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

Statin Use Tied to Lower Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Megan Brooks | July 4, 2016

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Statin use is associated with a lower risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially Crohn’s disease in older patients, new research suggests. “Prior studies have suggested that statins can decrease inflammation and may improve IBD in patients who already have the disease. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show…

Periodontal Infection May Determine Best Treatment for Patients with RA

Lara C. Pullen, PhD | July 4, 2016

Past research has indicated that a periodontal pathogen that produces the peptidularginine deiminase (PPAD) enzyme may affect levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody. A new study suggests serum anti-PPAD IgG titers might be a useful biomarker for designing a personalized treatment strategy for RA…

Family History Biggest Predictor of Heart Attacks in People with Psoriasis

Lisa Rapaport | July 2, 2016

(Reuters Health)—People with psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory disease, are more likely to have heart attacks and strokes when they have a family history of cardiovascular problems, a Danish study suggests. Psoriasis wasn’t associated with higher risk of heart attacks or strokes when people with the skin condition didn’t have a family history of cardiovascular disease,…

Patients with Gout May Not Understand Serum Urate Goals & Treatments

Richard Quinn | July 1, 2016

New research has found that a minority of gout patients understands the importance of their serum urate goals. Ted Mikuls, MD, MSPH, says the study shines a light on a gap in patient education providers can address…

Arthritis Prevalence on the Rise, Creating Challenges for Healthcare System

Arthritis & Rheumatology | June 28, 2016

Updated projections suggest that arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation will remain large and growing problems for clinical and public health systems, which must plan and create policies and resources to address these future needs. By 2040, the number of U.S. adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis is projected to increase 49% to 78.4 million. Can the healthcare system accommodate these projected increases? Not without changes. By 2025, the expected demand for rheumatologists is expected to exceed supply by 2,576 adult and 33 pediatric rheumatologists…

The Gut Microbiome Influences Postmenopausal Bone Loss

Lara C. Pullen, PhD | June 27, 2016

Bone health has been successfully improved by using probiotics to influence the gut microbiome in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. New research has gained insight into this process, uncovering that sex steroid depletion increases gut permeability resulting in inflammation and pathology in mice. Treatment with probiotics also prevents this increase in gut permeability and bone loss associated with sex steroid depletion…

Comment Period Open for FDA Draft Guidance on Osteoporosis Treatments; Plus FDA Rejects Abuse-Deterrent Apadaz

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | June 22, 2016

The FDA is currently accepting comments on a draft guideline for osteoporosis treatments, which calls for more research into the long-term effects of drugs on bone quality. Also, the FDA has rejected an application for approval of Apadaz in its current form…

Doctors Blame Many Factors for Futile Care, Themselves Included

Randi Belisomo | June 20, 2016

(Reuters Health)—Doctors who were asked about causes of inappropriate care at the end of life didn’t have to look far to place blame. They blamed themselves. Australian researchers interviewed 96 physicians from 10 medical specialties and asked them to describe situations when patients received end of life care that the doctors felt was inappropriate. Futile…

Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome Puts Pregnant Women at High Risk of Preeclampsia

Lara C. Pullen, PhD | June 20, 2016

A recent review investigated risk factors for preeclampsia in early pregnancy, finding that antiphospholipid antibody syndrome may be the strongest risk factor. As a result of these findings, researchers have compiled a list of risk factors to help clinicians determine which women are more likely to develop the condition and aid them in weighing treatment options…

Opinion: Erosive Changes Questioned in RA/Lupus Overlap Syndrome

George A.W. Bruyn, MD, PhD | June 13, 2016

I read with interest the Diagnostic View (TR, April), which, according to the authors, represented a case of rhupus, an overlap syndrome of RA and SLE. I challenge this view. My arguments: In the case of erosive RA, typically erosive changes are seen at MTP joints other than MTP1 (e.g., MTP5). In addition, the erosive…