Anatomical Joint Form Variation in Sacroiliac Joint Disease: Current Concepts and New Perspectives
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe aim of this article is to further the understanding of anatomical variation of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) within the rheumatological community and point out promising fields of research in the interplay of SIJ anatomy and joint disease.Recent FindingsMechanical strain has long been implicated in onset and progression of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Recent investigations found changes in the pattern of degenerative lesions of the SIJ in the normal population in patients with atypical joint forms. Furthermore, atypical SIJ forms are more prevalent in patients with axial spondyloarthritis and ...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Familial Clustering of Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis Associated with a Hemizygous FOXP3 Mutation
This report highlights the influence of immune dysregulation in juvenile arthritis. (Source: Current Rheumatology Reports)
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
COVID-19 and Myositis: What We Know So Far
AbstractPurposeMyositis as a rare manifestation of COVID-19 is only recently being reported. This review examines the current literature on COVID-19-induced myositis focusing on etiopathogenesis, clinical presentations, diagnostic practices, and therapeutic challenges with immunosuppression, and the difficulties experienced by rheumatologists in established myositis in the COVID-19 era.Recent FindingsCOVID-19 is associated with a viral myositis attributable to direct myocyte invasion or induction of autoimmunity. COVID-19-induced myositis may be varied in presentation, from typical dermatomyositis to rhabdomyolysis, and a ...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Imaging in Axial Spondyloarthritis: What is Relevant for Diagnosis in Daily Practice?
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo explore how imaging may assist diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis in rheumatology practice.Recent FindingsA diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis is based on pattern recognition by synthesizing clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings. In health care settings providing low threshold access to advanced imaging, sacroiliac joint MRI is the preferred imaging modality in clinically suspected axial spondyloarthritis. In daily routine, the optimum protocol to assess suspected inflammatory back pain combines sacroiliac joint and spine MRI fitting a 30-min slot. Contextual assessment of concomitant str...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Current Understanding of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) Following COVID-19 and Its Distinction from Kawasaki Disease
AbstractPurpose of ReviewIn this article, I have reviewed current reports that explore differences and similarities between multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and other known multisystem inflammatory diseases seen in children, particularly Kawasaki disease.Recent FindingsSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a human coronavirus causing the COVID-19 disease which emerged in China in December 2019 and spread rapidly to the entire country and quickly to other countries. Currently, there is a pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 infection that results in 20% of patients admitted to hospital with ...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Wind of Change in the Treatment of Childhood-Onset Takayasu Arteritis: a Systematic Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe lack evidence-based data for the treatment of childhood-onset Takayasu arteritis (c-TA) since it is a rare disease in children. In this systematic literature review, we aimed to evaluate the treatment choices in c-TA patients and integrate our experience for the treatment of our patients in the recent years/in the biologic era.Recent FindingsWe reviewed 24 articles addressing treatments of 413 c-TA patients. Steroids were given to 352 patients (85.2%) as the main immunosuppressive therapy. Other immunosuppressive agents included methotrexate (37.3%), cyclophosphamide (24.5%), azathioprine (16.9%...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Current Epidemiology and Risk Factors for the Development of Hand Osteoarthritis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewHand osteoarthritis (hand OA), the most common peripheral arthritis in the world, is less studied than osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and hip. However, it is uniquely situated to offer novel insight into OA as a disease process by removing weight-bearing as a confounder of systemic disease mechanisms. Here we review the epidemiology of hand OA and key risk factors for its development.Recent FindingsMounting evidence points to obesity as an important risk factor for hand OA development, with new evidence implicating a role for leptin and serum fatty acids. Disease progression in hand OA and specifi...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
