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

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Comment Period Open for FDA Draft Guidance on Osteoporosis Treatments; Plus FDA Rejects Abuse-Deterrent Apadaz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

Opinion: More Tests Needed to Diagnose Fever of Unknown Origin

Alan Zalkowitz, MD | June 13, 2016

I’m writing in regard to the article, “Fever of Unknown Origin” (TR, March 2016), by Charles Radis, DO. In regard to the non-caseating granulomas, there was no mention of epithelioid or giant cells. In addition, it was mainly [complement] C4 in the center of the granulomas, which is often found in sarcoidosis. Moreover, whether these…

Rheumatoid Arthritis & Autoimmune Glomerulonephritis

Diana M. Girnita, MD, PhD, Shahzad Safdar, MD, & Avis Ware, MD | June 13, 2016

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is rarely associated with renal manifestations, but secondary amyloidosis due to chronic inflammation is reported to be the etiology of renal dysfunction in many cases of RA.1,2 The discovery of biologic therapy, with TNF-alpha inhibitors in particular, made a huge difference in the disease course and prognosis of RA patients. However, TNF-alpha…

Rheumatology Drug Updates: Etanercept for Pediatric Plaque Psoriasis

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | June 13, 2016

Etanercept Submitted for Chronic, Severe Plaque Psoriasis in Children The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the supplemental Biologics License Application for etanercept (Enbrel) for treating pediatric patients with chronic, severe plaque psoriasis.1 The application was submitted in early January 2016 and is based on results of a one-year Phase 3 study with…