Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Melanoma Risk for Patients Treated With Biologics Is Inconclusive

Researchers writing in JAMA Dermatology this week report that patients with inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis who are treated with biologics may have a "clinically meaningful" increase in melanoma risk, but the jury is still out.

Data collected by doctors in Italy when the country was hit by COVID-19 should allow rheumatologists to feel more comfortable in advising patients with chronic arthritis to continue taking immunosuppressive targeted therapies. The data show that chronic arthritis patients treated with DMARDs do not seem to be at increased risk of respiratory or life-threatening complications from SARS-CoV-2.

Abatacept Lowers Diabetes Risk in RA

Abatacept (Orencia, Bristol Myers Squibb), a T-cell co-stimulation modulator for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, appears to lower the risk of diabetes mellitus in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are receiving biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs.

In this quiz, we highlight new developments in research for rheumatoid arthritis that touch on comorbidities, treatment effectiveness, pregnancy complications and more. Take our quiz here.

Early rheumatoid arthritis is, in part, defined as having symptoms for at least six months. Beyond six months, it's considered established rheumatoid arthritis. But diagnosing early rheumatoid arthritis is not that straightforward. Serologic tests can confirm a clinical diagnosis, but these tests aren't always reliable and can be negative in about 50 percent of rheumatoid arthritis cases. In this quiz, we focus on the diagnosis and treatment of early rheumatiod arthritis.

What is the connection (if any) between coronavirus and autoimmune diseases?  In this slideshow, we feature some points of view from rheumatology experts in the field, including Dr. Jean Liew of the University in Washington, Seattle, who told CreakyJoints that patients with inflammatory arthritis are probably more susceptible to the coronavirus and are at higher risk of complications like pneumonia.

Biologics Help Maintain Bone Density in RA

Bone mineral density was preserved over a three-year period in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biological/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS) but declined in those who received only conventional-synthetic DMARDs, say researchers recently writing in Rheumatology.

Study Confirms Skin Cancer Risk with Methotrexate

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial has confirmed that low-dose methotrexate is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer, according to a study published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine.