OBJECTIVE Evidence for an association of smoking with gout is conflicting. We assessed associations of current and past smoking with gout in an Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) population. METHODS Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed on cross-sectional data from participants of NZ Māori (from 2 studies: Genetics of Gout in Aotearoa [GGA] study of 293 participants with gout and 431 without;

OBJECTIVE Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) may not reflect patients in clinical practice. The objective was to perform a meta-analysis of PsA patients' characteristics in RCTs of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), and to compare them to patient profiles in a real-world study. METHODS Data sources: (a) Scoping literature review of

OBJECTIVE Tocilizumab (TCZ) is effective for giant cell arteritis (GCA). However, little is known regarding treatment modification and clinical outcomes after unfavorable events, such as GCA relapses or TCZ discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs). METHODS This multicenter retrospective study included GCA patients who initiated TCZ from 2008 to 2021 at five Japanese hospitals. GCA relapses and TCZ-related

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cardiac involvement in patients with Still's disease with a focus on myocarditis included in the multicenter AIDA (AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance) network Still's disease registry. To exploit the predictive factors for myocarditis in deriving a clinical risk patient profile for this severe manifestation. METHODS A multicenter observational study was built up assessing consecutive

OBJECTIVE Radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) has a 7-year average diagnostic delay. While the impact of sex or gender on time to diagnosis has been evaluated, the role of social determinants of health remains understudied. We assessed whether time from initial clinical documentation of r-axSpA symptoms to r-axSpA diagnosis (diagnostic delay) varies based on sex, race, ethnicity, or the

Tumoral calcinosis (TC) is a syndrome of unknown etiology characterized by calcium salt deposition in soft tissues.1 A case of infected TC with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is described.

OBJECTIVE polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disorder of the elderly characterized by girdle pain and stiffness. Obesity has an influence on disease activity and outcome in rheumatic diseases like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but its relationship to the severity and outcome of PMR is unknown. METHODS In a post-hoc analysis, 83 patients with recent-onset PMR were studied over

Paget disease of bone (PDB) is a chronic skeletal disorder caused by abnormal bone remodeling. Although neurological complications are uncommon, they may arise in advanced cases, particularly with skull involvement.

OBJECTIVE Little is known about perceptions of aging among individuals living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Gaining this knowledge could help to identify targets for future behavioral interventions aimed at successful aging with SLE. This qualitative study sought to elicit the lived experiences, and essence, of aging from older adults with SLE. METHODS We conducted semi-structured interviews

The development and validation of measures of disease activity, damage, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) over the past 30 years has been fundamental in advancing research and care for patients with adult and juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs).1 These efforts have resulted in the development of core set measures of disease activity and damage for myositis, and the American

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a low-grade B cell extranodal lymphoma characterized by clonal marginal zone lymphocyte proliferation. We report a case of MALT lymphoma with a relapsing polychondritis (RP)-like phenotype, manifesting as rapidly progressive tracheal stenosis requiring tracheotomy.

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to develop an ultrasonographic scoring model for staging hypofunction of salivary gland (SG) in patients suffering from Sjögren's disease (SjD). METHODS The assessment of SG secretory hypofunction was conducted by measuring whole salivary flows. B-mode ultrasonography was performed bilaterally on the parotid and submandibular glands to evaluate the Gland score and OMERACT score

OBJECTIVE Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia (PJP) is an opportunistic infection that may affect patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The objective of this project was to describe the incidence of PJP among patients with SLE. METHODS A retrospective cohort analysis of the TriNetX database. Included patients had ≥2 ICD9- CM/ICD10-CM codes for SLE separated by at least 30 days and were new

OBJECTIVE To analyze changes in baseline characteristics of patients with very early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) over 24 years in the Early Undifferentiated Polyarthritis (EUPA) cohort. METHODS Consecutive patients with recent-onset polyarthritis fulfilling RA classification criteria recruited in EUPA were assessed at baseline. Three successive periods were defined: (1) prior to the general availability

The Spondylitis Association of America (SAA) and the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) convened a conference on the campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on September 28 and 29, 2023, to identify unmet needs in spondyloarthritis (SpA) research. The conference featured presentations by experts in areas of disease endotypes, pain, innovative imaging

Is axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) one disease or does it comprise multiple types? If the latter, how do we define those types-through clinical or imaging features, HLA-B27 status, or by other immunologic features? Data comparing disease outcomes for individuals with nonradiographic vs radiographic axSpA, or for male vs female patients, demonstrate distinctions. So then, how should we define endotypes

Clinical research advances medical knowledge and improves healthcare outcomes. However, disparities in research participation hinder progress. The Unmet Research Needs in Spondyloarthritis Conference IV highlighted critical insights and strategies to enhance equity in clinical research. Talks focused on engaging underrepresented communities and addressing disparities in rheumatic diseases, particularly

