Post-treatment Lyme Syndrome

Save

Symptoms that persist long after Lyme disease is treated are not uncommon — a 2022 study found that 14% of patients who were diagnosed and treated early with antibiotic therapy would still develop Post Treatment Lyme Disease (PTLD). Yet doctors puzzle over the condition’s causes and how to help their patients through symptoms ranging from severe fatigue and cognitive challenges to body pain and arthritis.

2025 BSR Guideline for Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis

Save

The British Society of Rheumatology has published its 2025 Guidelines for the Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA); addressing axial and extra-musculoskeletal manifestations including acute anterior uveitis, psoriasis and IBD.

Senescent "Zombie" Cells and Low Back Pain

Save

In a preclinical study led by McGill University researchers, two drugs targeting “zombie cells” have been shown to treat the underlying cause of chronic low back pain.

ACR & Arthritis Foundation Denounce the Dismantling of Vital Health Programs

Save

As organizations representing nearly 60 million adults and children living with arthritis in the United States and the rheumatologists and health care professionals who treat them, we are deeply alarmed by this week’s dismantling of multiple branches of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that manage essential research and public health programs critical to the well-being of millions of people living with chronic conditions. 

Diabetes Prevention with Hydroxychloroquine in Sjogren’s

Save

A Taiwanese insurance claims analysis looked at hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) and showed that HCQ exposure significantly reduces the risk of new onset dia

Osteoarthritis Risky Business (4.18.2025)

Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and Journal reports from this week on RheumNow.com.  Osteoarthritis patients have unique risks and synovial fluid WBC numbers can tell you when to worry about septic arthritis in gout and pseudogout patients.

Genetic Sequencing in Rheumatology

Save

Genetic sequencing as a research and diagnostic tool has expanded in medicine and rheumatology. An interesting review in Arthritis and Rheumatology suggests that despite currently modest use, there will be an expanded role for genetic sequencing in the field of rheumatology. 

The Increasing Cost of First-Line Biologics for Plaque Psoriasis

Save

A national commercial claims analysis of first-line use of biologics in biologic−naive plaque psoriasis patients found a near doubling of net treatment costs from 2007 to 2021 ($21 236 to $47 125).

Genetic Analysis of Asymptomatic Antinuclear Antibody Positive Patients

Save

A large scale genomic population study found antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in up to 14% of the population; most with ANA are asymptomatic, and ANA production is not associated with significant genetic risk. 

Genomics and Future Drug Targets for Osteoarthritis

Save

A Nature article details the results of an osteoarthritis, genome-wide association study meta-analyses across up to 489,975 cases and 1,472,094 controls, establishing 962 independent associations, 513 of which have not been previously reported.

Distinguishing Septic and Gouty Arthritis

Save

A single center, retrospective review of patients undergoing knee joint fluid aspirations for presumed crystalline arthritis (CA) showed that synovial WBC may provide a useful diagnostic marker for SA with an optimal threshold of 50,000 cells/mm3.

Predictors of Developing RA

Save