Lana Pine

Investigators noted that presenting tophi in perioperative patients was found to be an independent risk factor for gout recurrence within the first year postoperative.

Patients receiving guselkumab reported significant improvements in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores over 36 months.

Electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) questionnaires may allow rheumatologists to better understand the patient's experience and monitor improvements over time.

The study utilized a nationwide cohort of patients with hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis to evaluate gout prevalence, practice patterns, and clinical associations.

Investigators hypothesized that patients with fibromyalgia who avoid activities because of pain would be more likely to perceive more intense pain levels after walking due to catastrophizing.

The systematic review compared mHealth interventions with conventional treatment or nonintervention to determine the pain management effects of mobile-based self-management strategies.

Results may help minimize the risk of developing hyperuricemia, gout, and related adverse events in patients receiving antihypertensive drugs.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound evaluated tophus size and double contour sign in lower extremity joints of patients with gout before and after initiating uric acid lowering therapy.

The DECT scoring system obtained excellent diagnostic performance for differentiating early-stage gout from middle-stage gout, with sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values, and specificity all achieving an accuracy of > 85%.

The majority of included studies observed improvements in pain, fatigue, patient global, sleep disturbance, multidimensional function, and tender points.

Anakinra effectively treated 94% of the gout flares included in the study sample and was a viable long-term treatment option.

Adult patients with psoriatic arthritis starting a second-line biological after discontinuing a TNF were enrolled in the nationwide cohort study.

“Reversing and preventing adverse lifestyle factors could potentially reduce the incidence and burden of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as alleviate its comorbidities,” investigators hypothesized.

Investigators measured pain intensity, the primary outcome, as well as physical function, isometric strength, quality of life, and fibromyalgia impact at baseline and the 6-month mark.

Katinka Albrecht, MD, and Johanna Callhoff, MSc, discuss the results of their recent study evaluating patients with rheumatoid arthritis and concomitant interstitial lung disease.

"All forms of arthritis can make life difficult for people because of the pain, swelling, or stiffness in a joint or joints, and because of difficulties in getting about," investigators explained.

“Our primary motivation was to help develop treatments for people with osteoarthritis that would slow or prevent the disease and be more than painkillers- actually affect the disease process itself,” Virginia Kraus, MD, explains.

The January 2023 rheumatology month in review highlights a recent study that indicated an increased risk of hospitalization and death among patients with gout and COVID-19, the expansion of research evaluating adalimumab biosimilars, and trends in fibromyalgia.

A total of 608 patients from an early RA cohort that had baseline radiographs of hands and feet, as well as at 1, 2, 5, and 8 years, were included in the long-term study.

"Changes in the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) seem to be associated with changes in objectively assessed strength and physical function, suggesting HAQ captures the patient impact of sarcopenia-related disability,” investigators noted.

The syndrome, although rare, has a high mortality rate, with approximately half of patients dying within 5 years of diagnosis.

“Disease-related malnutrition is strongly associated with morbidity, disability, short- and long-term mortality, and impaired disease recovery," investigators explained.

The multicenter superiority trial evaluated patients with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis and a history of pain and decreased knee function using patient-tailored exercise programs.

The findings visualized the increased amount of research regarding acupuncture for fibromyalgia treatment, which may eventually boost efficacy, reduce cost, and promte future development in the field.

The 2-phase study analyzed the association of plasma vitamin D levels with clinical phenotype, serology, and disease variables in a large cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus living in India.

“Despite the multiple benefits offered by physical activity (PA), the proportion of older adults meeting PA guidelines is between 27% to 44%," investigators explained.

Improved patient-reported outcomes were observed in patients who used mind-body interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and yoga, and were effective for managing IBS and fibromyalgia.

Intervention strategies that focus on the reduction of catastrophic thinking in addition to physical exercise may be beneficial for patients with fibromyalgia.

Studying quality care markers can help clinicians understand treatment variations and non-adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, which may improve outcomes and decrease financial burdens.

Understanding the risk factors, such as a gout diagnosis and long-term glucocorticoid use, can help inform patients and clinicians regarding the continued management of patients with rheumatic disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.