A recent article in Arthritis Care & Research supports the idea that the patient global assessment reflects primarily the patient’s experience of their functioning in daily life.1 Background The patient global assessment is a key measure used by clinicians and researchers to help evaluate disease status in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Lead author Ethan T. Craig,…
Low muscle density due to the accumulation of intramuscular fat has been observed in RA patients and is associated with higher disease activity. New research sought to understand the relationship between muscle density, physical function and strength independent of body composition, including such factors as total and visceral adiposity. The results: Compared with healthy controls, low muscle density in RA patients was associated with low muscle mass, excess adiposity and greater disability…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—In women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), menopause is associated with both functional decline and an acceleration of that decline, according to a longitudinal study from the U.S. However, several factors involving increased hormonal exposure were associated with less-severe functional decline in women with RA: ever having received hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), ever…
Amir Atwal* is a 76-year-old man who had a knee arthroplasty six weeks ago: He wonders how he is doing in comparison to other individuals of his age at the same stage of recovery. Will you be able to provide him with an answer? If you are looking for a one-stop shop to help you…
The serine-threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) enzyme is critical for regulatory T cells to function—without it, they don’t have the ability to suppress effector T cells and can’t protect against autoimmunity, according to new research published in Nature Immunology. Researchers found that conditional knockout mice—in which PP2A expression is knocked out only in regulatory T cells—developed…
Resurfacing procedure preserves bone, lasts longer, allows patients higher level of functionality
Rheumatologists urged to monitor signs of kidney dysfunction in patients with RA as higher incidence of reduced kidney function found in these patients