Renal osteodystrophy is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its associated metabolic derangements, most commonly CKD stages 3–5. It is often subclassified into four histological subtypes, with definite distinctions unable to be made clinically. These four subtypes, which may only be differentiated by bone biopsy, include: osteitis fibrosa cystica, mixed uremic osteodystrophy, osteomalacia and…
Experts described the latest breakthroughs related to lupus and the brain, including the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to gain insights into brain fog. Research into the role of microglia in neuropsychiatric lupus is also described.
Originally posted Feb. 13, 2023; reposted in conjunction with publication of the PMR supplement to the February 2024 issue of The Rheumatologist. PHILADELPHIA—Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a chronic inflammatory condition that almost exclusively affects individuals older than 50.1 First described in 1888, PMR has been a recognized rheumatic disease since at least 1957. Diagnosing the…
Background/Purpose It has been reported that 20–50% of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) have subclinical giant cell arteritis (GCA). The natural history of ultrasound-defined subclinical GCA in PMR is not known. Methods Twenty-five newly diagnosed PMR patients who met a clinical diagnosis for PMR, verified by two rheumatologists, were examined by ultrasound. All six branches…
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard imaging modality for the detection of sacroiliitis, a hallmark of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, the specificity of MRI for axSpA has been questioned. Renson et al. found that structural MRI-detected SI joint lesions are frequently seen in healthy individuals.
This EULAR 2022 session discussed the increasing role of imaging in the diagnosis of gout.
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.
With both impressive sensitivity and specificity in capturing active large vessel vasculitis, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a potential tool for determining disease activity and predicting relapse in patients with large vessel vasculitis.
Research has found dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) may be a non-invasive and cost-effective option to help rheumatologists more accurately diagnose gout.
Experts compare using ultrasound and dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) scan when diagnosing likely gout patients, and discuss the latest insights into the intersection between gout and cardiovascular disease.