The Rheumatologist
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common autoimmune inflammatory arthritis in adults. In June, the ACR released an updated guideline on the management of rheumatoid arthritis.1 The guideline includes 44 recommendations—seven of which are strong and 37 conditional. It underscores the role of methotrexate as a cornerstone therapy and emphasizes minimizing glucocorticoids, when possible. It also includes new recommendations for specific high-risk groups. Learn more in our article below.

Plus, a vast repository of new research related to RA is slated for presentation at ACR Convergence 2021. Come back soon to see what abstracts Jeffrey Curtis, MD, MS, MPH, considers the most likely to make an impact on clinical practice and future research. Review the top research presented during ACR Convergence 2020 selected by Elizabeth (Blair) Solow, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatic Diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

FEATURED ARTICLE: Researchers Propose a Sensitive, Specific Biomarker for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Research, Case Reports & More

PAD4 Antibodies May Help Predict Treatment Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis

A study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology highlights how the presence of autoantibodies to peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) may eventually be used to influence treatment decisions in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), sharpening our understanding of disease subtypes.1 Although follow-up prospective studies are needed, these findings underline some intriguing areas for future investigations in immunobiology…. [Read More]

Case Report: Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Restrictive Pericarditis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects approximately 1% of the adult population, and involvement of extra-articular tissue occurs in approximately 40% of patients over their lifetimes.1 RA-associated pericardial disease is an uncommon complication, and surgery is the only definitive therapy—according to current literature. In this report, we present the case of… [Read More]

Physical Activity Reduces Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis

A recent study has taken a more detailed look at the relationship between physical activity and the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Researchers found the more patients exercised weekly the lower their overall risk, specifically brisk and very brisk walking paces, along with longer cumulative average walking hours weekly were associated with a reduced risk for RA…... [Read More]

Study Finds Chronic Opioid Use Doubled in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

The prevalence of chronic opioid use among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) doubled between 2002 and 2015, especially among patients with severe pain or on antidepressants, according to a new study.1 The study adds to prior data reporting trends in chronic opioid use in RA patients.2,3 Severe pain was the strongest predictor for use of… [Read More]

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

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Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

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