with arthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that affects weight-bearing joints. The most commonly affected joints are the knees, hips, spine, and small joints in the hands. Two out of three people over 50 have creaky and cracking joints that cause daily pain and reduce their mobility. It's an increasing problem because the world population is getting older, and humans are becoming more and more

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease. It has both joint and non-joint symptoms and manifestations, which can vary from person to person. It is commonly associated with psoriasis that affects the skin and nails but can also be linked to inflammation of the gut and eyes. PsA has also been linked to cardiovascular, psychological, and metabolic comorbidities—with a real impa

Worldwide, it is estimated that one in five men over the age of 50 years will experience an osteoporotic fracture in their remaining lifetime, and the number of hip fractures in men is expected to rise by approximately 310% between 1990 and 2050. Despite its great burden among older men, osteoporosis is still often viewed as a 'woman's' disease, and underdiagnosis and undertreatment of the conditi

The overall number of clinically active rheumatology providers grew more than 20 percent during the last decade, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

A University of Colorado Department of Medicine faculty member says she and her colleagues have identified the means in which bacteria in the digestive system can break down tryptophan in the diet into an inflammatory chemical that primes the immune system towards arthritis.

Australians experiencing chronic knee pain achieve similar pain reduction whether they consult with physiotherapists via video or attend in-person physiotherapy sessions, new research shows, expanding the scope of treatment possibilities, particularly for people in regional and remote locations.

Musculoskeletal diseases—a diverse category of conditions affecting bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissues—affect more than 1 in 3 people in the United States and are a leading driver of health care spending with an estimated cost of more than $380 billion in 2016, putting them ahead of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Conditions that impact many people, incur high financial c

The age-adjusted prevalence of adults with arthritis was 18.9 percent in 2022 in the United States, according to a February data brief published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating joint disease which affects over 500 million people worldwide, with trends increasing as populations age. OA is caused by progressive, irreversible degeneration of joint cartilage, leading to pain, swelling and immobility in the affected joint. Current therapies focus on symptom relief but cannot restore degenerated cartilage.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting approximately 600 million people worldwide and 34 million people in the U.S. There are no treatments available that prevent its progression to date. Recommended pharmacological treatments for symptoms have either small-to-moderate effects or short-term effects, often with side effects, and lifestyle behaviors such as exercise

Arthritis is usually associated with older people, but kids can suffer too. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of arthritis in children. It affects about 1 in 1,000 kids under 16 in the UK (roughly 15,000 children), and causes joint pain and inflammation in the hands, knees, ankles, elbows, and wrists—although it can affect other body parts, too.

The common inflammatory condition sinusitis is linked to a 40% heightened risk of a subsequent diagnosis of rheumatic disease, particularly in the five to 10 years preceding the start of symptoms, according to research published in the open access journal RMD Open.

Scientists say they have developed an artificial intelligence deep learning model with the ability to detect the early signs of degenerative joint diseases with a high degree of accuracy.

In a significant breakthrough in inflammatory arthritis research, a study published today (Feb. 23) in Nature Immunology has revealed that inflammation-associated fibroblasts—a type of cell in connective tissues—can switch phenotype and stabilize specific immune cell populations in the joint, promoting the resolution of inflammation.

Researchers at Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, and VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, show that antibody therapy can be effective against erosive hand osteoarthritis. Using the antibody denosumab leads to bone remodeling and the prevention of erosive joint damage. This is the first evidence that erosive progression can be halted in this disease. The results appear in Nature M

Researchers at St George's, University of London have developed a simple tool to measure irregularities in the cartilage and bone tissue of people with osteoarthritis, which aims to speed-up screening for tissue changes and testing new treatments for those with chronic pain.

Crystal-induced arthropathies (CiA) are caused by crystal deposits in a person's joints and associated tissues. The most frequent forms of these very common conditions be caused by three different types of crystals: monosodium urate (MSU), calcium pyrophosphate (CPP), and basic calcium phosphate (BCP).

A novel PET imaging technique can noninvasively detect active inflammation in the body before clinical symptoms arise, according to research published in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Using a PET tracer that binds to proteins present on activated immune cells, the technique produces images of ongoing inflammation throughout the body, such as rheumatoid arthritis. This make

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have found that the molecule RvT4 enhances the body's natural defenses against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

About 1 in 7 adults live with degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis (OA). In recent years, as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and other joint injuries have become more common among adolescent athletes, a growing number of 20- and 30-somethings have joined the ranks of aging baby boomers living with chronic OA pain.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) are life-threatening systemic hyperinflammatory syndromes. Systemic hyperinflammation and HLH/MAS can occur in nearly any inflammatory state, but there are certain predisposing conditions and inflammatory triggers. This includes rheumatic diseases, malignancies, metabolic diseases, and genetic immune problems.

