Arthritis & Rheumatology News and Research

Latest Arthritis & Rheumatology News and Research

CT scans appear to help in diagnosis of gout

According to research presented at the Nov 2011, American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, a type of computed tomography scanning (commonly called CT scans) appears to help in the diagnosis of gout by detecting the urate crystals that are often a symptom of the disease.

7 Nov 2011

$Postmenopausal women with OA have higher risk of bone fractures, falls$

Postmenopausal women with OA have higher risk of bone fractures, falls

Postmenopausal women with osteoarthritis have a 20 percent higher risk of bone fractures and experience almost 30 percent more falls than those without the disease, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

Exposure to air pollution may increase risk of RA

Exposure to some types of air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide — one of the six most common pollutants in the United States — is associated with a somewhat increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

Children with polyarticular JIA benefit from early and aggressive therapy

Children with juvenile arthritis who are treated early and aggressively have better outcomes, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

Biologics reduce fatigue in people with RA

Treatment with a biologic agent reduces fatigue in people with rheumatoid arthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

Potential predictors of spinal damage progression in people with spondyloarthritis

The presence of syndesmophytes (bony growths in the spine), acute phase reactants (proteins that are released into the blood in response to inflammation), and smoking status can all serve as predictors for the progression of structural damage in the spine in people with spondyloarthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

IFNa-kinoid shows promise against lupus

The first study to show results using active immunotherapy against the signaling protein interferon alpha in the treatment of lupus will be presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

Link between use of anti-TNF therapy and malignant melanoma in RA patients

According to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, people taking anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies to treat rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of developing malignant melanoma.

7 Nov 2011

Study finds pregnancy safe for 80% of women with lupus

Promising research led by investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery may offer hope for women with lupus who once thought that pregnancy was too risky.

7 Nov 2011

Link between wound healing and autoimmune diseases

Millions of Americans suffer from wounds that don't heal, and while most are typically associated with diabetes, new research has identified another possible underlying cause - autoimmune diseases.

7 Nov 2011

Doctors may stop anti-TNF medications for RA patients before surgery to reduce disease flares

As guidelines recommend, doctors appear to be stopping anti-TNF medications before surgery, but may be doing so far sooner than is necessary, according to a new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery. These medications are used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, and better timing of withdrawal prior to surgery might minimize the risk of disease flares.

6 Nov 2011

Final results from Vertex VX-509 Phase 2a study on RA

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced the final results from a Phase 2a study of the investigational selective oral JAK3 inhibitor VX-509.

6 Nov 2011

Patients with RA have lower expectations about postsurgical outcomes after TKA

Compared with osteoarthritis patients, individuals with rheumatoid arthritis who undergo total knee replacement surgery have lower expectations about their postsurgical outcomes, according to a new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City.

6 Nov 2011

Psychological stress can trigger flares of vasculitis

In patients with a devastating form of vasculitis who are in remission, stress can be associated with a greater likelihood of the disease flaring, according to a new study by investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery.

6 Nov 2011

$Women under 50 with RA more likely to have new fractures$

Women under 50 with RA more likely to have new fractures

Women under 50 with rheumatoid arthritis are at greater risk of breaking bones than women without the condition, according to a Mayo Clinic study being presented at the American College of Rheumatology annual scientific meeting in Chicago.

6 Nov 2011

Human Genome Sciences to present abstracts regarding BENLYSTA, SLE at ACR/ARHP meeting

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. announced today that several abstracts related to BENLYSTA (belimumab) and systemic lupus erythematosus will be presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/ Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals, being held in Chicago, IL from November 4 to November 9, 2011.

5 Nov 2011

APF launches new online educational module on safe use of CAM

The American Pain Foundation (APF) announced the launch of a new online educational module focusing on safe use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as part of its PainSAFE initiative.

5 Nov 2011

Dark, cold weather derails physical activity routines of older people with arthritis: Study

As cold winter weather sets in and daylight hours dwindle, many older Chicagoans with arthritis tend to sit idle, missing out on the daily dose of physical activity they need to improve their health, according to a Northwestern Medicine study.

5 Nov 2011

Results of Phase 2 program to develop NSAIDs to be reported at ACR annual meeting

The results of the Phase 2 program sponsored by Iroko Pharmaceuticals to develop novel, lower-dose formulations of a widely used class of pain medicines will be reported November 7th at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Chicago.

5 Nov 2011

SCRIP honors Glenmark for business excellence and innovative R & D capabilities

SCRIP, a leading global pharmaceutical and biotech news publication, honoured Glenmark with two global recognitions, for its business excellence and innovative R & D capabilities.

5 Nov 2011