Search results for: hospital

Iguratimod May Hold Promise for Treating Autoimmune Disease

Natasha Yetman | October 22, 2019

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…

Move Along: Insights Into Gastrointestinal Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis

Jason Liebowitz, MD, FACR | October 21, 2019

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…

Race May Not Be a Risk Factor for Giant Cell Arteritis

Lara C. Pullen, PhD | October 21, 2019

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…

Researchers Seek the Best Methods to Maintain Remission in Vasculitis

Jason Liebowitz, MD, FACR | October 18, 2019

MADRID—During the 2019 European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR), held June 12–15, speakers addressed the complexity of vasculitis in a Challenges in Clinical Practice session titled, How to Maintain Remission in Vasculitis. Although vasculitis appears in many varieties, one commonality exists among these related yet distinct conditions: When there is vital organ or systemic involvement, disease…

Why You Should Consider Adding a Dietitian to Your Team

Linda Childers | October 18, 2019

A patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) asks if diet can help ease their symptoms. Or maybe a patient with severe knee osteoarthritis (OA) seeks diet advice because they want to lose weight and relieve pressure on their joints. Although there’s no specific nutrition plan for patients with rheumatic diseases, research has shown many dietary factors…

Study Examines How Depression Subtypes May Stem from Osteoarthritis

Susan Bernstein | October 18, 2019

People with or at risk for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) may be assigned to four depression subtypes with distinct clusters of depressive symptoms that may affect pain and disability over time, according to a new study in Arthritis Care & Research.1 Four depression subtypes were identified in the study using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies…

Study Implicates Epstein-Barr Virus in 7 Autoimmune Diseases

Mary Beth Nierengarten | October 18, 2019

The identification of specific transcription factors linked to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) provides new information on the molecular mechanisms underlying the link between EBV and autoimmune disease. A recently published study, “Transcription Factors Operate Across Disease Loci, with EBNA2 Implicated in Autoimmunity,” co-led by John B. Harley, MD, PhD; Leah C. Kottyan, PhD; and Matthew…

Case Report: A Patient Develops Scleroderma Renal Crisis

Adria Madera-Acosta, MD, Teresa Sosenko, MD, & Diana Girnita, MD, PhD | October 18, 2019

Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) is a life-threatening complication of systemic sclerosis. SRC occurs in 2–15% of patients with diffuse sclerosis and usually within the first five years from the time of diagnosis. Risk factors for SRC include, but are not limited to, early diagnosis, corticosteroid or cyclosporine use, and the presence of anti-RNA polymerase III…

Forging & Maintaining a Therapeutic Alliance with Difficult Patients

Bharat Kumar, MD, MME, FACP, FAAAAI, RhMSUS | October 18, 2019

When I first met Ms. Miller (name changed), quite frankly, I couldn’t wait to get out of the room. I’m sure she couldn’t either. A woman in her 40s with systemic lupus erythematosus, poorly controlled asthma and fibromyalgia, she seemed to have every conceivable symptom. And, worse than that, due to a long history of…

Lessons from Master Clinicians: An Interview with Dr. Michael Weisman

Jason Liebowitz, MD, FACR | October 18, 2019

Rheumatologists want to be the best clinicians possible, provide consistently exceptional care to patients and serve as role models for colleagues and trainees. In the Lessons from a Master Clinician series, we offer insights from clinicians who have achieved a level of distinction in the field of rheumatology. Michael H. Weisman, MD, is a professor…