A recent editorial examined research findings on how low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the blood affect bone health, resulting in cartilage dysfunction and the development of osteoarthritis (OA). Authors note that a high-fat diet in mice with HDL deficiency resulted in OA development; thus, they conclude that in patients with metabolic syndrome, HDL may have a causative relationship to OA…
(Reuters Health)—People with psychiatric illnesses are more likely to have complications after hip replacement surgery, according to a recent analysis. This added risk is something doctors and patients should discuss in advance, the study team writes in The Journal of Arthroplasty, March 17. Previous studies have linked depression and other mental illnesses to greater complications…
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is remarkably diverse in presentation and course. To assist clinicians in its management, the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) published treatment recommendations in 2009 based on a systematic evidence review. To be clinically relevant, such recommendations must be dynamic, and significant developments in PsA pathophysiology and disease assessment, particularly regarding the important contribution of comorbidities coupled with major therapeutic advances, necessitated an update of the GRAPPA recommendations…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The combination of methotrexate, sulphasalazine and hydroxychloroquine is similar in effect as methotrexate plus biologic therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a new network meta-analysis. “Thus, for most patients, this low-cost combination of medications should probably be tried before moving onto biologic therapy, either as initial treatment or as…
Two studies have shown that romosozumab is effective for increasing bone mineral density in both men and women with osteoporosis. And due to safety concerns, Janssen has dropped out of clinical trials for fulranumab, which is being studied to treat OA pain…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The investigational drug abaloparatide may help postmenopausal women increase their bone mineral density (BMD) and reduce their risk of fracture, new industry research suggests. “What was surprising and very important about this study was that, although some drugs for osteoporosis don’t work across all patient subgroups, abaloparatide provided persistent protection against fracture…
Researchers suspect the C-type lectin receptor (CLR) mincle may play a role in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis. A new study linked CLR mincle to Card9-signaling events and IL-1, resulting in inflammation…
A recent study found that mycophenolate mofetil is an effective alternative for the treatment of systemic scleroderma with interstitial lung disease, resulting in possible long-term improvement. According to Aryeh Fischer, MD, this new research points to the future expansion of treatment options…
A recent small-scale study showed that patients who received platelet-rich plasma therapy for tendon healing experienced clinically important improvements in pain and disability compared with placebo. Additionally, MRI showed that some participants had improvement in the pathoanatomy of the rotator cuff six months after treatment…
SAN FRANCISCO—To convey the plight of rheumatology patients in sub-Saharan Africa, Girish Mody, MD, head of rheumatology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and past president of the African League of Associations for Rheumatology, recounted a story during the 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting from the World Health Organization about a diabetes patient. The…