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease is a common, symptomatic arthritis, but until now there have been there are no validated classification criteria. This has hampered research in this common disease that becomes more frequent with increasing age.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causally and positively influences rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but RA has no significant influence on GERD, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in Frontiers in Genetics.

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects more than 500 million people worldwide. The disease is age-related, and usually starts to affect people in middle age. For elderly people, OA is the most common cause of disability, resulting in pain, limited mobility, and impacts on participation in both social and work contexts.

Men with inflammatory joint disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, are less likely to be childless and have more children than their healthy peers, suggests research published online in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Early menopause—before the age of 45—taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and having four or more children are among several hormonal and reproductive factors linked to a heightened risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women, finds a large long-term study published in the journal RMD Open.

Erinn Maury knew Remicade wasn't the right drug for Patti Schulte, a rheumatoid arthritis patient the physician saw at her Millersville, Maryland, practice. Schulte's swollen, painful joints hadn't responded to Enbrel or Humira, two drugs in the same class.

Millions of people who live with the pain and stiffness of arthritis in their hands get steroid or hyaluronic acid injections directly into their finger joints in the hopes of feeling better.

When the University of Delaware's Gregory Hicks started his research career two decades ago, he was one of only a few people in the United States studying chronic low back pain in people over 60 years old.

Fatigue is common in people with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD). The causes of fatigue are not well understood, and it is likely that they vary between people and over time. From a patient perspective, fatigue has a significant and detrimental impact on daily life, and it is a priority to address.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous disease, which can cause many different manifestations and symptoms, and traditionally did not have many treatment options. However, the picture is changing, and clinical practice must change accordingly, to keep up with modern treatment options and to make the most of new drugs that can target key pathophysiological pathways. In line with this

Millions of people in Europe and elsewhere suffer degeneration of joint cartilage in the knee, driving EU research into better treatments.

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine provide the first national estimate of caregivers' pain and arthritis experiences that can limit their ability to perform necessary tasks while caring for older family members.

In a study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology, Prof. Zhang Xiaoming's group at the Shanghai Institute Immunity and Infection of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Prof. Gu Zhifeng at Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, and Prof. Sheng Zizhang at Columbia University, reveal the immunological characteristics of bone marrow (BM) B cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosu

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this musculoskeletal disorder affects approximately 1.71 billion people globally. Osteoarthritis is a condition where cartilage gradually breaks down, and joint bones are exposed to each other. This leads to pain and reduced joint function.

Researchers at the Wuhan Sports University, China, have found a negative association between serum testosterone levels and arthritis. The relationship between serum testosterone and arthritis appeared nonlinear, and the finding of a correlation could not establish a direct causal relationship.

Cell therapy represents a potential regenerative treatment for osteoarthritis. A recent analysis of all relevant published studies indicates that stem cell transplantation from different sources is effective for treating knee osteoarthritis, the most prevalent chronic joint disease.

Male and female veterans have a higher prevalence of arthritis than nonveterans, according to research published in the Nov. 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

People with arthritis who report more negative feelings about how they are aging tend to get less physical activity and perceive themselves as less healthy, according to a new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and Weill Cornell Medicine. However, self-perception of good health explained the effect of negative thinking—providing an opportunity for clinicians to focus on a p

Research from Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) reveals a significant psychological impact related to inflammatory arthritis patients' efforts to maintain employment while coping with the challenges of their illness. The study, titled "The Psychological Experience of Work for People with Inflammatory Arthritis (IA)," was presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2023 on

A recent study from Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and others has found a correlation between obesity and more severe disease flare symptoms that negatively affect quality of life in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a systemic, autoimmune, inflammatory disorder affecting multiple joints in the body. The study was presented at ACR Convergence 2023, the annual meeting of the Americ

New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, has found that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in sustained remission who stopped TNF inhibitors (TNFi) had significantly more flares and lower Boolean 2.0 remission rates compared with those who continued treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation that leads to pain, joint damage, and disability, which affects approximately 18 million people worldwide. While RA therapies targeted to specific inflammatory pathways have emerged, only some patients' symptoms improve with treatment, emphasizing the need for multiple treatment approaches tailored to different diseas

Researchers will present the first-ever study of fractures and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting. They report a doubled risk of fractures in patients with acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis compared to those without the disease.

