Treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced inflammatory arthritis
Purpose of review
This review summarizes the current evidence on treatment strategies for inflammatory arthritis because of cancer treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), prognosis of ICI-induced arthritis, and management of patients with preexisting inflammatory arthritis receiving ICI therapy.
Recent findings
Inflammatory arthritis is the most common rheumatic immune-related adverse event observed in patients receiving ICI therapy. Most patients can successfully be treated with low doses of corticosteroids or conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). A small minority will dev...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: Edited by Joshua F. Baker Source Type: research
Benefits and promotion of physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis
Purpose of review
The aim of this article is to describe the benefits of physical activity and exercise on rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, functioning, and symptoms; and offer recommendations for promotion of physical activity and exercise among people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Recent findings
In addition to well-known benefits of exercise such as improving cardiovascular health and metabolic syndrome and reducing obesity, exercise has consistently shown rheumatoid arthritis-specific benefits. Exercise and increases in physical activity improve clinically measured disease activity, reduce symptoms such as fati...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: Edited by Joshua F. Baker Source Type: research
Skeletal muscle disease in rheumatoid arthritis: the center of cardiometabolic comorbidities?
Purpose of review
Despite its critical roles in body movement, structure, and metabolism, skeletal muscle remains underappreciated in the context of rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation, physical inactivity, and medication toxicities impair skeletal muscle. These skeletal muscle alterations contribute to continued rheumatoid arthritis disparities in physical function and cardiometabolic health.
Recent findings
In the prebiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug era, rheumatoid arthritis skeletal muscle atrophy was the central feature of ‘rheumatoid cachexia,’ a hypermetabolic sta...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: Edited by Joshua F. Baker Source Type: research
Preclinical rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis prevention
Purpose of review
This review is to provide an update on the current understanding of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development related to disease development prior to the onset clinically apparent synovitis (i.e. Pre-RA), and opportunities for disease prevention.
Recent findings
A growing number of studies have demonstrated that serum elevations of autoantibodies rheumatoid factor, antibodies to citrullinated protein/peptide antigens (ACPAs) and antibodies to other posttranslationally modified proteins (e.g. carbamylated proteins) are highly predictive of future development of inflammatory arthritis/RA during a period th...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: Edited by Joshua F. Baker Source Type: research
Inhalants other than personal cigarette smoking and risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis
Purpose of review
The current review summarizes the current evidence on inhalants other than personal cigarette smoking and risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Recent findings
Personal cigarette smoking has been implicated as an environmental risk factor for seropositive RA, perhaps by inducing autoimmunity at pulmonary mucosa. Since many patients with RA are nonsmokers, other inhalants are being investigated as potential RA risk factors. Recent case–control and cohort studies have investigated passive cigarette smoking, air pollution, inhalant-related occupations, silica, pesticides, household environmen...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: Edited by Joshua F. Baker Source Type: research
New galaxies in the universe of shared decision-making and rheumatoid arthritis
Purpose of review
Implementing shared decision-making (SDM) is a top international priority to improve care for persons living with rheumatoid arthritis. Using SDM tools, such as decision aids improve patients’ knowledge and support communication with their clinicians on treatment benefits and risks. Despite calls for SDM in treat-to-target, studies demonstrating effective SDM strategies in rheumatology clinical practice are scarce. Our objective was to identify recent and relevant literature on SDM in rheumatoid arthritis.
Recent findings
We found a burgeoning literature on SDM in rheumatoid arthritis that tackles ...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: Edited by Joshua F. Baker Source Type: research
Future use of musculoskeletal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in rheumatoid arthritis
Purpose of review
Musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play important roles in diagnosis, monitoring, and prognostication of rheumatoid arthritis. This review highlights recent literature in this field and aims to provide insight into the future use in clinical practice.
Recent findings
Recent studies concerning the use of MSUS and MRI in clinical practice show how MSUS and MRI can improve diagnosis and monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis and how they can predict both radiographic progression and clinical outcome (e.g., successful tapering of medical treatment). Moreover, novel te...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: Edited by Joshua F. Baker Source Type: research
Management issues in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease
Purpose of review
Summarize recent evidence on the identification and management of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).
