In a nutshell This study examined the effect of smoking habits on mortality rates in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) over 36 years. The authors concluded that women who quit smoking entirely within 4 years of diagnosis of RA had reduced mortality rates. RA patients who smoked more and for longer were at a significantly higher risk of mortality...
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MRI scans can detect silent progression of rheumatoid arthritis in patients considered in remission
In a nutshell The study looked at increases in bone erosion and swelling using body imaging scans in patients with rheumatoid arthritis that were in remission. The authors concluded that up to 40% of patients in remission showed increases in bone erosion. Some background In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients experience inflammation and pain in...
Read MoreA comparison of biological treatments for juvenile arthritis
In a nutshell This study compared effectiveness and safety of the biological drugs etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira), and tocilizumab (Actemra) in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The authors concluded that there were no significant differences in effectiveness. Some background Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a...
Read MoreCan light-intensity exercise reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?
In a nutshell This study examined the role of physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The authors concluded that patients with RA are mostly active at light intensities. Light physical activity was found to reduce cardiovascular risk and also improved RA outcomes. Some background Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can experience...
Read MoreBiological drug treatments for rheumatoid arthritis – an update
In a nutshell This study examined data from a number of recent studies to assess biological drug treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The authors concluded that the results confirmed the effectiveness of biological drugs in treating RA. Some background Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is a category of drugs defined by their use...
Read MoreAnti-TNF therapy: Predictors of success
In a nutshell The study examined predictors of treatment success with anti-TNF drugs for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The authors concluded that immune response and the presence of a protein in the blood can predict treatment outcomes with anti-TNF drugs. Some background In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the immune system attacks the healthy joints the...
Read MoreExamining the presence of RA in patients with and without the presence of certain antibodies in the blood
In a nutshell This study compared the severity of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with (seropositive) and without (seronegative) certain antibodies in their blood. The authors concluded that seronegative patients had higher levels of inflammation than seropositive patients. Some background RA is diagnosed based on a number of...
Read MoreThe effects of fibromyalgia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
In a nutshell This study looked impact of fibromyalgia on physical function and pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The authors concluded that patients with fibromyalgia or symptoms of fibromyalgia had worse functional ability than those without fibromyalgia. Some background Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can experience...
Read MoreWhat is next for RA patients who have not responded to conventional treatment?
In a nutshell This study compared the effectiveness of two different treatments in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who have not responded well to conventional treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The authors concluded that changing to a biological drug showed better remission rates than switching to an alternative...
Read MoreIs kidney function weakened in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?
In a nutshell This study examined the link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and weakened kidney function. The authors concluded that poor kidney function is common in patients with RA and is linked to age, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular risk factors. Some background It has been estimated that between 5 and 50% of RA patients have...
Read MoreComparing treatments for RA patients not responding to anti TNF therapy
In a nutshell This study compared the effectiveness of abatacept (Orencia) and tocilizumab (Actemra) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had previously taken anti TNF therapy. The authors concluded that both of these drugs led to a significant improvement in disease activity in both treatment groups. Some background In RA, the...
Read MoreDoes body weight affect a patient’s response to RA treatment?
In a nutshell This study examined the impact of body weight on disease activity in patients with arthritis. The authors concluded that patients who are obese are less likely to see improvements in disease activity after treatment than patients with a normal weight. Some background Patients with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and...
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