Drug-induced lupus erythematosus and ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) are both autoimmune conditions associated with the use of hydralazine, a commonly prescribed drug for hypertension and congestive heart failure. Although the pathogenesis is unknown, it is believed that hydralazine alters neutrophil and lymphocyte function and promotes exposure of antigens, leading to the development of anti-neutrophil antibodies (ANCA)…
Ethan Craig was not pleased. As a reader of this column, you know that Dr. Craig is an assistant professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Pennsylvania and an associate editor of The Rheumatologist. On this particular morning, however, he was the father of a 5-year-old who woke up…
Our patient was a 33-year-old, 5’2″ Asian woman with a past medical history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The diagnosis was based on serologies positive for anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs), as well as antibodies to Sm, RNP and SSA. Her illness included neuropsychiatric and cutaneous involvement. She also had a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. She presented…
Experts discuss how rheumatologists must consider the psychosocial aspect of care in the decision-making process for women when addressing their reproductive health needs, in addition to medication safety.
The ACR Review Course featured eight talks providing a practical review of issues encountered by rheumatologists.
Interventions targeted at mitigating the risk of preeclampsia may reduce preterm birth and cesarean delivery in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and psoriasis. That’s one key finding of a retrospective study published in Arthritis Care & Research.1 The study set out to quantify the mediated effects of autoimmune conditions on adverse…
Three experts discuss recent developments in the diagnosis & treatment of APS & the future direction of research.
Early results in a phase 2 trial are finding that adding a TNF blocker to other treatment could greatly lower the risk of serious complications during pregnancy for women who have antiphospholipid syndrome with lupus anticoagulant.
Uveitis is an umbrella term for intraocular inflammatory diseases that can lead to vision loss. It’s not just a concern for ophthalmologists. Uveitis occurs in approximately 2–5% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 6–9% of patients with psoriatic arthritis and 25% of patients with reactive arthritis. The prevalence may be as high as 33% in…
ACR CONVERGENCE 2020—In many ways, the current plethora of treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis patients represents an embarrassment of riches. However, while many therapeutics approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) are available, knowing the order in which to try these medications with patients can be quite challenging. In The Great Debate, held…