Introduction The understanding and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has evolved dramatically in the past 20 years. As gains have been made in treating joint disease in RA, our understanding of the impact of extra-articular manifestations of RA, such as cardiac and lung disease—specifically interstitial lung disease (ILD)—has gradually increased. While rheumatologists increasingly appreciate the…
Approximately 50% of young adult patients with childhood-onset rheumatic diseases become lost to follow-up within the first year of transferring to adult rheumatology care, mirroring the statistics of other subspecialties.1,2 One of the challenges cited most consistently by young adult patients and their families relates to differences between rheumatology care delivery in the pediatric and…
Pulmonary manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) include pleuritis, acute pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, shrinking lung syndrome and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). DAH is a rare, but devastating, complication of SLE, with high mortality rates. The incidence of DAH in SLE ranges from 0.6% to 5.4%, but the mortality rate…
Experts provided an update on juvenile dermatomyositis, discussing patient care, treatment options and the pathogenesis of disease.
Leslie Kahl, MD, on Coaching I have been an academic clinician-educator for my entire career and, like most of my colleagues, have been called upon to advise, mentor and coach countless trainees and junior faculty members. Unlike most clinician-educators, though, I also served as associate dean for student affairs at Washington University School of Medicine,…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Rituximab seemed to be a safe and effective treatment for systemic sclerosis (SSc) in a placebo-controlled validation trial in Japan.1 “A number of studies have examined B-cell depletion therapy for systemic sclerosis, and many of them have suggested that [this] is effective in treating systemic sclerosis,” Ayumi Yoshizaki, MD, tells Reuters Health…
Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a childhood form of inflammatory myopathy affecting children younger than 18 years. The diagnosis of JDM is based on characteristic clinical features of proximal muscle weakness, skin rash, elevated muscle enzymes, magnetic resonance imaging and muscle biopsy.1 Autoantibodies seen in patients with inflammatory myopathy are not only associated with particular phenotypes…
An expert discussed the screening and treatment of sarcoidosis and drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reactions during the 2021 ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium.
Advancements in the treatment of myositis are on their way, according to Hector Chenoy, PhD, FRCP, who outlined the latest clinical trials during the 2021 ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium.
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a common primary immunodeficiency disease, with an estimated incidence of one per 25,000–50,000 individuals.1 The classic presentation includes frequent bacterial infections, secondary to dysfunctional B cell differentiation, impaired immunoglobulin production and diminished antibody response. The clinical presentation may be heterogenous and may include granulomatous disease as an uncommon manifestation. Granulomatous…