Rheumatoid Arthritis

Evidence continues to emerge that biologics-in combination with DMARDS-offer a solid line of defense for patients with rheumatoid arthritis at risk of rapid disease progression .

Study results show that mood, whether positive or negative, may impact the discomfort associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

The majority of pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have favorable pregnancy outcomes, with few experiencing severe flares.

Patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc) may have a three times greater risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) – including potentially deadly clots in the lungs – and an increased risk in the first year after a diagnosis.

TNF inhibitors can be monitored in rheumatoid arthritis patients using gene expression modules, according to findings published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Patients afflicted with moderate-to- severe eczema have been successfully treated with rheumatoid arthritis drug, tofacitinib citrate.

This is a case report of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis in whom interstitial lung disease (ILD) developed. ILD is one of several pulmonary complications of RA.

An international study shows that long-term treatment with abatacept is safe and effective in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Clazakizumab, with or without methotrexate, was well tolerated and achieved significant improvements in disease activity, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in this Phase IIb study.

For the first time, disease-specific genetic changes have been connected with rheumatoid arthritis.

Heart disease risk is increased with the presence of rheumatoid arthritis.

Tocilizumab treated rheumatoid arthritis patients are at an increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events, according to a study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

A recent study in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases reviewed data from six phase II, six phase III, and two long-term extension studies to examine the safety profile of tofacitinib, the first oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

A recent study looked at hereditary factors as a predictor of response to treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It also sought to identify a link between heredity and the clinical presentation of RA.

Hand deformities seen in Jaccoud's arthropathy are the result of soft-tissue abnormalities, not the destruction of bone joints seen in rheumatoid arthritis.

Often, pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can impact every aspect of a person's life, leading to isolation, depression, anxiety, lack of physical activity, and a host of other ills. Most experts agree that self-support tools-along with emotional support from loved ones, fellow RA patients, health care providers, and friends-is a key component of managing RA.

Inflammatory chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis bring many treatment challenges. Among them is the fact that biologic therapies for these diseases-particularly anti-TNF agents-while effective, can themselves bring reactivation of a latent tuberculosis infection.

Responses to the combination therapy in this phase 3 clinical trial were seen as early as one week into the study.

Study results show treatment with certolizumab pegol and methotrexate produced significant symptom improvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) commonly experience joint pain. They are also at higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

A low body mass index may present an accelerated risk for premature death in rheumatoid arthritis patients, according to research published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

The ACA has several provisions that promote greater reliance on nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in an effort to increase the efficiency and lower the cost of health care. To date, however, there hve been few studies that have assessed the impact of NPs and PAs in the specialist care setting.

Coming next from Medicare: the ICD-10 Obmudsman. Billing under the dreaded new International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) coding system will get a bit less onerous under a deal brokered between Medicare and the American Medical Association.

Intensive treatment with statins may help reduce risk of cardiovascular events in patients with inflammatory arthritis, suggests a new study.

Treatment with rituximab can significantly reduce rheumatoid arthritis flare up, according to results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology.

With 259 million painkiller prescriptions written in 2012 alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the most common side effects experienced by patients being treated for chronic pain is opioid-induced constipation (OIC).

How do patients with rheumatoid arthritis rate their health and well being? Their relationship with their physician? Two new surveys shed light.

Spouses and first-degree relatives of patients afflicted with celiac disease were found to be at greater risk for non-celiac autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Should you immunize your patients with rheumatoid arthritis against viral infections that could pose a danger to their health?

Adding rituximab to methotrexate improved outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis, without increasing adverse effects. There were some caveats, however.