Rheumatology Research Highlights
Rheumatology Research Highlights provides members of the media with important medical evidence that focuses on rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile arthritis, and fibromyalgia.
In addition to Highlights, Arthritis Care & Research and Arthritis & Rheumatology provide news releases about important research under embargo. Members of the media may sign up to receive embargoed news from Wiley. You are able to tailor your subscription preferences by subject area and also request a login to the Wiley Press Room, which provides embargoed news and article PDFs.
All of the papers highlighted are published on Wiley Online Library.
Avoid Knee Pain with Weight Loss and Exercise From: Arthritis Care & Research
An intensive program of diet and exercise seems to protect overweight adults with diabetes from developing knee pain in the short term according to a new study published in Arthritis Care & Research. Of the 2889 obese adults with type 2 diabetes, those in the lifestyle intervention group were 15% less likely to develop knee pain after one year compared to patients who received diabetes support and education. After four years, the risk of knee pain dropped to five percent for those in the diet and exercise group.
Osteoarthritis More Common Following ACL Surgery, Mostly in Men From: Arthritis & Rheumatology
New research published in Arthritis & Rheumatology reports that osteoarthritis (OA) is more common in patients following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, commonly known as ACL surgery, than in those with uninjured knees. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 111 participants, 20 years of age and older, were taken one year post-ACL reconstruction and MRI osteoarthritis knee score (MOAKS) was used to evaluate OA. MRI-OA was visible in the medial (6% of participants), and lateral (11%) tibiofemoral, and patellofemoral (17%) compartments, with the patellofemoral compartment being at particular OA risk in men.
New Treatment Option for Older Adults with Systemic Vasculitis From: Arthritis & Rheumatology
A randomized controlled trial in patients 65 years of age and older shows that a "new and lighter treatment" plan was safer and more effective than conventional therapy in inducing remission in the systemic necrotizing vasculitides—a group of diseases that cause inflammation in various blood vessels. The new therapy involves corticosteroids for 9 months and a maximum of six 500-mg fixed-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide pulses, every 2-3 weeks, then maintenance azathioprine or methotrexate. Conventional treatment consists of 26 months of steroids, combined with 500 mg/m2 IV-CYC pulses, every 2-3 weeks until remission. Trial results published in Arthritis & Rheumatology found that the new therapy reduces severe adverse events, but three-year relapse rates remained high for both treatment groups.
Poor Care for Blacks, Hispanics with End-stage Renal Disease from Lupus Nephritis From: Arthritis & Rheumatology
A new study found that Black and Hispanic patients are less likely than Whites to receive proper care prior to diagnosis with end-stage renal disease due to lupus nephritis, especially in terms of vascular access placement. Further findings published in Arthritis & Rheumatology indicate that Blacks and Hispanics are also less likely to be placed on the kidney transplant waitlist compared to White patients. Patients with government-paid (Medicaid) health insurance or the uninsured are less likely to be waitlisted for kidney transplant than those with private health insurance.
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These studies are published in Arthritis Care & Research or Arthritis & Rheumatology. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact sciencenewsroom@wiley.com
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