NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—A significant proportion of children with rheumatic diseases develop new-onset hypogammaglobulinemia and infections following treatment with the monoclonal antibody rituximab, according to new U.S. research. “Increased risk appeared to be mediated, at least in part, by exposure to pulse dose corticosteroids,” write Marc Natter, MD, of Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s…

Treatment Factors to Consider in Patients with JIA
Weighing treatment options and adjusting them to meet the needs of patients with JIA is a complicated process. Experts discussed factors influencing treatment options, optimizing treatment doses and possibilities for treatment withdrawal for these patients.

The Many Facets of JIA: Insights from Bench to Bedside for the Clinical Care of Patients with JIA
Experts provide insights into spondyloarthropathy, temporomandibular joint involvement and imaging for pediatric patients with JIA.

Updates in Juvenile Dermatomyositis: Pathogenesis & Patient Care
Experts provided an update on juvenile dermatomyositis, discussing patient care, treatment options and the pathogenesis of disease.

Achieving Excellence in Pediatric Rheumatology Clinical Care
PRSYM—At its heart, the practice of medicine in all forms is specifically centered on delivering compassionate, thoughtful and evidence-based clinical care. In the world of pediatric rheumatology, a range of issues, such as chronic pain, reproductive health and transitioning to adult providers, are of utmost importance to patients and physicians alike. These topics were addressed…

Manifestations of JIA: JIA-Associated Uveitis, sJIA & Lung Involvement in sJIA
JIA can manifest in a variety of ways. Experts discuss the implications of uveitis, systemic disease and lung involvement in sJIA.

Case Report: Rapidly Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease in a 6-Year-Old
Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), a rare subset of dermatomyositis (DM), is an autoimmune disease characterized by cutaneous findings of typical DM without evidence of myositis. Childhood presentation of CADM is rare, and not many studies describe the epidemiology of juvenile CADM.1,2 Although lung disease is rare among patients with juvenile DM, a few reports have…

A Team Approach Improves the Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care
Nearly all adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with chronic pediatric rheumatic disease require transfer of care to an adult rheumatologist, yet almost half are lost from care at the time of transfer.1-3 Although sometimes framed as a discrete event, transition refers to the longitudinal process, often spanning several years, in which AYAs and their families…

A Lack of Pediatric Providers Can Have Long-Term Consequences
As with rheumatology care in general, the current demand for pediatric rheumatologists is greater than the supply of providers available. That imbalance is expected to increase significantly by 2030 unless action is taken, according to a new workforce study published in Arthritis Care & Research.1 The lack of pediatric providers is a serious problem that…

Pediatric Rheumatology Workforce Challenges in the Dakotas
Pediatric rheumatologists are few and far between in rural America. Financial incentives, such as loan repayment, may help draw more providers to the subspecialty and the underserved regions of the U.S.