Rheumatic Diseases

Biologics for rheumatoid arthritis work, but which is best?

More studies that directly compare the effectiveness of different biologic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are needed, say Cochrane Researchers. The researchers reviewed all…    

Exercise programs recommended as standard for rheumatoid arthritis

Exercise programs designed to improve strength and stamina are safe and effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a new Cochrane Systematic Review.…    

Chinese herb shows promise for rheumatoid arthritis

The Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) proved more effective than the anti-inflammatory drug sulfasalazine in a study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.…    

Childhood Arthritis: Common but Preventable Consequence of Lyme Disease

When left untreated, children infected with Lyme disease can experience many severe complications as a result including arthritis, problems with the heart or central…    

Anti-TNF therapy safe for rheumatoid arthritis

When used at the recommended doses, treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs, a relatively new class of drugs for RA treatment does not…    

Over half of people with rheumatoid arthritis have periodontitis

Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday 12 June 2009: Over half (56%) of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also have periodontitis (a chronic inflammatory disease of the…    

FDA Calls for New Study of Drug for Acute HAE Attacks

Patients may have to wait a little longer for access to an FDA-approved treatment for acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE).

The…    

There Are More than 100 Reasons to See a Rheumatologist

While many people believe that arthritis is a stand-alone disease, it is actually a term used to describe over 100 different rheumatic diseases.

…    

Vitamin C Intake Associated With Lower Risk of Gout in Men

Men with higher vitamin C intake appear less likely to develop gout, a painful type of arthritis, according to a report in the March…    

Not Too Old for Joint Replacement

Knee replacement surgery can improve the quality of life even for very elderly patients, according to a study presented today at the 2009 Annual…    

New clues to healing arthritis caused by traumatic injury

A strain of laboratory mice that has “superhealing” powers has been found to resist inflammation after a knee injury, and also to avoid developing…    

Type of Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication May Increase Risk for Shingles

Use of certain medications known as monoclonal anti– tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) antibodies for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis appears to be associated…    

High uric acid raises risk of death in adults

In middle-aged Chinese adults, high blood levels of uric acid are a strong predictor of death from cardiovascular disease, stroke and all causes, according…    

Gene therapy promising for rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers have successfully used gene therapy to substantially reduce joint pain in two patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

These data “provide…    

Kids with arthritis benefit from early treatment

In children with arthritis, the time from diagnosis to the start of treatment with methotrexate appears to be an important predictor of their…    

Leflunomide effective as co-therapy in RA

The immune-modulating drug leflunomide is effective as co-therapy with drugs that block the inflammation-producing protein TNF in people with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a…    

Depression, pain may accompany chronic Lyme disease

Depression and the chronic pain syndrome fibromyalgia are common in patients who suffer from chronic Lyme disease and seem to correlate with poor functional…    

Rheumatoid arthritis therapy has improved steadily

The health status of people with rheumatoid arthritis improved between 1994 and 2004, according to a new study. The researchers suggest this is most…    

New Therapeutic Target Identified for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery have identified a potential new therapeutic target that could be used to treat inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid…    

Studies examine treatment for gout and the condition’s protective effects

The goal in treating patients with gout is to reduce acute attacks by lowering serum urate levels, which are usually high in this disease.…    

Fibromyalgia can no longer be called the ‘invisible’ syndrome

Using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), researchers in France were able to detect functional abnormalities in certain regions in the brains of patients…    

Treatment Guidelines for Psoriatic Arthritis

Rheumatologists, dermatologists, and patient advocates have come together to publish the first-ever international guidelines for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis, a disease that mainly…    

New Therapy May Fight Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

A clinical trial of a novel drug known as tanezumab has shown that treatment once every eight weeks significantly reduces pain in patients with…    

Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Affect Your Pearly Whites

People with rheumatoid arthritis may be at increased risk for periodontal disease, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology…    

Assessing Treatments for Lupus Nephritis in Children

The first study comparing two therapies, mycophenolate mofetil and intravenous cyclophosphamide, for the treatment of lupus nephritis in adolescents, shows that both appear safe…