Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

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

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Bone Mineral Density Most Important Determinant of Fracture Risk

Reuters Staff  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—In what is believed to be the largest study investigating genetic and clinical determinants of osteoporotic fracture risk, only a genetic predisposition to low bone mineral density (BMD) had a potential causal role to play. “Notably, genetic predisposition to lower levels of vitamin D and estimated calcium intake from dairy sources were…

An Improved State of Mind?

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Evidence suggesting common inflammatory pathways in RA and depression is increasing. However, this study found that improved physical health through pharmacologic treatment does not by itself improve mental health. …

TNF Inhibitors Do Not Seem to Boost Cancer-Recurrence Rates

Will Boggs, MD  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors do not appear to increase cancer-recurrence rates in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to new findings from Sweden. TNF has both tumor-promoting and cancer-protective effects, so TNF inhibitors could conceivably affect the risk for cancer recurrence. However, few studies have reported the risk for cancer relapse…

Effects of Obesity on Sustained Remission in Early RA

Arthritis Care & Research  |  

A new study examined the independent effects of excess weight and obesity on achieving sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Researchers found that within three years of RA diagnosis, overweight and obese patients were significantly less likely to achieve sustained remission than patients with healthy body mass indices (BMIs). Higher BMIs were also associated with persistent disease activity…

4 Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy Principles, & New Drug Info

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CHICAGO—Amid what she called a “dizzying array of choices” for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)—from anti-TNF and anti-IL6-receptor therapies to B cell depletion to new biosimilar options—disease treatment should still revolve around several basic concepts, an expert said at the ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium in April. Joan Bathon, MD, chief of rheumatology at Columbia University in New…

Study Finds Eating Fresh Fish May Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

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Could relief for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms be as close as the nearest seafood restaurant? Possibly, say researchers from Harvard. University who recently conducted a cross-sectional study. Published in the March issue of Arthritis Care & Research, the research examined whether consuming fresh fish could ease RA symptoms.1 Previous studies have examined the role fish…

Figures 1 and 2: These images shows the patient’s bilateral ulnar deviation and benediction deformity of the left hand.

Learn to Spot Neuropathic Arthropathy Mimicking RA

Carlos Antonio Moura, MD, Nathalia Crusoé, MD, Marília Cruz, MD, & Carlos Geraldo Moura, MD  |  

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by polyarthritis, especially involving hands and wrists. Without treatment, RA usually evolves to articular deformities. Unfortunately, although rheumatoid deformities are characteristic, they are not pathognomonic, and we should be aware of possible mimics.1 Neuropathic arthropathy (NA), similar to other diseases, such as hemochromatosis, psoriatic arthritis, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, Jaccoud…

Obesity in Women & Smoking in Men Strongly Predict Lack of Remission in Early RA

Lorraine L. Janeczko  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Obesity in women and current smoking in men appear to be the strongest predictors of lack of remission in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) within one year, according to new research presented June 13 at EULAR 2018, the annual meeting of the European League Against Rheumatism, in Amsterdam.1 Even though early identification and…