RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ADVISOR

Rheumatoid Arthritis Advisor

Feature

Exploring the Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Dementia

Many studies suggest that there is an increased risk of dementia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
The Lipid Paradox and CVD Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Mechanistic and outcomes studies are warranted to elucidate the lipid paradox and CVD risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
The Search for Preventive Strategies for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The EULAR has proposed 6 distinct phases (A-F) of RA, characterized by the presence of genetic risk factors (phase A), environmental factors (phase B), systemic autoimmunity associated with RA (phase C), arthralgias without clinical arthritis (phase D), unclassified arthritis (phase E), and established RA (phase F).
Skeletal Muscle Disease and Cardiometabolic Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Skeletal muscle alterations in rheumatoid arthritis are often overlooked despite their important role in disability and cardiometabolic disease development.
Genetics, Environment, and Lifestyle: How Does Each Affect Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Various combinations of genes, environmental factors, and chance may affect early immune activation and symptom onset in rheumatoid arthritis.

News

Novel Biomarkers May Distinguish Persistent from Self-Limiting Disease Course in Arthritis

Emily Pond

November 18, 2020

The study profiles the gene expression signatures of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory joint disorders compared with healthy controls.

surgeon reaching for tools on operating table

Timing of Infliximab Infusion Prior to Surgery and Post-Operative Infections

Amit Akirov, MD

November 18, 2020

Withholding TNF inhibitors before surgery has been recommended due to concern for post-operative infection.

Periarticular bone erosions are a diagnostic feature of RA and are detected using radiographic imaging.1,6 They result from progressive periarticular osteoporosis resulting from an imbalance between bone resorption and inadequate bone formation at the joint margins.7 On imaging, they appear as breaks in the cortical bone accompanied by loss of subchondral trabecular bone and bone marrow edema.1,6 Although bone erosions occur in healthy people or patients with other joint diseases, they are more severe in patients with RA.6 Bone erosions arise early in the course of RA (within a few weeks to a few months of onset in some patients).1,7 They most often affect metacarpophalangeal joints and predict more severe disease.1,7 Approximately 63% of patients with RA have erosions at diagnosis.1 Seropositivity and smoking increase the risk for bone erosions.1 Evidence suggests DMARDs and the nuclear factor-kB ligand inhibitor denosumab can prevent progression of bone erosions, but no treatment appears to repair erosions.1,2,7

Effect of Denosumab on Joint Destruction in Subgroups of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Amit Akirov, MD

November 18, 2020

Year long treatment with denosumab reduced the progression of joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Biomarkers of Therapy Change, Flares, and Radiographic Progression in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Emily Pond

November 18, 2020

Several potential biomarkers of therapy change and disease flare in patients with remitted rheumatoid arthritis were identified.

Prevalence and Importance of Autoantibodies in Patients with Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis

Amit Akirov, MD

November 18, 2020

The current case-control study aims to determine the frequency of additional autoantibodies and the clinical phenotypes among patients with seronegative RA.