90% of people with early rheumatoid arthritis are steroid-free 2 years after bridging therapy INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects a person’s joints, and may cause pain and disability. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people of all ages, but it most often starts between the ages of 40 and 60. Rheumatoid arthritis […]
Category: Drug treatment
Updated: COVID-19 vaccination recommendations in RMDs
This is the lay version of the EULAR recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The original publication can be downloaded from the EULAR website: www.eular.org. Landewé RBM, Kroon FPB, Alunno A, et al. EULAR recommendations for the management and vaccination of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in the context […]
Full vaccination course is necessary for efficient response
People with inflammatory arthritis may have impaired response to the first dose but excellent final responses to mRNA vaccines. INTRODUCTION COVID-19 is the disease caused by a new type of coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. COVID-19 has forced […]
Risk of flare higher with hydroxychloroquine reduction or discontinuation
Decisions to maintain, reduce or stop SLE treatment may affect specific subgroups differently. INTRODUCTION Systemic lupus erythematosus (often called Lupus or SLE) is an autoimmune disease. It often starts in women between the ages of 15 and 45, but it can occur at any age, and 10% of patients are male. SLE symptoms can vary. […]
Predicting treatment success in rheumatoid arthritis
Particularly in early disease, prediction can be achieved for people with lower baseline levels of diseases activity INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects a person’s joints, and may cause pain and disability. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people of all ages, but it most often starts between the ages of 40 and […]
Over time, joint swelling recurs in the same joints in people with RA
The results suggest that local factors influence joint inflammation over time. INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects a person’s joints, and may cause pain and disability. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people of all ages, but it most often starts between the ages of 40 and 50 – although this can depend […]
Steroid dose and duration linked to cardiovascular events in RA
Dose and duration are associated with an increased risk for incident cardiovascular events in steroid-naïve patients INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects a person’s joints, and may cause pain and disability. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people of all ages, but it most often starts between the ages of 30 and 50 […]
Update: Using rheumatology drugs for COVID-19
This is the lay version of the EULAR points to consider on the use of medicines traditionally used in rheumatology to treat the inflammation seen in people with severe COVID-19. The original publication can be downloaded from the EULAR website: www.eular.org. Alunno A, et al. 2021 update of the EULAR points to consider on the […]
Medication use for rheumatoid arthritis affects COVID-19 outcomes
People with rheumatoid arthritis treated with rituximab or JAKi have worse COVID-19 severity than those on TNFi INTRODUCTION COVID-19 is the disease caused by a new type of coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. COVID-19 has forced people to […]
Points to consider to promote adherence in people with RMDs
Prevent non-adherence by building trust, overcoming barriers, and tailoring the solution to the problem. INTRODUCTION Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (often shortened to RMDs) are a group of diseases that affect the joints and muscles. There are lots of different treatments available that can both treat symptoms, and stop some of the underlying disease processes. Most […]
