ATLANTA—Did you know that Tasmanian wombats have cube-shaped poop or that no matter what size bladder someone has, they still pee in 20–30 seconds—even elephants? What do those factoids have to do with rheumatology? When keynote speaker David L. Hu, PhD, shared the information and how he discovered it, the stories incited laughter in the…
As Ellen M. Gravallese, MD, begins the ACR presidency, her goals include workforce expansion, improved access to care and support for members in all areas of practice.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium has released a detailed advice document recommending risankizumab for treating adults with psoriasis…
A recent study has taken a more detailed look at the relationship between physical activity and the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Researchers found the more patients exercised weekly the lower their overall risk, specifically brisk and very brisk walking paces, along with longer cumulative average walking hours weekly were associated with a reduced risk for RA…
Patients with axial spondyloarthritis have a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease that tends to localize to the sacroiliac joints and spine. Ankylosing spondylitis is, perhaps, the most representative of this group of diseases. Rheumatologists treat patients with axial spondyloarthritis with biologics, such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi’s), which can improve quality of life, activity and…
Historically, ankylosing spondylitis was considered mainly a male disease. But it has become evident this predominance is not as great as previously believed. Here we discuss recent developments in the area, including potential differences between the sexes in symptom and disease burden, immunological and genetic background, diagnostic delay, treatment response and ongoing research questions. Medical…
Intravenous rituximab can now be used to treat pediatric patients with GPA and MPA as young as two years old…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Iguratimod, a disease-modifying drug marketed in China and Japan, appears to be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and possibly other autoimmune diseases, while protecting against adverse bone effects, researchers from China say. Iguratimod is a methane sulfonanilide compound that influences several anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory pathways and has an anabolic effect on…
For patients with gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations of scleroderma, the effect on quality of life & longevity can be dramatic. But advances are being made in the diagnosis & treatment of these patients…
Past research has identified being of Northern European descent as a risk factor, among others such as age, sex and HLA DRB1, for developing giant cell arteritis (GCA). But new research casts doubts on this idea, finding that rates of biopsy proven GCA may not differ by race…