This is the patient version of the EULAR recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia. The original publication can be downloaded from the EULAR website: www.eular.org. Macfarlane GJ, et al. EULAR revised recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia. Ann Rheum Dis 2017;76(2):318–328. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209724 Introduction EULAR recommendations give advice to doctors, nurses and patients about the best […]
Category: Drug treatment
Endpoint not met, but golimumab delivers improvement in JIA
Golimumab results in rapid improvement in children with active polyarticular JIA INTRODUCTION Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, commonly referred to as JIA, includes most types of arthritis seen in children before the age of 16. JIA is an umbrella term for a group of inflammatory arthritis conditions with unknown cause which begin in childhood. JIA causes pain, […]
Viewpoint: the role of the rheumatologist in managing immune-related adverse events caused by cancer immunotherapy
Rheumatologists should be central figures in this evolving field. INTRODUCTION Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a type of immunotherapy used to treat cancer. There are six drugs in this group, and they are used in more than 10 cancer types. This type of treatment for cancer is now very common and there are hundreds of thousands […]
Bisphosphonates may reduce the need for joint replacement in people with osteoarthritis
In this study of older women with osteoarthritis in their knees, fewer bisphosphonate users went on to need knee replacement surgery INTRODUCTION Osteoarthritis is a common condition that makes a person’s joints stiff and painful, particularly in the morning. It is caused by changes in the whole joint tissues, including thinning of the cartilage within […]
Women can continue certolizumab during breastfeeding
Only very small amounts of certolizumab cross into human breastmilk. INTRODUCTION Chronic inflammatory diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn’s disease. These diseases often affect women in their childbearing years, and many experience their disease getting worse after their baby is born. Treatment of these conditions often uses biologic drugs […]
Cancer drugs may trigger inflammatory arthritis
Immune checkpoint inhibitors may trigger the development of rheumatoid arthritis or polymyalgia rheumatica in some patients, but it can be treated. INTRODUCTION Inflammatory arthritis develops when the immune system starts to attack the body’s own tissues. Inflammatory arthritis is an umbrella term for a group of chronic inflammatory diseases that affect a person’s joints, causing […]
Moderate alcohol consumption may not affect liver blood tests in people taking methotrexate
Weekly alcohol consumption of less than 14 units per week does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of abnormal liver blood tests. Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects a person’s joints, causing pain and disability. It can also affect internal organs. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in older […]
No new safety signals with long-term use of tofacitinib
Side effects with tofacitinib are generally stable over time and there are no new safety signals with long-term use INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects a person’s joints, causing pain and disability. It can also affect internal organs. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in older people, but there is also a […]
Possible new onset or worsening of sacroiliitis or arthritis in people taking vedolizumab for IBD
Possible new onset or worsening of sacroiliitis or arthritis in people taking vedolizumab for IBD Vedolizumab might induce arthritis or sacroiliitis in people with IBD INTRODUCTION Inflammatory bowel disease (often shortened to IBD) is a long-term condition that affects a person’s digestive tract. IBD includes two conditions: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which share many […]
The CLEAR-2 study suggests a role for two combined medicines to treat gout
Lesinurad in combination with allopurinol lowers uric acid levels better than allopurinol alone in people with gout INTRODUCTION Gout is a very common condition. It is caused by deposits of crystals of a substance called uric acid (also known as urate) in the joints, which leads to inflammation. Periods of time when you have gout […]
