Rheumatology in China is a relatively young discipline, but it has developed exponentially over the past three decades. In this article, we review the history of rheumatology in China and advances in clinical care, research and education in this field. The Founding Father Naizheng Zhang, MD, is widely regarded as the father of rheumatology in…
For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who respond to subcutaneous tocilizumab, discontinuing methotrexate may be an option and offer an alternative to patients who cannot tolerate or prefer not to take methotrexate. “This is one of the first studies showing that methotrexate may be discontinued in a cohort of patients with a biologic agent without…
A confluence of advances in knowledge and technology is closing in on the day when therapies for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be specifically targeted to the precise variant and stage of disease. “Precision medicine is in the future, and not the distant future but more in the immediate future,” says Harris R. Perlman,…
Palindromic rheumatism (PR) was first described in 1944 as “unique in its nature of recurrent, transient episodes of excruciatingly painful inflammation of articular and periarticular tissues, followed by periods without symptoms.”1 Unfortunately, it is becoming evident this entity is more frequent than we thought.2 PR is easily ignored or misdiagnosed due to its character (i.e.,…
Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome is a heterogeneous, inflammatory, musculoskeletal disease. The disease is an insidious, sterile osteitis with associated skin and synovial inflammation.1 Diagnosis can prove challenging, but a thorough clinical history, high clinical suspicion and imaging techniques can help clinch it. The below case reveals a rare, fulminant presentation of…
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasingly used to treat a variety of malignancies, leading to better cancer treatment outcomes and patient survival. However, the emergence of autoimmunity has been a major adverse event resulting from ICI use. Below, we describe a patient who experienced a flare of preexisting psoriasis and new-onset severe psoriatic arthritis after…
In a rheumatology practice, registered nurses take on multiple roles, from administrative tasks to engaging in patient support and assessment. They can aid rheumatologists and help provide the best care to patients…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—A large epidemiological study provides more evidence of a link between tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and peripheral neuropathy (PN). “These events are rare and the benefit of these drugs still outweigh this risk so this should not change practice,” cautions first author Dr. Mahyar Etminan from the University of British Columbia…
Sir William Osler, the father of modern medicine, said “the desire to take medicine is perhaps the greatest feature that separates man from animal.” Determination of the benefit of a medication can be challenging and includes a number of factors, such as pharmacologic activities on the disease pathophysiology, pharmacokinetic properties and patient characteristics.1,2 An additional,…
A 36-year-old woman presented at the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center for a second opinion regarding a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). One year prior to our evaluation, she had developed pain and stiffness in her hands, feet, knees, ankles, elbows and shoulders. She had mild plaque psoriasis of the scalp and base of the neck,…