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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis Prevalence on the Rise, Creating Challenges for Healthcare System

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Updated projections suggest that arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation will remain large and growing problems for clinical and public health systems, which must plan and create policies and resources to address these future needs. By 2040, the number of U.S. adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis is projected to increase 49% to 78.4 million. Can the healthcare system accommodate these projected increases? Not without changes. By 2025, the expected demand for rheumatologists is expected to exceed supply by 2,576 adult and 33 pediatric rheumatologists…

Opinion: Erosive Changes Questioned in RA/Lupus Overlap Syndrome

George A.W. Bruyn, MD, PhD  |  

I read with interest the Diagnostic View (TR, April), which, according to the authors, represented a case of rhupus, an overlap syndrome of RA and SLE. I challenge this view. My arguments: In the case of erosive RA, typically erosive changes are seen at MTP joints other than MTP1 (e.g., MTP5). In addition, the erosive…

Rheumatoid Arthritis & Autoimmune Glomerulonephritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis & Autoimmune Glomerulonephritis

Diana M. Girnita, MD, PhD, Shahzad Safdar, MD, & Avis Ware, MD  |  

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is rarely associated with renal manifestations, but secondary amyloidosis due to chronic inflammation is reported to be the etiology of renal dysfunction in many cases of RA.1,2 The discovery of biologic therapy, with TNF-alpha inhibitors in particular, made a huge difference in the disease course and prognosis of RA patients. However, TNF-alpha…

Remission of Rheumatoid Arthritis Tied to Lower Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Reuters Staff  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Disease remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome, according to a new study from Thailand. Researchers also found that a lower educational level was linked to a higher risk of metabolic syndrome, they report in Joint Bone Spine, online May 26. Dr….

Antibodies Can Spot RA in the General Population

Reuters Staff  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), particularly high anti-CCP2 titers, can diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the general population with a high degree of accuracy, a Swedish study suggests. ACPA are highly specific for RA, but until now the diagnostic accuracy of ACPA in the general population has not been “thoroughly assessed,” note Dr….

Triple Therapy with Methotrexate Effective, Cheaper in RA

Larry Hand  |  

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…

Research Provides Insight into Impact of Microbiome on Health, Rheumatic Disease

Neha Ohri, MD, & Kristine A. Kuhn, MD, PhD  |  

The microbiome comprises diverse microbial flora, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, that live on mucosal surfaces, predominantly the skin and digestive tract. Microbes evolved billions of years prior to the development of modern Homo sapiens 200,000 years ago; we have always existed with their ubiquitous presence. Despite this, the first microbe was not visualized until…

Under Patient Control: Is Diet a Risk Factor for RA?

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Two recent studies have linked diet to an increased risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis. According to one expert, this information could prove to be pivotal knowledge for individuals already at a greater risk of developing the disease…