A program focused on pathogenesis, clinical trial design, and nonpharmacologic mind-body therapy for of spondyloarthritis (SpA) was presented at the Spondylitis Association of America Unmet Needs Conference IV. SpA pathogenesis is incompletely understood but involves a complex set of drivers, including genetics, biomechanical stress, and microbial factors. Affected tissues may include axial and peripheral

Among patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), persistent pain remains a critical unmet need. In this review, we discuss the prevalence of chronic pain and fibromyalgia in patients with axSpA and examine the existing knowledge on the pathophysiology of chronic pain in SpA, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, we discuss the specific unmet needs that must be addressed to improve

Imaging biomarkers in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) are currently the most specific biomarkers for the diagnosis of this condition. Despite advances in imaging, from plain radiographs-which detect only damage-to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-which identifies disease activity and structural change-there are still many challenges that remain. Imaging in sacroiliitis is characterized by active and

OBJECTIVE To investigate the course of disability related to the upper extremities (UEs) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to assess correlations between such disability and clinical variables, including grip force. METHODS In an inception cohort of patients with early RA (diagnosed 1995-2005, N = 222, follow-up 10 yrs), disability of the UEs was assessed using a subscore of the Health Assessment

OBJECTIVE To investigate trends in depression and anxiety over 3 decades among individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Patients with incident RA (age ≥ 18 years, meeting 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria between 1985 and 2014) were identified using the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Individuals with RA were matched 1:1 with non-RA comparators on age, sex, and calendar year

OBJECTIVE Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare but chronic autoimmune disease with systemic nonsuppurative inflammation. Many studies have focused on the clinical characteristics and therapy of JDM. A few studies have reported the epidemiological characteristics and social burden of JDM patients abroad, but there has been no study in China. METHODS This study was based on the FUTang Updating medical

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of bimekizumab on pain, morning stiffness, and fatigue in patients with nonradiographic and radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in the phase III BE MOBILE studies (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03928704 and NCT03928743). METHODS Patients were randomized to bimekizumab 160 mg or placebo every 4 weeks; and all patients received bimekizumab from week 16. Patients reported

The development and implementation of guidelines are intended to improve the quality of care by translating current evidence into clinical practice. However, the publication and dissemination of guidelines do not intuitively result in their use. Evidence indicates that structured implementation can improve guideline adherence.1.

In the article entitled "Prevalence, Predictors, and Prognosis of Serious Infections in Takayasu Arteritis: A Cohort Study" by Misra and colleagues in this issue of The Journal of Rheumatology, the authors examine the incidence of serious infections in a Takayasu arteritis (TA) patient cohort; analyze associated demographic, clinical, angiographic, and treatment-related factors; and evaluate their

OBJECTIVE Prior incidence estimates of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) vary considerably. We aimed to assess the annual incidence of clinically diagnosed PsA among adults in Sweden in 2014-2016, overall and stratified by age/sex/education/geography, and to investigate potential time trends in incidence in 2006-2018. Use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) during the 2 years after diagnosis

OBJECTIVE Patients with inflammatory articular diseases, such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA), report weather changes in their symptoms. Our objective was to investigate the correlation between weather variation, disease activity (DA), and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with PsA. METHODS Hourly measurements of temperature, relative humidity, and pressure were obtained from 2015 to 2020 in

OBJECTIVE Radiographic assessment of sacroiliac joints (SIJs) according to the modified New York (mNY) criteria is key in the classification of axial spondyloarthritis but has moderate interreader agreement. We aimed to investigate the improvements of the reliability in scoring SIJ radiographs after applying an online real-time iterative calibration (RETIC) module, in addition to a slideshow and video

The face of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) management has transformed over the last 30 years, with advancements that have dramatically improved outcomes and overall prognosis. Yet, despite contemporary advances, including biologic therapies, pain in patients with JIA remains common.1.

The article by Tani et al, "Anifrolumab in Refractory Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Real-World, Multicenter Study,"1 evaluates the efficacy of anifrolumab (ANI) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who failed to respond to other treatments, including biologics.There are many unmet needs in the treatment of SLE. Despite recent advances, remission and low disease activity (LDA) rates

OBJECTIVE Acute and chronic calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal arthritis is characterized by the presence of synovial CPP crystals within a clinically inflamed joint. CPP crystals may be situated intracellularly or extracellularly; however, the clinical significance of their location remains understudied. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the relevance of the CPP crystal

Remission is a concept that rheumatologists have accepted as an explicit goal for treatment of their patients with inflammatory disease. With its Latin origins (remittere, to send back), remission has been used as a noun with different meanings. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, one meaning is a cancellation of a debt, charge, or penalty.

Fetal atrial flutter (AF) is a reentrant tachyarrhythmia characterized by very fast, regular atrial and ventricular rates (400-500 bpm and 200-220 bpm, respectively). It occurs mainly in an anatomically normal heart and is usually treated with digoxin, which is often effective, with no further recurrence.1.

