Despite an expanding armaÂmentarium of disease-modifying treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), some patients with RA remain symptoÂmatic.1 Current treatment guidelines from both the ACR and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommend treat-to-target strategies to achieve remission or low disease activity, and patients want to feel better.2,3 So how can we best help…
You are a rheumatologist in Texas. You are very well trained. Your mentors included some of the leaders in rheumatology, and you are respected by your colleagues and your patients. You know the devastation of untreated rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. A young woman with recent onset of systemic lupus erythematosus is your new patient. You…
During ACR Convergence 2022 in early November, the ACR and the ARP honored a group of distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to rheumatology research, education and patient care. This month, The Rheumatologist profiles the recipients of the ARP President’s and Merit Awards. ARP PRESIDENT’S AWARDS The ARP president can choose to honor ACR/ARP…
I looked at the joints. They spoke back to me—”I need more humanism,” they whispered. To longtime readers, those two sentences may sound both familiar and alien, perhaps even a little humorous. That’s because those sentences were generated entirely by a computer using artificial intelligence (AI). It was simple, too: I just copied the text…
The mission of the Rheumatology Research Foundation, a division of the ACR, is to advance research and training to improve the health of patients living with rheumatic disease. It supports career advancement, mentorship, professional development and education of professionals working in the disciplines essential to these patients.1 “The Foundation understands that the support of Association…
Rheumatologists should take an active role in patients’ reproductive health, including before, during and after pregnancy. Two experts offer insights into how rheumatologists can better care for their patients during these critical times.
Many women with inflammatory arthritis stop filling prescriptions for medications to treat their disease during pregnancy, putting themselves at risk of disability and joint damage. Birru Talabi et al. examined why, finding that some women discontinue their medications out of fear, while others receive conflicting advice from providers or misinformation about medication safety.
COVID-19 vaccinations are safe for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with manageable side effects and a low incidence of flare, according to a recently published study in The Lancet.1 The use of mRNA vaccines, such as those from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which have been viewed as riskier than traditional vaccines because of a concern…
On Feb. 2, 2022, the ACR released a revised version of its COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Guidance Summary (version 5, revised). A full paper was originally published online in Arthritis & Rheumatology (A&R) on March 17, 2021, and version 5 has been submitted to A&R for publication. Updates include: Recommendations differentiating supplemental and booster doses, including…
A study was able to quantify the transference of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors from mother to fetus during pregnancy. Overall, the researchers found low levels of transfer for the treatments studied.