Recent findings
Clinical and subclinical interstitial lung disease (ILD) are frequent extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Better means of identifying and treating RA-ILD are needed to improve the prognosis, with a median survival of only 3–7 years after diagnosis. Several serum biomarkers are currently being evaluated for their ability to detect RA-ILD. Thorough evaluation and multidisciplinary discussion remains the gold standard for establi...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: Edited by Joshua F. Baker Source Type: research
Lyme disease: diagnosis and treatment
Purpose of review
Lyme disease is an important, vector-borne infection found throughout the temperate Northern hemisphere. The disease causes rash, acute systemic illness, and in some untreated patients, inflammatory arthritis. This review examines the emergence, clinical features and management of early Lyme disease and Lyme arthritis.
Recent findings
There has been continuing progress in characterizing the clinical manifestations, diagnostic testing and treatment of Lyme disease. Almost all patients with early Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotic treatment. In most cases, Lyme arthritis also responds to antibio...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS AND HEMATOLOGIC COMPLICATIONS: Edited by W. Joseph McCune Source Type: research
Antirheumatic medications in pregnancy and breastfeeding
Purpose of review
As active rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease during pregnancy increases the risk for pregnancy loss, preterm birth, and maternal illness, ongoing management with pregnancy-compatible medications can improve these outcomes. Selecting and taking these medications can be challenging for rheumatologists and patients due to limited knowledge about potential risks and benefits.
Recent findings
Fortunately, the American College of Rheumatology, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, British Rheumatology Society, and the European League Against Rheumatism have each published recommendations to gui...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS AND HEMATOLOGIC COMPLICATIONS: Edited by W. Joseph McCune Source Type: research
Management of systemic sclerosis: the first five years
Purpose of review
This review provides a risk-stratified and evidence-based management for subsets of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients in the first five years from disease onset.
Recent findings
Cardiopulmonary disease remains the primary cause of mortality in SSc patients. Morbidity and mortality in SSc-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension have improved with combination treatment, in either an upfront or sequential treatment pattern. Traditional therapies for interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) have targeted those with clinically significant and progressive ILD with immunosuppression. New data suggest a possib...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS AND HEMATOLOGIC COMPLICATIONS: Edited by W. Joseph McCune Source Type: research
Treatment of thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome in adults and children
Purpose of review
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), more common than once believed, is an autoimmune disease best known for its high risk of incident and recurrent thrombotic events. The approach to treatment potentially differs from treatment of thrombosis in the general population, and this article endeavors to review the latest updates on this topic.
Recent findings
The epidemiology of APS is being increasingly elucidated by large population-based studies, with APS perhaps affecting as many as 1 in 2000 individuals. Vitamin K antagonists, aspirin, and heparinoids continue to have obvious roles in the management of p...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS AND HEMATOLOGIC COMPLICATIONS: Edited by W. Joseph McCune Source Type: research
Treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus: current approaches and future strategies
Purpose of review
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is a highly heterogeneous autoimmune disease. No specific Federal Drug Administration-approved therapies for CLE-alone are available, and resistance to conventional treatments is common. This review will summarize current treatment approaches and pending treatment strategies.
Recent findings
Research into the pathogenesis of CLE is accelerating. A skewed type I interferon production and response contribute to CLE lesions. The pathophysiology of lesions may be similar among the lesional subtypes, and patients with a more TLR9-driven disease mechanism may have more b...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS AND HEMATOLOGIC COMPLICATIONS: Edited by W. Joseph McCune Source Type: research
Recent advances in the diagnosis and management of giant cell arteritis
Purpose of review
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) has classically been diagnosed by temporal artery biopsy and treated with high-dose, long-term glucocorticoid therapy. Noninvasive imaging increasingly is employed for diagnostic purposes, but further studies are needed to determine the role of imaging in monitoring longitudinal disease activity. Glucocorticoid-sparing therapy mitigates the numerous adverse effects of glucocorticoids. This review addresses new developments in these areas.
Recent findings
For diagnosis, when performed at a center with expertise in its use, temporal artery ultrasound has an estimated sensitiv...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS AND HEMATOLOGIC COMPLICATIONS: Edited by W. Joseph McCune Source Type: research
Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology)
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - March 28, 2020 Category: Rheumatology Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research