New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, shows that a deep learning system could accurately identify and predict joint space narrowing and erosions in hand radiographs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Leaders of a project to develop and implement equitable new quality measures for lupus care by the end of the decade will present their work at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting.

New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, found that JAK inhibitors (JAKi) and tocilizumab elicited better response rates in VEXAS syndrome compared to other targeted therapies.

New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, shows that ultrasound-detected salivary gland abnormalities in primary Sjögren's become more severe over time and that the slow-to-progress disease likely starts long before it is first detected.

According to new research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, continuing tumor necrosis factor inhibitors during pregnancy is not associated with worse fetal or obstetric outcomes and may reduce the risk of severe maternal infections during pregnancy.

A health care team has endorsed a new cultural competency training program which could help clinicians better connect with diverse population living with an auto-immune rheumatologic conditions.

According to a new paper in Rheumatology, published by Oxford University Press, JAK inhibitors, which doctors have used to treat patients with arthritis despite concerns about the effectiveness of such drugs, actually do work quite well. In a multicenter, retrospective study Japanese researchers found that the drugs resulted in impressive remission rates in patients, most of whom choose to continu

Initial nonsurgical treatment, including the use of orthotics and exercise therapy, provides satisfactory long-term outcomes for patients with osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMC-1 OA), with a low rate of conversion to surgery, reports a study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

Current osteoarthritis treatment manages symptoms rather than addressing the underlying disease, but a new University of Adelaide study has shown the condition may be treatable and reversible. The research is published in the journal Nature Communications.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disease associated with persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). It can cause thrombosis and pregnancy complications as well as non-thrombotic manifestations such as cardiac valve disease

A lifetime of activity can gradually erode the cartilage that cushions our joints. Someday, we might simply inject a gel to repair it, University of Connecticut researchers report in the Oct. 6 issue of Nature Communications.

Having older siblings and childhood tonsil removal are linked to a heightened risk of ankylosing spondylitis, a type of chronic inflammatory arthritis, finds a large study published in the open access journal RMD Open.

An estimated 21.2 percent of U.S. adults had diagnosed arthritis from 2019 to 2021, with most cases among adults aged 45 years and older, according to research published in the Oct. 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have developed a new organ-on-a-chip model of the human synovium, a membrane-like tissue that lines the joints. The model, published in the journal Biomedical Materials, could help researchers to better understand the mechanisms of arthritis and to develop new treatments for this group of debilitating diseases.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is among the top 10 conditions contributing to Years Lived with Disability—a measure reflecting the impact an illness has on quality of life before it resolves or leads to death. To date, no treatments are approved that slow disease progression. Treatment development has been frustrating in part because animal models of disease caused by

New research that helps explain the molecular processes involved in the painful autoimmune disease ankylosing spondylitis, or AS, may reduce the guessing game that health care providers currently play while attempting to treat the condition.

While the bacteria in the intestine are helpful for digesting food and fighting infections, they have long been suspected to play an essential role in triggering rheumatoid arthritis. This chronic inflammatory disorder affects the joints.

When women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) plan to become pregnant, many anguish over whether to stop their medications, risking a flareup in their disease, or continue with medication and risk possible harm to the baby.

Don't worry about your hips or knees as you age. Arthritis in those joints isn't inevitable. Keep doing the activities you enjoy. Those hopeful words come from Rafael Sierra, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic specializing in hip and knee reconstruction. Dr. Sierra says there is no need to curtail your activities out of fear that you'll wear out those joints as you age and need joint repla

Don't worry about your hips or knees as you age. Arthritis in those joints isn't inevitable. Keep doing the activities you enjoy. Those hopeful words come from Rafael Sierra, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic specializing in hip and knee reconstruction. Dr. Sierra says there is no need to curtail your activities out of fear that you'll wear out those joints as you age and need joint repla

Autoimmune diseases are complex illnesses, the causes of which are diverse and have not yet been fully explained. A research team at MedUni Vienna has now discovered an immunoregulatory protein that could be linked to the development of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The identified component of the immune system is called "Rinl," which could provide a new target for the developm