Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

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

Research Rheum

Do Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis in Remission Still Need TNF Inhibitors?

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Patients with axial spondyloarthritis have a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease that tends to localize to the sacroiliac joints and spine. Ankylosing spondylitis is, perhaps, the most representative of this group of diseases. Rheumatologists treat patients with axial spondyloarthritis with biologics, such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi’s), which can improve quality of life, activity and…

Research Sheds Light on Scleromyxedema, a Rare Skin Disorder

Larry Beresford  |  

Scleromyxedema is a rare, mucinous skin disorder of unknown origin, one of a number of conditions that mimic systemic sclerosis. Although cases of scleromyxedema remain rare, a better understanding of its mechanisms of action could have implications for the research and treatment of scleroderma and related autoimmune conditions, says Laura K. Hummers, MD, ScM, co-director…

Study Says Mothers’ Cardiovascular Health Is Linked to Pregnancy Outcomes in Lupus

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A recent study in The Journal of Rheumatology sheds light on the importance of preconceptional cardiovascular health in women with systemic lupus erythematosus. Although many questions remain, improved cardiovascular health measures seem to positively affect pregnancy outcomes, suggesting a potential role for preconception cardiovascular interventions.1 Women with lupus now have healthier pregnancies than in the…

Researchers Seek the Best Methods to Maintain Remission in Vasculitis

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MADRID—During the 2019 European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR), held June 12–15, speakers addressed the complexity of vasculitis in a Challenges in Clinical Practice session titled, How to Maintain Remission in Vasculitis. Although vasculitis appears in many varieties, one commonality exists among these related yet distinct conditions: When there is vital organ or systemic involvement, disease…

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…

Study Finds ANA-Negative Classification Errors Among Newly Diagnosed Lupus Patients

Catherine Kolonko  |  

How laboratories define a serological hallmark of systemic lupus erythematous and which assays they use to detect it could contribute to misclassification of patients identified as anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) negative, according to researchers. Most people who have lupus test positive for ANAs as part of an immunology screening for autoimmune disorders. The presence of ANAs…

Study Implicates Epstein-Barr Virus in 7 Autoimmune Diseases

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The identification of specific transcription factors linked to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) provides new information on the molecular mechanisms underlying the link between EBV and autoimmune disease. A recently published study, “Transcrip­tion Factors Operate Across Disease Loci, with EBNA2 Implicated in Auto­immunity,” co-led by John B. Harley, MD, PhD; Leah C. Kottyan, PhD; and Matthew…

Using RISE Data in Research

Elizabeth Hofheinz, MPH, MEd  |  

The ACR’s RISE registry offers answers on real-world experience to researchers.