RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ADVISOR

Rheumatoid Arthritis Advisor

Feature

Assessing Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The risk for cardiovascular disease is grossly underestimated and may account for the disproportionately high percentage of cardiovascular-related deaths in this population.
Autoimmunity and Inflammation Link to Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Emerging studies aim to better understand therapeutic interventions that may mitigate increased CVD risk in patients with RA.
Switch or Swap: Strategies for Anti-TNF Failure in Rheumatoid Arthritis

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have experienced treatment failure, switching to a second TNF inhibitor is generally successful, according to investigators.
Women With RA Should Be Closely Monitored Before and During Pregnancy

Investigators suggest vigilance and careful pregnancy planning by a team of obstetricians and rheumatologists to reduce obstetric complications in women with RA.
Nanotherapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Advantages, Challenges, and Future Direction

Christine Pham, MD, chief of the Division of Rheumatology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis discusses the advantages and challenges of applying nanotherapies in rheumatoid arthritis.

News

Non-TNF Inhibitors May Increase Infection Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatology Advisor Contributing Writer

March 11, 2020

The overall risk for infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are treated with nontumor necrosis factor inhibitors is highest among those treated with rituximab compared with abatacept and tocilizumab.

Rheumatoid arthritis x-ray of the right hand.

Sphingolipid Levels in RA Serum Samples May Affect RA Pathophysiology

Rheumatology Advisor Contributing Writer

March 11, 2020

Elevated levels of certain serum sphingolipids collected from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suggest that they may play an important role in RA pathophysiology.

Specific Disease Activity Measures Predict Structural Damage Progression in RA

Rheumatology Advisor Contributing Writer

March 11, 2020

Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3, DAS28 (CRP) and modified DAS28 (CRP) are stronger predictors of structural damage progression than the Simplified or Clinical Disease Activity Indices.

Tocilizumab Effectiveness in RA Does Not Differ by Comorbidity Burden

Emily Pond

March 11, 2020

In a real-world setting, tocilizumab was effective regardless of comorbidity burden or obesity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

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

TLR4 Blockade May Not Treat RA With Inadequate Response to MTX

Rheumatology Advisor Contributing Writer

February 25, 2020

Investigators sought to determine whether blocking the toll-like receptor 4 pathway alone does or does not improve disease parameters in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a human immune-mediated inflammatory disease.