Rheumatology Network

Monitor patients with juvenile dermatomyositis early and carefully for lung problems, say authors of a study from Denmark. Pulmonary dysfunction is rare in this condition, but insidious and very damaging.

Patients with rheumatic disorders tend to rate their global health status considerably lower than their doctors do using the same standard questionnaire. This discordance may have implications for the effectiveness of treatments.

Sofosbuvir, newly approved for chronic hepatitis C infection, is the first possible therapy for some infected patients with rheumatic diseases. Treatment costs $1000 a day.