Conditions

Subcategories:Axial Spondyloarthritis Gout and Crystalline Arthritis Guidelines Myositis Osteoarthritis and Bone Disorders Other Rheumatic Conditions Pain Syndromes Pediatric Conditions Psoriatic Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Sjögren’s Disease Soft Tissue Pain Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Systemic Sclerosis Vasculitis

FDA Approves Updated Labeling on Risk of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw for Denosumab

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | August 24, 2016

Denosumab’s labeling now says a patient’s risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw may increase with prolonged exposure…

Tendinitis & Other Weight Training-Related Injuries

Lara C. Pullen, PhD | August 22, 2016

With the increased popularity of CrossFit and other weight-training sports, a recent review examined the risk of injury associated with these activities. Using data from mostly retrospective studies, researchers determined that weight-training sports have a lower risk of injury than team sports, with bodybuilding having the lowest injury rate…

High-Salt Diet May Trigger Gene Silencing & a Lupus Phenotype

Lara C. Pullen, PhD | August 15, 2016

New research has demonstrated that a high-salt diet may increase the differentiation of follicular helper T cells (Tfh). A high-salt diet also increased lupus features in MRL/lpr mice, suggesting that the genes that increased expression in response to salt intake were similar to the genes that had increased expression in lupus CD4+ T cells…

Treatment Options for Severe Refractory Gout When Pegloticase Fails

Diana M. Girnita, MD, PhD, Cody Lee, MD, & Christine Chhakchhuak, MD | August 12, 2016

Pegloticase is a new alternative therapy for patients with severe, refractory gout unresponsive to other urate-lowering agents. The goal of this therapy is to reduce disease burden, tophi size and frequency of flares and to improve quality of life when other treatments have failed. Persistent lowering of plasma uric acid (PUA) to less than 6…

Treating Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia Could Lower Risk of Developing Chronic Conditions

Martin Garber, DO | August 12, 2016

When uric acid becomes elevated in the human body, a variety of problems can develop, most notably gout—a painful, inflammatory arthritis caused by uric acid crystal deposition in joints. Chronically elevated uric acid can also lead to painful kidney stones. The majority of patients found to have hyperuricemia, however, never go on to develop gout…

Rheumatology Drug Updates: Infliximab Biosimilar Cross Reacts to Infliximab Antibodies

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | August 11, 2016

Cross Reactions A recent study published online in March in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases investigated if the infliximab biosimilar (CT-P13, infliximab-dyyb), which is marketed in Europe as Inflectra and Remsima, can be safely and effectively substituted for infliximab (Remicade).1 Infliximab and its biosimilar are manufactured via the same process. Researchers set out to…

E-Health, Telemedicine Pose Challenges, Offer Benefits for Patients with Arthritis

Michelle Burda, MLS, & Terence Starz, MD | August 11, 2016

A 52-year-old woman comes to the office complaining of a two-month history of pain and swelling in the small joints of her hands, feet and knees. She says, “Doctor, I’ve been searching the Internet, and I think I have rheumatoid arthritis. I have some questions for you.” The healthcare system in the U.S. is changing…

Insight into Infectious Diseases Could Lead to Preventive Vaccines for Some Rheumatic Illnesses

Thomas R. Collins | August 11, 2016

CHICAGO—Medicine is in the middle of an infectious-disease “revolution” that seems almost destined to lead to prevention through immunization of many diseases, including rheumatic illnesses, that never were previously thought to involve transmissible agents, an infectious disease specialist said in a session at the ACR’s 2016 State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium. An array of unlikely and fascinating…

Resarch Into IgG4-Related Diseases Expands Knowledge Base, Leads to Effective Treatments

Thomas R. Collins | August 11, 2016

CHICAGO—Researchers have come to know a great deal about IgG4-related disease in a short amount of time, leading to effective treatments with the prospect for more, an expert said at the 2016 State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium. “One of the most exciting things for me is how quickly we’ve been able to move in understanding this disease,”…

Treatment Challenges, Uncertainty Abound with IgA Vasculitis

Thomas R. Collins | August 11, 2016

CHICAGO—Diagnosing and treating IgA vasculitis—leukocytoclastic vasculitis involving deposits of IgA1 deposits on the walls of small vessels—is rife with uncertainties, outright unknowns and treatment challenges, an expert on the disease said at the ACR’s 2016 State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium. Alexandra Villa-Forte, MD, MPH, staff physician at Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Vasculitis Care and Research, said IgA…