Kidney involvement is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Collectively termed lupus nephritis, SLE with kidney involvement comes in many subtypes. The current classification by the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS), however, does not include lupus podocytopathy, which, through various clinical and epidemiologic studies, has recently been…
In 2022, an international group of researchers reported the seminal finding that a gain-of-function variant of a single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) sensor, known as toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), can cause human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).1 The paper in Nature showed that a newly described variant of TLR7, identified in a child with severe lupus, was…
“I think we learn from medicine everywhere that it is, at its heart, a human endeavor, requiring good science but also a limitless curiosity and interest in your fellow human being, and that the physician-patient relationship is key; all else follows from it.”1 These profound words from Abraham Verghese, MD, MACP, Linda R. Meier…
Regaining a sense of control, limiting responsibilities and engaging in mindfulness can help rheumatologists manage their mental health needs. Rheumatologists should also address the mental health concerns raised by their patients. Here are insights from a psychiatrist/rheumatologist.
To work together effectively, clinicians and rheumatology professionals need to understand the roles of every member of the interdisciplinary team. To enhance this understanding, the ARP Interprofessional Practice & Management Committee has undertaken a project to describe the modern roles of members of the interdisciplinary team in a series of fact sheets. The first three…
Editor’s note: Originally published on Oct. 12, 2023. Updated Feb. 28, 2024, to add fact sheets. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a leading cause of medical errors and poor care is a lack of communication between healthcare providers.1 As healthcare has evolved, the importance of holistic care has become more…
Lifestyle medicine interventions, such as dietary changes, movement and mindfulness, in combination with conventional treatment, may help alleviate symptoms of rheumatic disease, according to panelists at ACR Convergence 2023.
In an ACR Convergence 2022 session, Robert Spiera, MD, director of the Scleroderma, Vasculitis, and Myositis Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City, discussed the use of sarilumab as a potential glucocorticoid-sparing therapy in a phase 3 study in patients with treatment-refractory polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), one of the most common inflammatory diseases…
Patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) who had relapsed while tapering glucocorticoid therapy were more likely to achieve sustained remission at one year and have a lower glucocorticoid exposure if they were treated with sarilumab (Kevzara) plus a rapid, 14-week glucocorticoid taper than if they received placebo plus a standard, 52-week glucocorticoid taper. This is according…
Expressing empathy, engaging patients in conversations about their emotional health and having an overall understanding of grief can help rheumatology health professionals better care for their patients. During a session at ACR Convergence 2023, mental health professionals and patients highlighted how grief affects patients with rheumatic disease and how providers can respond.