MicroRNAs in Axial Spondylarthritis: an Overview of the Recent Progresses in the Field with a Focus on Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo highlight the recent discoveries and lines of evidence on the role of microRNAs in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), focusing on their expression profiling and mechanisms of action.Recent FindingsAS and PsA are chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases with axial manifestations and represent an excellent model for studying microRNAs contribution to the disease pathogenesis, particularly through immunomodulation, inflammation, and bone remodelling, or their value as candidate diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.SummaryMicroRNAs are single-stranded nucleotides able to...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Enzymatic Machinery of Ubiquitin and Ubiquitin-Like Modification Systems in Chondrocyte Homeostasis and Osteoarthritis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo date, a vast amount of information regarding ubiquitination (Ub) and ubiquitylation-like (Ubl) modification –related mechanisms has been reported in the context of skeletal cell homeostasis and diseases. In this review, we mainly focus on recent findings regarding the contribution of enzymatic machinery that directly adds or removes Ub and Ubl modifications from protein targets in chondrocyte homeostasi s and osteoarthritis (OA) development.Recent FindingsMechanisms that promote homeostasis of articular chondrocytes are crucial for maintaining the integrity of articular joints to prevent osteo...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Modification of Gut Microbiota in Inflammatory Arthritis: Highlights and Future Challenges
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis Review evaluates the available information on the modification of the microbiota by diet, prebiotics, probiotics, or drugs and its association with the severity of arthritis in animals and humans and highlights how this modulation could have therapeutic applications in RA.Recent FindingsThe gut microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolites play a role in developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in animals and humans, making the intestinal microbiota an exciting novel approach to suppress autoimmunity.SummaryStudies in animal models of RA show that it is possible to modify the intestinal microbiota...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Systematic Review of Antiphospholipid Antibodies in COVID-19 Patients: Culprits or Bystanders?
AbstractPurpose of ReviewCOVID-19 patients have a procoagulant state with a high prevalence of thrombotic events. The hypothesis of an involvement of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) has been suggested by several reports. Here, we reviewed 48 studies investigating aPL in COVID-19 patients.Recent FindingsPrevalence of Lupus Anticoagulant (LA) ranged from 35% to 92% in ICU patients. Anti-cardiolipin (aCL) IgG and IgM were found in up to 52% and up to 40% of patients respectively. Anti- β2-glycoprotein I (a β2-GPI) IgG and IgM were found in up to 39% and up to 34% of patients respectively. Between 1% and 12% of patients ha...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Anatomical Joint Form Variation in Sacroiliac Joint Disease: Current Concepts and New Perspectives
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe aim of this article is to further the understanding of anatomical variation of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) within the rheumatological community and point out promising fields of research in the interplay of SIJ anatomy and joint disease.Recent FindingsMechanical strain has long been implicated in onset and progression of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Recent investigations found changes in the pattern of degenerative lesions of the SIJ in the normal population in patients with atypical joint forms. Furthermore, atypical SIJ forms are more prevalent in patients with axial spondyloarthritis and ...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Familial Clustering of Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis Associated with a Hemizygous FOXP3 Mutation
This report highlights the influence of immune dysregulation in juvenile arthritis. (Source: Current Rheumatology Reports)
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
COVID-19 and Myositis: What We Know So Far
AbstractPurposeMyositis as a rare manifestation of COVID-19 is only recently being reported. This review examines the current literature on COVID-19-induced myositis focusing on etiopathogenesis, clinical presentations, diagnostic practices, and therapeutic challenges with immunosuppression, and the difficulties experienced by rheumatologists in established myositis in the COVID-19 era.Recent FindingsCOVID-19 is associated with a viral myositis attributable to direct myocyte invasion or induction of autoimmunity. COVID-19-induced myositis may be varied in presentation, from typical dermatomyositis to rhabdomyolysis, and a ...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Imaging in Axial Spondyloarthritis: What is Relevant for Diagnosis in Daily Practice?
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo explore how imaging may assist diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis in rheumatology practice.Recent FindingsA diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis is based on pattern recognition by synthesizing clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings. In health care settings providing low threshold access to advanced imaging, sacroiliac joint MRI is the preferred imaging modality in clinically suspected axial spondyloarthritis. In daily routine, the optimum protocol to assess suspected inflammatory back pain combines sacroiliac joint and spine MRI fitting a 30-min slot. Contextual assessment of concomitant str...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 3, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
