Evidence-based classification criteria for rare, hereditary, autoinflammatory fevers have been developed to aid clinicians in better understanding the differences between these rare conditions.... [Read More]
A number of autoinflammatory syndromes that result from genetic mutations have been described recently. The vast majority occur in children. However, three periodic fever syndromes are important for rheumatologists who treat adults to know about. The goal of this review is to provide a concise description of each condition, and to help the clinician understand… [Read More]
Two case studies demonstrate the difficulty, delay in recognizing this rare autoinflammatory disease... [Read More]
Fever in rheumatology patients may present evidence of an inflammatory process... [Read More]
Understanding the genetic basis of errors of the immune system may provide new opportunities for therapy... [Read More]
Case Presentation History of present illness A 66-year-old white woman presented with unexplained, recurrent episodes of high fever, abdominal pain, rash and arthralgias occurring over the previous three years. During typical episodes, the patient experienced flu-like symptoms, followed by fever, abdominal pain and non-bloody diarrhea without tenesmus. Her temperatures were 101–103ºF, with chills lasting up… [Read More]
Autoinflammatory disorders may involve genetic mutations of the inflammasome or an environmental trigger in a genetically susceptible host. Dr. Jay Mehta discussed a practical, clinical approach to caring for patients with autoinflammatory disorders, such as periodic fever syndromes, during the 2022 ACR Education Exchange.... [Read More]
The COVID-19 pandemic has filled hospitals with patients with rapidly progressive respiratory failure and diffuse bilateral opacities on chest X-ray.1 Additionally, many patients with severe COVID-19 develop acute kidney injury and require dialysis.2 Pulmonary-renal syndromes are also important to consider in this setting. Although alveolar hemorrhage is a cardinal feature of this syndrome, many patients… [Read More]
Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis that typically affects medium-sized muscular arteries. The clinical subsets of PAN are idiopathic, generalized, secondary hepatitis B virus (HBV) associated and cutaneous PAN. These clinical subsets are important because of their therapeutic implications. Virtually any organ system can be affected in generalized PAN, but this vasculitis tends… [Read More]
Michael B. Brenner, MD, addresses exciting advances in basic science in rheumatology, including insights into inflammation in osteoarthritis, the adult-onset autoinflammatory syndrome VEXAS and more.... [Read More]