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
IgA Vasculitis in Adults: a Rare yet Challenging Disease
AbstractPurpose of ReviewIgA vasculitis (IgAV) is a rare and poorly understood systemic vasculitis in adults. Its diagnosis and treatment remain a challenge. Herein, we review the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of IgAV in adults.Recent FindingsThe clinical course of IgAV in adults appears to be different from pediatric IgAV, especially due to its higher risk of evolving into end-stage renal disease. Rising awareness and interest in adult-onset IgA vasculitis has resulted in recent increasing number of publications on different treatment experiences. However, there is still controversy over th...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 1, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
The Nasal Microbiome in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: Picking the Nose for Clues on Disease Pathogenesis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe onset and progression of small vessel vasculitis associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies has been linked to microbial infections. Here, we provide a brief overview of the association of nasal colonization ofStaphylococcus aureus with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and discuss several recent studies mapping the nasal microbiome in AAV patients in particular.Recent FindingsNasal microbiome studies revealed dysbiosis as a common trait in active AAV which tends to normalize upon immunosuppressive treatment and quiescent disease. However, due to differences in study design, patient ...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 1, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Updates on the Immunopathology in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo review recent advances in immunopathology for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, focusing on widely available immunohistochemical analyses.Recent FindingsSarcoplasmic expression of myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) is specifically observed in all types of dermatomyositis and informs that type I interferons are crucially involved in its pathogenesis. It is a more sensitive diagnostic marker than perifascicular atrophy. Diffuse tiny dots in the sarcoplasm highlighted by p62 immunostaining are characteristically seen in immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy. This feature is linked to a chaperone...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 1, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Localized Forms of Vasculitis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo provide an updated review on epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic assessment, treatment, and prognosis of localized vasculitis, following the 2012 Revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature on single-organ vasculitis.Recent FindingsLocalized, single-organ vasculitides encompass a group of rare conditions in which there is no evidence of concomitant systemic vasculitis. Most data on this topic derives from case reports and small case series. Although some aspects of these diseases, such as clinical manifestations and histologic findings, have already been ext...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 1, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Beyond Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Focus on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Alexithymia
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo deepen the comprehension of the role of specific psychological conditions in the pathogenesis and in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Specifically, the present comprehensive review aims at examining the association between SLE, alexithymia (AT) —a personality construct referring to the inability to identify, describe, and express sensations, emotions, and physical state—and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to infer potential biological relationships between these psychopathological issues and disease course, and to draw up a rese arch agenda on gray areas of these t...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 1, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Updates on Clinical Trials in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
AbstractPurpose of ReviewBecause of the complexity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), different approaches are undertaken while investigating potential therapeutic compounds to treat the disease. The purpose of this review is to summarize the results from recent clinical trials, which investigated different compounds for treating SLE.Recent FindingsTargeting B cells and type I interferons constitutes the major focus in recent clinical trials. The potential for therapeutic effects of small molecule inhibition such as JAK, Tyk, and Btk is now being investigated for treating SLE. The immunoregulation of T cell activation ...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 1, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Bone Health in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: Diagnosis and Management
This article provides an update on the most recent advances in epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic procedures, and therapeutic approaches for myositis-associated bone diseases, such as osteoporosis and bone fractures.Recent FindingsIn the recent years, several studies showed that osteoporosis and consequent fractures are a common and frequently underestimated complication in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). In younger patients, asymptomatic fractures might present in the early phase of the disease which could increase the risk of development of further fractures. High-risk patients could be select...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 1, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Dietary and Lifestyle-Centered Approach in Gout Care and Prevention
AbstractPurpose of reviewWe aim to provide a comprehensive review of the available literature to inform dietary recommendations for patients with gout and hyperuricemia that have the potential to simultaneously lower serum urate and reduce gout morbidity while addressing gout ’s cardiometabolic comorbidities holistically.Recent findingsThe global burden of gout is rising worldwide, particularly in developed nations as well as in women. Patients with gout are often recommended to follow a low-purine (i.e., low-protein) diet to avoid purine-loading. However, such an approach may lead to increased consumption of unhealthy c...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 1, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Reactive Arthritis Update: Spotlight on New and Rare Infectious Agents Implicated as Pathogens
This article presents a comprehensive narrative review of reactive arthritis (ReA) with focus on articles published between 2018 and 2020. We discuss the entire spectrum of microbial agents known to be the main causative agents of ReA, those reported to be rare infective agents, and those reported to be new candidates causing the disease. The discussion is set within the context of changing disease terminology, definition, and classification over time. Further, we include reports that present at least a hint of effective antimicrobial therapy for ReA as documented in case reports or in double-blind controlled studies. Addi...
Source: Current Rheumatology Reports - July 1, 2021 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
