Current Rheumatology Research

Editorial Open Access

Overview of rheumatoid arthritis: Past lessons and future paths

Shih-Chao Lin

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that effects more than 1.3 million people in the United States. RA is an expensive disease that negatively impacts the patient’s quality of life. Inflammation of the synovial joints and destruction of articular cartilage and bones caused by RA can affect a patient’s ability to perform commonplace activities.

Commentary Open Access

Dual targeting of plasma cells and B-cells to treat systemic lupus erythematosus

Andrew Cinquina, Yupo Ma, Wenli Zhang, Hongyu Zhang

Autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, are associated with significant morbidity that is often ultimately refractory to current treatment modalities. To target the role of autoantibodies in disease pathogenesis, biologics have been designed for selective targeting of B-cells.

Mini Review Open Access

Non-medical switching from originators to biosimilars in patients with rheumatic disease in routine clinical care: what is the best strategy?

Giuseppe Provenzano, Chiara Arcuri

Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis are common rheumatic diseases leading to irreversible joint damage and increase in mortality. The introduction of highly effective biologic drugs has resulted in substantial benefit in the treatment of these diseases, but these therapies take a high toll on healthcare systems.

Case Report Open Access

Raynaud's phenomenon in a patient with silicone implants: How far is ASIA syndrome and not mixed connective tissue disease?

Julián Rondón-Carvajal, María Clara Escobar-Millán

Raynaud's phenomenon represents a harbinger of polyautoimmunity and although it is usually associated with systemic sclerosis, the discussion surrounding its classification in rheumatology is interesting given the current understanding of capillaroscopic findings in rheumatic diseases and improvements in immunological diagnostics.

Original Research Open Access

Dense fine speckled antinuclear antibody patterns: Clinical correlations and implications

Smarika Sapkota, John Crosson, Michael D. Evans, Londyn Robinson, Adam Lord, Benjamin Kofoed, Jerry A. Molitor

Background/Purpose: The significance of Dense Fine Speckled (DFS) pattern Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) by indirect mmunofluorescence (IIF) is unclear in the existing research. We aimed to investigate associations between positive ANA with DFS pattern and multiple autoimmune and rheumatic conditions.

Case Report Open Access

Using Self-Hypnosis to Improve Medical Compliance: The Role of Mind Body Modalities

Dana Gerstbacher, Ava Satnick

Integrative medicine is the new kid on the block who is here to stay. Like the new kid at recess, integrative medicine has been met by some with open arms and eagerness for introductions by some, yet frank skepticism of differences by others.

Commentary Open Access

Sex differences in systemic lupus erythematosus: Epidemiology, clinical considerations, and disease pathogenesis

Armin Mahabadi, BS, Julie S Nusbaum, MD

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multiorgan, systemic autoimmune disease that occurs more frequently in women than men and is typically diagnosed in women of reproductive age.

Review Article Open Access

The effect of pharmacological treatment on rheumatoid arthritis related sarcopenia: A integrative review

Rafaela Cavalheiro do Espírito Santo, Thales Hein, Ricardo Machado Xavier

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic, inflammatory and erosive joint disease. Due the systemic effect mediated by increased serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, RA patients often present changes in body composition.

Case Report Open Access

Acute chikungunya fever followed by systemic lupus erythematosus

J. Kennedy Amaral, Mauro Martins Teixeira, Robert T. Schoen

Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) is a viral disease caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus in the Alphavirus genus of the Togaviridae family. Like many other arboviral diseases, it is transmitted by mosquito vectors, primarily Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

Research Article Open Access

Prevalence and impact of obesity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abdulsatar J Mathkhor, Fahmi T Mardan, Abdulameer B Allawi

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is chronic inflammatory arthritis characterized by the inflammation of multiple joints and significant joint destruction and disability. It is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis that affects synovial joints.

Editorial Open Access

The pathology and science of articular cartilage repair

Anjali Goyal

The adult articular cartilage is a specialized connective tissue, devoid of blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves, hence has a limited capacity for intrinsic healing and repair. The cartilage around the knee joint has the following forms of cartilage- hyaline/articular, fibroelastic cartilage around the meniscus and fibrocartilage at the tendon and ligament insertion into the bone.