The 1st GRAPPA International Meeting on Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis - 1° Encontro Internacional do GRAPPA Sobre Psoríase e Artrite Psoriásica was held on August 18-19, 2023, in São Paulo, Brazil, and marked a turning point in the management of psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in our country. This was an international collaboration, between Brazilian rheumatologists and dermatologists

It is well established that acute parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection in adults is associated with peripheral inflammatory arthritis.1 Joint involvement is usually symmetric and acute, most commonly involving the knees, feet, wrists, and small joints of the hands.2.

OBJECTIVE To examine whether gut microbes were associated with postsurgery-sustained knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) by a gut microbiomics approach. METHODS Patients receiving total knee replacement (TKR) because of primary knee OA were recruited. Sustained knee pain status at ≥ 1 year after TKR was defined by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)

J Rheumatol 2024; doi: 10.3899/jrheum.2024-0097 There were incorrect footnotes in Table 2. All instances of footnote "a" in the Possible Score Range column should be an asterisk. The correct footnote should be, "Only participants with ≤ 1 missing or * additional answer category (ie, "does not currently apply to me") per domain are included for the sum score of the corresponding scale." We apologize

OBJECTIVE To determine the annual incidence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in a United Kingdom primary care population with preexisting psoriasis (PsO) followed prospectively over 2 years after excluding baseline prevalence of existing disease. METHODS Total Burden of Psoriasis (TUDOR; ISRCTN registry: ISRCTN38877516) was a multicenter, prospective, 2-arm parallel-group cluster randomized controlled

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare the 2022 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) classification criteria with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) algorithm for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). METHODS All consecutive, newly diagnosed patients with AAV according to the 2012 Chapel Hill Consensus Conference

OBJECTIVE Despite treatment advances, pain remains a serious problem for many children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). To better understand pain in children with JIA and identify potentially modifiable factors, this study evaluated Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Pain Interference (PI) and its relationships with other pain measures and demographic

OBJECTIVE Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most common pulmonary manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its prevalence has not been investigated in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The role of methotrexate (MTX) in ILD development remains under debate. This study (1) compares the incidences of ILD in patients with RA or PsA initiating a first biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic

Pregnancy is a time of emotional stress for many women, and women with systemic vasculitides face substantial additional challenges. Systemic vasculitides are rare rheumatic diseases characterized by inflammation in blood vessel walls, classified according to vessel size, histopathology, and clinical features.1.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether biologic therapy alters serum C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), S100 calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8), acid phosphatase 5 (ACP5), and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) levels in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and cutaneous psoriasis without arthritis (PsC), and whether baseline levels of these proteins predict response

Renal lesions as the initial presentation of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) and isolated IgG4-related kidney disease (IgG4-RKD) are rare.1,2A 65-year-old male with a history of high-grade urothelial cell carcinoma in remission was found to have multiple renal lesions on surveillance imaging (Figure 1A).

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) rarely overlaps with noninfective granulomatous conditions, such as sarcoidosis or pneumoconiosis.1A 73-year-old White man with anti-Scl70 positive SSc was evaluated for arthralgia, fever, and weight loss.

Clinical manifestations and disease progression often exhibit significant variability among patients with rheumatic diseases, complicating diagnosis and treatment strategies. A better understanding of disease heterogeneity may allow for personalized treatment strategies. Cluster analysis is a class of statistical methods that aims to identify subgroups or patterns within a dataset. Cluster analysis

Opioid use among individuals with spondyloarthritis is common; however, data on whether these individuals have higher utilization of the healthcare system are lacking. We examined the association between opioid use and healthcare utilization and costs among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

To explore the experiences and perspectives of patients and rheumatologists on decision aid-led tapering of advanced therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Healthcare systems worldwide face various challenges, including disparities in infrastructure, shortages in healthcare professionals, and inadequate funding.1,2 These challenges lead to issues such as suboptimal treatment, limited access to essential services, and difficulties in responding to health crises like the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.1.

Avacopan, a C5a receptor (C5aR) inhibitor, has emerged as a novel treatment for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), providing an alternative to glucocorticoids (GCs).1 Despite its promising potential, severe liver dysfunction associated with avacopan has been reported in Japan.2,3.

In this issue of The Journal of Rheumatology, the article by King et al describes a registry-based cohort study of the Good Life With Osteoarthritis in Denmark (GLA:D) 8-week education and exercise program.1 Rather than focusing on knee pain, the authors examined change in self-reported difficulty walking, a primary reason people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) seek care, and assessed patient factors

Fewer than 1% of Takayasu arteritis (TA) cases are diagnosed in individuals over 60 years old.1 Early-stage TA generally presents with nonspecific systemic inflammatory symptoms, which can progress to the chronic, fibrotic occlusive phase,2 although there is significant heterogeneity in disease activity.3.

Acute back pain with neurological symptoms is a medical emergency. Here we report a case of severe degenerative spine disease with raised inflammatory markers due to an atypical cause.