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Articles by Arthritis & Rheumatology

Can Stem Cell Transplantation Improve Survival Rates in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis?

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Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) may improve the survival rate of patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to Georges et al. The single-arm clinical trial demonstrated the effectiveness of AHSCT and maintenance therapy. Researchers also identified potential risk factor of AHSCT in patients with low eGFR before transplantation.

Trends in the Use of DMARDs for Patients with JIA

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Yalamanchili et al. describe how trends in disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) use have evolved for insured, U.S. patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Overall, the study found that from 2000 to 2022 in this patient population the use of biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs rose, while the use of conventional synthetic DMARDs declined.

Can MRI Predict Osteoarthritis’ Progression?

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In individuals without radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA), Chang et al. investigated whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) defined knee OA at baseline was associated with incident radiographic and symptomatic disease during up to 11 years of follow-up. The researchers found the two current MRI definitions of knee OA may not adequately predict the development of radiographic and symptomatic disease.

Chronic Back Pain & axSpA

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Maksymowych et al. assessed the frequency of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) according to extra-articular presentation and human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) status and sought to identify features that distinguish patients with axSpA from those with non-specific back pain. Their data support recommendations that patients with chronic back pain and extra-articular features related to axSpA be screened for axSpA with MRI and referred to a rheumatologist.

Are Sacroiliac Joint MRIs Accurate in Routine Clinical Practice?

Anna E.F. Hadsbjerg, Simon Krabbe, Nora Vladimirova, Adrian Ciurea, Kristyna Bubova, Monika Gregová, Michael Nissen, Burkhard Moeller, Raphael Micheroli, Susanne Pedersen, Jakub Zavada, Ziga Snoj, Karlo Pintaric, Bjorn Gudbjornsson, Ziga Rotar, Iris Eshed, Iwona Sudol-Szopinska, Kasper Gosvig, Torsten Diekhoff, Robert Lambert, Manouk de hOoge, Helena V.G. Elmo, Merete Hetland, Lykke Oernbjerg & Mikkel Ostergaard  |  

Hadsbjerg et al. compared assessments of sacroiliac joint MRIs in local MRI reports from routine care in five European countries with re-reads by central experts in patients with a diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) to estimate the extent of over- or under-reporting of features and misclassification.

Lung Cancer in RA & RA-ILD

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Brooks et al. evaluated the risk of lung cancer in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and RA-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) compared with the risk in matched controls without RA or RA-ILD. Understanding whether RA predisposes someone to lung cancer and whether patients with RA-ILD represent a uniquely high-risk group could inform cancer-screening strategies.

Young Adults with Psoriatic Disease at Risk of Early Cardiovascular Disease

Anurag Goel, Joshua Tanzer & Vinit Gilvaz  |  

Background/Purpose Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are closely linked inflammatory conditions that can affect both children and adults. In children, these diseases are associated with traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis. In older adults, systemic inflammation from psoriasis and PsA accelerates atherosclerosis, and these conditions are independent risk factors for severe cardiovascular disease…

Autoantibodies Illuminate Lupus Nephritis

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Fava et al. investigated longitudinal autoantibody profiles in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) to define serological biomarkers of histologic class. They found that baseline levels of anti-C1q and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies may serve as noninvasive biomarkers of proliferative LN and anti-C1q antibodies may predict complete response.

Anti-Infliximab Antibodies Predict Response in Axial Spondyloarthritis

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Pimentel et al. evaluated the influence of anti-infliximab antibodies on patients with axial spondyloarthritis. The researchers found that anti-infliximab antibodies were associated with decreased infliximab performance and difficulty tapering its dosage, as well as a good clinical response to a second, alternate tumor necrosis factor inhibitor.