Case Report Open Access

Unraveling the diagnostic puzzle: Trio of lymphadenopathy, organomegaly, and lung nodules in cSLE

Samanwita Mahapatra, Madhurima Veronica Lama, Aditi Das, Subhankar Sarkar, Rohit Bhowmik, Niladri Sekhar Bhunia, Ritasman Baisya, Nupur Bajpai, Rimjhim Sonowal, Nihar Ranjan Mishra

Background: Generalized lymphadenopathy with fever, pulmonary involvement, and organomegaly in children can be caused by infections, malignancies, or autoimmune disorders, with infections being the most frequent. However, childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) can present with similar features, making diagnosis challenging in the absence of classical signs. 

Mini Review Open Access

Rheumatoid arthritis – assessments and treatment recommendations

Timm Rüter, Jens Gert Kuipers

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease of yet unknown etiology causing joint tenderness, swelling, destruction and premature death. Extraarticular manifestations such as cervical spine involvement, bursitis, tendovaginitis, rheumatoid nodules, rheumatoid vasculitis, pulmonary fibrosis, and accelerated atherosclerosis - to name a few – may occur.

Research Article Open Access

35 years follow-up of primary Sjogren’s syndrome: A single center study

Lorena Montaño-Tapia, MD, Resit Yildrim, MD, Ana Mafalda Abrantes, MD, David Isenberg

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune rheumatic disease characterized by a lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands. It mostly becomes apparent in women between 40 and 60 years old. Its clinical manifestations are heterogeneous, ranging from sicca syndrome to extra glandular manifestations.

Review Article Open Access

Chikungunya: an emerging rheumatological pandemic?

Joshua B. Bilsborrow, J. Kennedy Amaral, Robert T. Schoen

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has recently emerged alongside Ebolavirus, Zika virus, and SARS-CoV-2 as the causative pathogen for a global pandemic. CHIKV is a single-stranded RNA alphavirus that is transmitted by Aedes species mosquitos and has spread beyond its endemic regions in East Africa and South Asia through the Indian Ocean islands, into Southern Europe, and through the Caribbean and the wider Americas.

Commentary Open Access

Yao syndrome (NOD2-associated autoinflammatory disease) and the gastrointestinal tract: Future perspectives and research priorities 

John A. Damianos

Yao syndrome (YAOS) is a NOD2-associated autoinflammatory disease marked by periodic fevers, dermatitis, polyarthritis, distal extremity swelling, and nearly universal gastrointestinal symptoms. A recent study was the first to comprehensively assess the gastrointestinal symptoms and manifestations of YAOS, finding that most testing is normal, without gastrointestinal mucosal inflammation, and many patients have constipation and rectal evacuation disorders.

Editorial Open Access

Psoriatic arthritis and cardiovascular disease

José A Pinto Tasende

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory skeletal and dermatological disease with heterogeneous clinical features and a strong relationship with spondyloarthritis group, sharing several genetic, clinical and radiographic characteristics and with a prevalence in the western country populations around 0.07-0.42.

Commentary Open Access

Diabetic myonecrosis: A review

Raveena Kumar, Shiva Prasad BN, Ramaswamy Subramanian, Mahabaleshwar Mamadapur

Diabetic Myonecrosis is a rare, under-diagnosed complication of long-standing diabetes mellitus. The condition often mimics several other conditions which results in delay in diagnosis and treatment. It usually affects muscles of the lower limbs especially thighs, presenting with acute onset pain and swelling. 

Systematic Review Open Access

Nutritional interventions and supplementation for rheumatoid arthritis patients: A systematic review for clinical application, Part 1: Dieting

Angel Mauricio Marquez, Cassandra Evans, Kyle Boltson, Marc Kesselman

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune disease that is associated with local and systemic inflammation, resulting in chronic pain and physical function limitations that may negatively impact quality of life (QOL). Despite advances in pharmacological therapies, currently available treatment options may be associated with adverse events and come at a high price tag.

Mini Review Open Access

Therapy adherence in rheumatoid arthritis: A minireview

Timm Rüter, Jens Gert Kuipers

In the last decades there has been considerable progress in treatment, significantly improving quality of life, outcome and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therapy adherence is a cornerstone of improved outcome. However, recent studies have shown that adherence may be low in a considerable percentage of patients.

