Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

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

Osteoarthritis and Bone Disorders

Denosumab Tied to Infection Risk

Marilynn Larkin  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The osteoporosis drug denosumab is associated with a higher incidence of serious infections compared with placebo, but the risk is similar to comparator drugs, a systematic review and meta-analysis reveals. Talia Diker-Cohen, MD, PhD, of Tel Aviv University, and colleagues searched the literature through May 2019 for randomized controlled trials of denosumab…

Tears of Knee Ligaments & Meniscus Carry Highest Arthritis Risk

Lisa Rapaport  |  

(Reuters Health)—Young adults who have had knee injuries are much more likely than uninjured peers to develop knee osteoarthritis (OA) by middle age, especially if they have broken bones or torn connective tissue, a recent study suggests. Cruciate ligament injuries were associated with a 19.6% greater risk of knee osteoarthritis, the study found. Meniscal tears…

Year in Review: Rheumatic Disease Research in 2019

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ATLANTA—Encouraging data on interleukin (IL) 23/IL-17 pathway drugs in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), JAK inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment and new evidence on physical activity and bone health in women were among the highlights of the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting’s Clinical Year in Review. Susan Manzi, MD, MPH, director of the Lupus Center for Excellence…

Management of Meniscal Tears: Surgery May Not Be Necessary

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Patients with meniscal tear experience similar levels of reduced pain and improved physical function when treated with either arthroscopic partial meniscectomy or physical therapy, according to a recent study. The study also found these improvements were long term—lasting through the five-year follow up…

Study Examines How Depression Subtypes May Stem from Osteoarthritis

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People with or at risk for sympto­matic knee osteoarthritis (OA) may be assigned to four depression subtypes with distinct clusters of depressive symptoms that may affect pain and disability over time, according to a new study in Arthritis Care & Research.1 Four depression subtypes were identified in the study using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies…

RheumPAC Advocates for Dept. of Defense Arthritis Research Funding

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RheumPAC is the ACR’s non-partisan political action committee, which promotes the needs of rheumatology providers and patients. Advocacy efforts often focus on legislation to improve the day-to-day clinical care of rheumatology patients, such as establishing clinical exceptions to step therapy requirements and reforming the prior authorization process. In addition, the ACR and RheumPAC recognize the…