Rheumatoid Arthritis

For treating rheumatoid arthritis not responsive to methotrexate, DMARD combinations beat monotherapy but at greater risk, a summary of recent evidence observes. In another, reviewers disagree about triple therapy.

A large study of insurance claims adds to the evidence linking rheumatoid arthritis treatment to the risk of venous thrombosis.

A support group developed by a hospital in New York has shown that patients with rheumatoid arthritis can see their condition improve by not only addressing the physical symptoms but the psychological issues as well.

Women using intrauterine devices with a family history of rheumatoid arthritis are at greater risk for the condition.

White blood cells may be the cause of rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study from Northwestern Medicine.

A drug designed to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis could also make them more susceptible to shingles, according to the results of a recent study.

A patient with rheumatoid arthritis declines to take pain relievers. His wife says he needs them, but won't admit it. What should be done?

Researchers are testing promising new biologic agents that target different aspects of the inflammatory pathway in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

In recent years, introduction of biologic agents for treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has changed the landscape of RA management.

People who smoke and have more sodium in their diets than others could also be more likely to eventually develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a recent study.

Biologics have added a decade to the lifespan of rheumatoid arthritis patients since only the start of this century. The impact of age on that treatment has been a subject of intense study.

Combining results from studies involving nearly 12,000 rheumatoid arthritis patients finds the fusion protein etanercept less likely than other TNF inhibitors to be discontinued due to infections.

For the first time a study has linked prednisone and other drugs, as well as severity of disease, with difficulty conceiving among women who have rheumatoid arthritis.

Could MRI detect the early signs of danger in patients who have not yet manifested symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis? New research suggests it can.

To "Thunder God Vine" from China, add fish oil and gluten-free diets as alternative remedies for rheumatoid arthritis. What is the evidence? Here, a review plus commentary from an expert.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients have a 1-in-4 chance of developing chronic kidney disease, according to research published in the American Journal of Kidney Disease.

Explanations for the "gender factor" in rheumatoid arthritis risk now include factors unique to the immune response among women, phenomena specific to pregnancy, and perhaps environmental factors including cosmetics.

The DAS28 disease-activity score has made the transition from research to clinic, but in some circumstances it may be misleading. A tool developed by a rheumatologist can help you explore how changes in components like ESR affect the score in unexpected ways.

Cardiovascular risk is known to be increased among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the interplay between inflammatory and cardiovascular causes and the possible role of medications muddle the picture. No wonder, perhaps, that rheumatologists have difficulty managing this risk. Here, some guidance from experts on the question.

Rheumatologists can dramatically reduce the chances of an infection common to RA patients on biologics -- pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) – with a simple regimen of prophylactic antibiotics, a small study suggests.

There's limited study of whether disease-modifying drugs for rheumatoid arthritis, with the exception of methotrexate and anakinra, present a risk to a fetus. However, curiously, adverse pregnancy outcomes may increase a healthy mother's risk for developing RA.

Tocilizumab (Actemra) appears to dampen inflammation, increase hemoglobin, and improve inflammatory anemia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), judging from post hoc analysis of a randomized late-stage clinical trial.

A study from the Netherlands has found a range of minimum serum levels of adalimumab that are associated with a good clinical response in rheumatoid arthritis. As in other studies, adding methotrexate helps.

ACR2013: A new study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden suggests that hormone therapy may reduce the risk for ACPA-positive rheumatoid arthritis.

Two new strategies for breaking through the tangle of pathways to identify those most important to rheumatoid arthritis treatment converge on a shared goal: personalized medicine.