The axial phenotype of psoriatic arthritis (axPsA) is an excellent example of a major controversy in rheumatology that has become the focus of attention because of the emergence of new therapies with different mechanisms of action for alleviating joint inflammation. It was first described in 1961 but, until recently, it has largely remained under the…
The etiology of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is poorly understood but current evidence supports an interaction between genetic and environmental factors that coalesce to promote local tissue inflammation.1-3 The pivotal cytokines that underlie the local inflammatory response in a wide range of tissues are interleukin (IL) 23, IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF).4 The central contribution…
As the cloud moved away from the tent, Miriam’s skin suddenly became diseased, as white as snow. When Aaron turned toward her, he saw that she was diseased. —Numbers 12:10 For 29 years he [Fray Pedro de Urraca] was afflicted by … pain, suffering it at once in all the joints of his body, with…
A 17-year-old woman presents with chronic finger pain experienced over six months that is worse in the mornings. On physical exam, the patient has no joint swelling, pain on range of motion or limitation of range of motion in any of her finger joints. She has a tender, subcutaneous, firm, flesh-colored nodule on the lateral…
The 2015 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Workforce Study projected that by 2030 the number of adult rheumatologists will decline by 25%.1 The result: Demand for rheumatologists is projected to be more than twice the available supply of providers by 2030. Advanced practice rheumatology professionals can help practices overcome the barrier this mismatch will create…
At the 17th Annual Advances in the Diagnosis & Treatment of the Rheumatic Diseases meeting, Dana DiRenzo, MD, MHS, RhMSUS, discussed the use of ultrasound imaging in patients with inflammatory arthritis.
Martin Kriegel, MD, PhD, Receives 2021 Lupus Insight Award “I have always found the conundrum of autoimmunity interesting. It’s fascinating to find out why the immune system attacks the body, how it can distinguish self from non-self,” says Martin Kriegel, MD, PhD, head of the Department of Translational Rheumatology & Immunology, Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine,…
The 1999 Institute of Medicine report To Err Is Human gave a sobering depiction of the magnitude and consequences of medical error.1 The report concluded that approximately 98,000 people die in hospitals annually due to preventable medical errors. Of all the errors detailed in this report, diagnostic errors have since been determined to be the…
Spondyloarthropathy is an ancient form of arthritis shared by multiple orders and classes of the animal kingdom. Camarasaurus, a genus of quadrupedal, herbivorous dinosaur, holds the record for the earliest known case of spondyloarthropathy—147 million years ago.
The following websites offer an abundance of options to help your patients understand their disease and learn to live with it. Several sites offer information in various languages, and for your patients who prefer audio-visual to print, one site has several educational videos. The ACR—Diseases and Conditions: Gout (Web page or PDF available in English…