The umbrella term crystalline disease covers arthritic conditions caused by deposition of crystals and associated inflammatory response, including erythema, edema and intense pain. The two most common crystal-induced arthropathies are gout, an arthritis secondary to inflammation caused by the presence of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals formed through high levels of serum urate, and calcium pyrophosphate…
Preclinical models have provided important insights into the pathogenesis of OA and potential pathways for therapeutic intervention, including adenosine. Ticagrelor and clopidogrel are both used in patients with coronary artery disease, but only ticagrelor increases extracellular adenosine levels. In this study, treatment with ticagrelor was associated with a 29% lower risk of developing OA than treatment with clopidogrel over five years of follow-up.
The FDA is recommending pregnant women avoid using NSAIDs as early as week 20 of pregnancy due to the risk of kidney problems in a developing fetus.
In light of the release of the ACR’s new gout guideline, it’s not surprising that 50 abstracts of studies on various aspects of gout were accepted at ACR Convergence 2020. Here, we highlight just a few:
Researchers are finding that antigens from the microbiota may play a role in the development of autoimmunity.
Editor’s note: On Oct. 26, 2020, the ACR submitted comments opposing the proposed change. The Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Bureau issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on Sept. 25 that would change the admission period of academic student and exchange visitor aliens, as well as representatives of foreign information media, from duration of status…
The FDA has approved golimumab for the treatment of pediatric patients with active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis or active psoriatic arthritis…
A new disease model for lupus tackles issues with fatigue and other serious conditions that, although quite common among patients, get less attention because they fall outside classic symptoms associated with inflammation, a debilitating force behind systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The model features subtypes to categorize two main groups of symptoms into type 1, typically…
Pain is the main reason patients with osteoarthritis (OA) seek medical help because of the substantial burden it imposes and its impact on quality of life. Pain can actually change the way the central nervous system works. This central sensitization results in more pain with less provocation. And according to results from an observational study…
George C. Tsokos, MD, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and chief of the Division of Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, both in Boston, doesn’t recall the moment he first became infatuated with Little, a 12-year-old Siamese cat. Dr. Tsokos doesn’t even own Little. Not that anyone can truly own any living creature….