The impact of chronic inflammatory disease on sexual function may seem obvious but it is poorly understood. Pain, morning stiffness, joint swelling and fatigue can lead to a decreased sexual interest and can inhibit actual intercourse. In this article, Dr. Kim Gorgens reviews the current literature on sexual function for patients with chronic conditions, such as arthritis, and makes recommendations for incorporating sexual function complications as part of the discussion in a clinic exam.
In an article published in a recent edition of Arthritis Research & Therapy, Jurgen Wollenhaupt and colleagues from multiple international centers have discovered that tofacitinib 5mg and 10mg twice a day remained effective and safe even after 8 and 9.5 years respectively.
Anne-Mari Mustonen and colleagues in Finland have determined the respective fatty acid (FA) signatures found in the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While the authors’ findings are inconclusive, they give insight into the complex alterations in fatty acid profiles found in knee arthropathies. They present their findings in a recent Arthritis Research & Therapy.
New results for baricitinib and ustekinumab use in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were presented in April at the International Congress on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (LUPUS 2019), which was held in San Francisco. Here, we summarize those results, plus much more from the meeting.
The prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is higher among black patients. They can present with a worsened disease state and mortality rates can be higher. This suggests a need for better therapeutic options, says Jim C. Oates, M.D., of Medical University of South Carolina. In this Q&A, Dr. Oates addresses treatment challenges black patients face.
The presence of carotid atherosclerosis in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patients is associated with an increased risk of having a cardiovascular event, researchers report.
A 28-year-old woman visited urgent care complaining of an erythematous rash. She also had a sore throat, spiking fever and arthralgias. What's your diagnosis?
MRI-guided treat-to-target treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis is no better than conventional treat-to-target strategies, researchers reported in JAMA in February. However, in a new commentary posted this month in JAMA, researchers raise some interesting points experts may want to reconsider.
In an effort to determine what causes immune mediated diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis, researchers have focused on learning more about genetic pathogenic pathways responsible for autoimmunity. In this article, we review the data and highlight best practices.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients who failed first-line methotrexate achieved better outcomes with upadacitinib monotherapy, shows a new clinical trials report.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with baricitinib at any point during their treatment, experience improved outcomes, a new clinical trials report shows.
Women who have primary Sjögren’s Syndrome also have decreased lifetime exposure to estrogen, a new study finds.
Children born to women who have rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy could experience life-long health effects due to changes to DNA that alter genetic activity, new research indicates.
Sjögren’s Syndrome affects American Indians at a higher rather rate than other ethnic groups, but the lack of classically-associated disease symptoms makes diagnosis difficult, new research shows.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with a number of risk factors that can heighten a patient’s risk of major toxicity. Researchers reporting in Arthritis and Rheumatology have come up with a scoring system to measure a patient’s risk of developing major toxicity from NSAID use.
An all-star team of physicians give their takes on how the science behind keeping million dollar athletes on the field has impacted the care patients receive every day.
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at an increased risk for fractures, new research shows. The risk is particularly high among patients with lupus nephritis.
Fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been linked to anti-NR2 antibodies, which responds to treatment with belimumab, a study shows.
A new study reframes rheumatoid arthritis, broadly considered to be a connective tissue disorder, as having deeper neurological ties.
A pair of phase 3 studies showed 20% symptomatic improvement in patients with psoriatic arthritis who were treated with guselkumab.
Lutikizumab does not improve pain or imaging outcomes for patients with erosive hand osteoarthritis, according to new research.
While gout does not increase the risk of death post-acute coronary syndrome, a new study shows the condition does increase an individual’s risk for readmission after heart failure, as well as the number of days he or she will spend on the hospital.
Even when comorbidities or poor prognosis are considered, osteoporosis specifically, severely raises the risk of hip fracture for women aged 80 or older.
A trio of phase 3 psoriatic arthritis trials showed that 30 mg of apremilast, twice daily, increased the likelihood of achieving low disease activity or remission.
A new study of long-term data demonstrates that infliximab and golimumab are both effective, safe treatments for symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis.
It’s not just weight that could be contributing to degenerative changes in obesity-related osteoarthritis. In this Q&A, Dr. Clifford J. Rosen, director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, discusses the mechanisms of osteoarthritis.
Interim results at 24 weeks show that 75.3% of patients treated with tildrakizumab achieved a 20% improvement compared to 50.6% with placebo.
In the phase 3b/4 ORAL Shift study, tofacitinib monotherapy was shown to be comparable to tofacitinib with methotrexate.
Three studies presented this weekend at EULAR in Madrid suggest that being overweight or obese can heighten the severity or arthritic disease.
The overall risk of cancer in psoriatic arthritis patients who are treated with TNF inhibitors doesn’t appear to be linked to their treatment, according to a study presented EULAR this weekend.
