Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

The Emotional Toll of Rheumatic Disease

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Expressing empathy, engaging patients in conversations about their emotional health and having an overall understanding of grief can help rheumatology health professionals better care for their patients. During a session at ACR Convergence 2023, mental health professionals and patients highlighted how grief affects patients with rheumatic disease and how providers can respond.

The 2023 ARP Merit Awards

Patrice Fusillo  |  

SAN DIEGO—During ACR Convergence 2023 in November, the ACR and the ARP honored a group of distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to rheumatology research, education and patient care. This month, The Rheumatologist profiles the recipients of the ARP Merit Awards and ARP Master class, recognizing outstanding contributions to the field of rheumatology. The…

An Interview with Expert Clinician Dr. Fred Wigley

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Rheumatologists who are outstanding researchers, educators and/or clinicians, who provide consistently exceptional care to patients, who have achieved a level of  distinction in the field and who serve as role models for colleagues and trainees are highlighted in this recurring series. Fred Wigley, MD, MACR, is the Martha McCrory Professor of Medicine at the Johns…

ACR Image Competition 2023 Results, Part 2

Marco Fornaro, MD  |  

For the 2023 Image Competition, the ACR sought images representing a diverse range of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) or IIM mimics. These images won the Europe and Central Asia region. Glycogen Storage Disease Type V Diagnosed Using Imaging, Biopsy & Genetic Testing These images depict a 55-year-old patient with suspected polymyositis who presented…

Community Practice Rheumatology Is Challenging, But Rewarding, Too

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Community practice rheumatology may be a less-followed path within the specialty, and it brings with it certain challenges. However, it also offers rewards, such as autonomy and deep relationships with patients. The Rheumatologist recently interviewed three community practice rheumatologists from around the U.S. to find out about their approaches to patient management, staffing and other…

Small Fiber Neuropathy for the Rheumatologist

Michael Cammarata, MD  |  

Small fiber neuropathy is a common form of peripheral neuropathy with multiple potential etiologies and a varied clinical presentation. It can’t be detected by nerve conduction studies, making it an elusive and often overlooked entity. Small fiber neuropathy is well documented in several rheumatic diseases, and its symptom burden can profoundly affect quality of life….

Long-Term Voclosporin Treatment Looks Promising for Lupus Nephritis Patients

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AURORA 2, a double-blind, phase 3 study, evaluated the long-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of voclosporin compared to placebo in patients with lupus nephritis receiving an additional two years of treatment following completion of the one-year AURORA 1 study. Patients enrolled in AURORA 2 continued to receive the same treatment randomly assigned in AURORA 1, in combination with mycophenolate mofetil and low-dose glucocorticoids. Saxena et al. propose that the rapid renal response achieved with voclosporin treatment has long-term benefits, supported by stable kidney function over the three-year treatment period.