Review Article Open Access

Residual symptoms: Unmet needs for rheumatoid arthritis patients who achieved low clinical disease activity

Sae Ochi, Koshiro Sonomoto, Yoshiya Tanaka

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases characterized by inflammatory arthritis that may lead to destruction of bone and cartilage. While the primary manifestation of RA is swollen and tender joints, it is often associated with multiple coexisting conditions such as fibromyalgia, fatigue, and malaise.

Review Article Open Access

Membrane complement regulatory protein CD59 in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis

Das Nibhriti, Biswas Bintili, Anand Devyani

Complement proteins constitute a proinflammatory system of the innate immunity which bridges with the adaptive immunity. It comprises of a group of serum zymogens, complement regulatory proteins (Cregs) and receptors.

Systematic Review Open Access

Nutritional interventions and supplementation for rheumatoid arthritis patients: A systematic review for clinical application, Part 2: Supplementation

Angel Mauricio Marquez, Cassandra Evans, Kyle Boltson, Marc Kesselman

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is associated with local and systemic inflammation, resulting in chronic pain and physical function limitations that may negatively impact quality of life (QOL). Despite advances in pharmacological therapies, currently available treatment options may be associated with adverse events and come at a high price tag.

Editorial Open Access

Exploring novel therapeutic avenues for arthritis precision medicine: The potential of mTOR-SIRT1, NRF2, GPX4 ferroptosis- and autophagy- related pathways and emerging technologies

Bohong Gao, Zhihua Yin, Yue Zhang

Arthritis remains a common and debilitating disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are among the most common forms of this chronic, degenerative disease, which is moving toward precision medicine.

Review Article Open Access

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis and its association with other autoimmune diseases: Review of cases from the point of view of rheumatologists

Ben Abdelghani Kawther, Makhlouf Yasmine, Miladi Saoussen, Leila Souebni, Ouenniche Kmar, Kassab Selma, Chekili Selma, Fazaa Alia, Laatar Ahmed

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH) is a rare granulomatous disease manifesting by the subsequent appearance of erosive aggressive polyarthritis and typical skin papulonodular lesions. It can also affect internal organs such as the lungs, hearts in addition to rare cases of mesenteric lymphadenopathy and urogenital lesions.

Research Article Open Access

Association of poverty with higher risk of fragility fractures in postmenopausal Caucasian Spanish women

Marlene García-Quintana, Maria Jesús Gómez de Tejada-Romero, Pino Quintana-Montesdeoca, Diego Hernández-Hernández, Manuel Sosa-Henríquez

Osteoporosis is a common bone disease characterized by low bone mass and altered bone microarchitecture, resulting in decreased bone strength with an increased risk of fractures. It has been well documented that dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) provides an accurate estimate of BMD because as T-scores decrease, the relative risk for fracture increases.

Commentary Open Access

Systemic sclerosis and challenges in COVID-19 pandemic

Hoda Kavosi, Zahra Tamartash, Sepehr nayebi rad, Reza Atef-Yekta

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to a pandemic in the late 2019 and affected the worldwide population resulting in almost five million deaths and more than 200 million confirmed cases. Since the pandemic progressed, more studies shed light on the topic and researchers started speculating that comorbidities can increase the risk of adverse outcomes in COVID-19 disease.

Systematic Review Open Access

Nutritional interventions and supplementation for rheumatoid arthritis patients: A systematic review for clinical application, part 3: Fruits and herbs

Angel Mauricio Marquez, Cassandra Evans, Kyle Boltson, Marc Kesselman

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is associated with local and systemic inflammation, resulting in chronic pain and physical function limitations that may negatively impact quality of life (QOL). Despite advances in pharmacological therapies, currently available treatment options may be associated with adverse events and come at a high price tag.

Research Article Open Access

Galantamine has a positive impact on joint collagen degradation process in collagen-induced arthritis

Bárbara Jonson Bartikoski, Renata Ternus Pedó, Mirian Farinon, Eduarda Correa Freitas, Gabriela Brendel Blum, Fernanda Spies, Ricardo Machado Xavier, Patricia Gnieslaw de Oliveira

Galantamine is an alkaloid extracted from plant bulbs of some members of the Amaryllidaceae family and is a reversible competitive inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. GAL affects the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

Short Communication Open Access

Too early diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in the first month of initial presentation

Iraj Salehi-Abari

Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) is a systemic small sized vascular disease involving vasculitis, granuloma, and necrosis that most often targets the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and/or Lungs and/or Kidneys, and it is classically associated with Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA) positivity.