Focus Rheums| ACR Convergence 2024 Previews

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

Articles by Natasha Yetman

Intra-Articular Steroid/Lidocaine Injection Improves Hip Arthritis Pain, Function

Reuters Staff  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—A single injection into the hip of steroid and local anesthetic improved pain and function in patients with hip osteoarthritis in a randomized controlled trial, with most of the benefit seen early after treatment. Researchers at two community-based clinics in England assigned 199 volunteers to receive either an ultrasound guided intra-articular hip…

In the Bones: RheumMadness 2022 False Positive MRI in Axial SpA

University of South Florida Rheumatology Fellowship Program: Anastasiya (Stacy) Bagrova, MD; Shreya Gor, MD; Joanne Valeriano-Marcet, MD; Larry Young, MD; & John Carter, MD  |  

Spondyloarthropathy (SpA) can be difficult to diagnose, with rheumatologists sometimes relying on classification criteria designed for clinical trials. Research examines how the use of MRIs affects the finding of bone marrow edema and the diagnosis of axial SpA.

Back to Basics: RheumMadness 2022 Increasing ANA Positivity Scouting Report

University of Chicago School of Medicine: Lauren He, MD; Ana B. Arevalo, MD; & Kichul Ko, MD  |  

Research has revealed how the prevalence of anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) positivity has changed over the past 25 years, raising questions about the role of ANA in autoimmunity and disease.

Conversation: RheumMadness 2022 Reproductive Health Guide Scouting Report

Duke University Rheumatology Fellowship Program: Catherine Sims, MD; Sonali Bracken, MD, PhD; Megan Milne, MD; Nathaniel Harris, MD, PhD; Poorva Apte, MD; Lena Eder, MD; Lisa Criscione-Schreiber, MD, Med; Megan Clowse, MD; & David Leverenz, MD  |  

Rheumatologists play a critical role in the reproductive health of their patients, but only half of rheumatologists currently ask their patients about reproductive health or family planning issues. A new guideline seeks to change that.

Get the Picture: RheumMadness 2022 PET-CT in Large Vessel Vasculitis Scouting Report

Medical University of South Carolina Rheumatology Fellowship Program: Sean Carter, MD; Jessica English, MD; Brad Collins, DO; Ana Tucker, MD; Jen Schmidt, MD; Whitney Elg-Salsman, DO; & Faye Hant, DO  |  

With both impressive sensitivity and specificity in capturing active large vessel vasculitis, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a potential tool for determining disease activity and predicting relapse in patients with large vessel vasculitis.

Another Way: RheumMadness 2022 DECT in Gout Scouting Report

MedStar Georgetown Washington Hospital Center: Leen Al Saleh, MD; Ajita Acharya, MD; Elena Obreja, MD; & Akrithi U. Garren, MD  |  

Research has found dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) may be a non-invasive and cost-effective option to help rheumatologists more accurately diagnose gout.

Beyond Trial & Error: RheumMadness 2022 AI: TNFi Response Scouting Report

Cleveland Clinic Foundation Rheumatology Fellowship Program: Saja Almaaitah, MD; Shashank Cheemalavagu, MD; Rupal Shastri, MD; Perry Fuchs, MD; Melany Gonzalez Orta, MD; & James Vondenberg, DO  |  

As the capabilities of machine learning and artificial intelligence improve, rheumatologists have access to more data than ever, which may enable them to better predict which patients will respond to specific treatments, such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors.

A Possible Diagnostic Tool: RheumMadness 2022 AI: JIA Subtypes Scouting Report

The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Program: Alisha Akinsete, MD; Malki Peskin, MD; & Jessica Perfetto, MD  |  

Machine learning is a tool that may help pediatric rheumatologists distinguish between different subtypes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and predict treatment response.