A study from October 2019 describes the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with undefined systemic autoinflammatory diseases. Researchers conducted a genetic analysis and outlined specific variants. They found patients with pericarditis and intellectual impairment may have distinct clinical phenotypes, which may lead to improved diagnostic and treatment options.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—A new study of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) shows that the immune system is profoundly altered during acute illness, but gradually returns back to normal. MIS-C is distinct from both COVID-19 and Kawasaki disease, but is associated with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, the immunological profiling study reveals. Dr. Manu Shankar-Hari, an…
In a new study, Spiera et al. assessed the safety and efficacy of lenabasum, a synthetic, orally administered agonist of cannabinoid receptor 2 that modulates the endocannabinoid system to activate the resolution phase of innate immune responses, in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis…
Canakinumab, an interleukin (IL) 1 blocker, can now be prescribed to treat patients with active Still’s disease and adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD)…
The ACR has developed two new clinical guidance documents for pediatric patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A retrospective study found serum interleukin 6 levels at the onset of IgG4-RD may significantly correlate with clinical inflammatory parameters and the involvement of the bile duct, liver and spleen…
Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) may benefit from targeted stroke screening or prevention therapies. A recent study revealed SSc may be independently associated with stroke, finding the risk of stroke was 20–30% higher in SSc patients than healthy controls…
ATLANTA—At the ACR/ARP 2019 Annual Meeting, several widely renowned experts across an array of specialty subjects provided a comprehensive and compelling review of advances in the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of a number of rheumatologic conditions. Sjögren’s Syndrome Frederick Vivino, MD, FACR, chief of rheumatology at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and professor of clinical medicine…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—For young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who don’t achieve disease control, switching to a different class of biologic is unlikely to be beneficial, researchers say. The observational study yielded no evidence to support or refute the 2015 National Health Service England guidelines, which recommend switching most patients to a second…
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) can cause fibroinflammatory lesions in nearly any organ, and diagnosis is challenging. ACR/EULAR classification criteria for IgG4-RD have been developed and validated in a large cohort of patients. These criteria have performed well in tests and should contribute substantially to future clinical, epidemiologic and basic science investigations.