News

COVID-19 severity

COVID-19

A proportion of patients with COVID-19 are more prone to developing COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation regardless of age and comorbidity status, finds an observational study published on Friday in The Lancet Rheumatology.

Studies Link Gout Flares to Consuming Sodas

Gout

A systematic review and meta-analysis recently published the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics finds that consuming sugar-sweetened beverages is significantly associated with increased serum uric acid concentrations associated with gout flares.

fda approved treatment for devic's disease

FDA Approved

The U.S. FDA has approved a third treatment for the rare autoimmune condition, Devic's disease. The condition is associated with blindness and paralysis and often coexists with other rheumatic conditions, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

quiz rheumatoid arthritis bone health

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk for osteoporosis. This heightened risk of osteoporosis can be due to a combination of factors: inactivity due to the pain and loss of joint function associated with the disease, a direct the rheumatoid arthritis disease process, and their treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. In this quiz, test your knowledge on the risk of osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis and how it should be treated.

mental health

Awkward Conversations

Patients with rheumatic disease tend to be at higher risk for developing a psychiatric disorder. This can complicate the treatment process at the detriment of the patient. In today's column, Dr. Kim Gorgens addresses managing a patient with mental illness.

diabetes rheumatoid arthritis psoriatic arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers writing in Arthritis Care and Research this week report that rheumatoid arthritis patients actually have a lower rate of type 2 diabetes than people without RA or patients with hypertension, osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

activity trackers trace gout flares

Wearable activity trackers are designed to monitor an individual's movement to achieve fitness goals, but researchers find they may have use in tracking gout flares.

Interdisciplinary Medicine Is Best in Rheumatology

In this week's news roundup from Rheumatology Network, we talk with Dr. Jeffrey Sparks, a rheumatologist with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston who recently addressed the importance of an interdisciplinary and individualized approach in treating rheumatic disease patients who have interstitial lung disease, a condition that can lead to worsen morbidity and mortality. Learn more in this interview.

Patients with axial spondyloarthritis who smoke may be more likely to have sacroiliac joint inflammation if they have a blue‐collar job or low education, according to a study recently published in Arthritis & Rheumatology. In this Q&A with study author Elena Nikiphorou, M.B.B.S./B.Sc., M.D.(Res), Consultant Rheumatologist at King's College Hospital in London, U.K.,we discuss the study and its findings.