American College of Rheumatology in the news https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from American College of Rheumatology Study shows stem cell transplant significantly improves outcomes in refractory juvenile systemic sclerosis New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, shows that patients with refractory juvenile systemic sclerosis improved significantly on nearly all measures for two years following autologous stem cell transplant. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-stem-cell-transplant-significantly-outcomes.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Fri, 10 Nov 2023 13:28:03 EST news618845281 Study finds tapering TNF inhibitors increases flares, lowers Boolean remission rates for RA patients in remission New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, has found that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in sustained remission who stopped TNF inhibitors (TNFi) had significantly more flares and lower Boolean 2.0 remission rates compared with those who continued treatment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-tapering-tnf-inhibitors-flares-lowers.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Fri, 10 Nov 2023 13:25:04 EST news618845101 Study finds hydroxychloroquine lowers risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, shows that treating rheumatoid arthritis with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) reduced the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, especially in women and men who are 50 years old and younger. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-hydroxychloroquine-lowers-nonalcoholic-fatty-liver.html Medications Tue, 07 Nov 2023 17:16:03 EST news618599761 Study finds acute calcium pyrophosphate deposition arthritis doubles fracture risk Researchers will present the first-ever study of fractures and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting. They report a doubled risk of fractures in patients with acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis compared to those without the disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-acute-calcium-pyrophosphate-deposition-arthritis.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:59:21 EST news618598758 Researchers say AI model accurately identifies, predicts joint damage in hand X-rays New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, shows that a deep learning system could accurately identify and predict joint space narrowing and erosions in hand radiographs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-ai-accurately-joint-x-rays.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:59:04 EST news618598742 Researchers identify incidence and risk factors for new-onset interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, reports the incidence and risk factors for new-onset interstitial lung disease (ILD) in previously ILD-negative systemic sclerosis patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-incidence-factors-new-onset-interstitial-lung.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:56:38 EST news618598595 Study finds low anti-Ro titers are not associated with fetal heart block New research from an ongoing study that will be presented at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, shows that pregnant women with very low titers of anti-Ro antibodies are at minimal to no risk of fetal atrioventricular (AV) block, a serious disorder affecting the heart's electrical system. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-anti-ro-titers-fetal-heart-block.html Obstetrics & gynaecology Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:56:32 EST news618598587 Diverse task force develops new quality measures to improve lupus care by 2030 Leaders of a project to develop and implement equitable new quality measures for lupus care by the end of the decade will present their work at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-diverse-task-quality-lupus.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:56:21 EST news618598578 Positive antiphospholipid antibodies raises cardiovascular disease risk in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, describes a link between positive antiphospholipid antibodies and an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-positive-antiphospholipid-antibodies-cardiovascular-disease.html Cardiology Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:41:52 EST news618597703 Study finds JAK inhibitors and tocilizumab effective in VEXAS syndrome New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, found that JAK inhibitors (JAKi) and tocilizumab elicited better response rates in VEXAS syndrome compared to other targeted therapies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-jak-inhibitors-tocilizumab-effective-vexas.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:40:05 EST news618597599 Study shows saliva gland abnormalities in Sjögren's worsens over time New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, shows that ultrasound-detected salivary gland abnormalities in primary Sjögren's become more severe over time and that the slow-to-progress disease likely starts long before it is first detected. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-saliva-gland-abnormalities-sjgren-worsens.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:38:35 EST news618597510 Study finds TNF blockers are not associated with poor pregnancy outcomes According to new research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, continuing tumor necrosis factor inhibitors during pregnancy is not associated with worse fetal or obstetric outcomes and may reduce the risk of severe maternal infections during pregnancy. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-tnf-blockers-poor-pregnancy-outcomes.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:37:41 EST news618597456 CAR-T cell therapy leads to long-term remission in lupus while maintaining vaccine response New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, demonstrates that CAR-T cell therapy could lead to sustained suppression of autoantibodies in treatment-resistant lupus while maintaining a robust response to vaccines. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-car-t-cell-therapy-long-term-remission.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:37:12 EST news618597428 Rheumatology training program for Native American primary care physicians expands reach New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, describes the expansion of a novel program to train primary care physicians (PCPs) in the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Native American communities that have little or no access to rheumatology care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-rheumatology-native-american-primary-physicians.html Medical research Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:37:05 EST news618597422 New guideline introduces recommendations for optimal timing of elective hip or knee arthroplasty The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) have released a summary of its new guideline titled "the Optimal Timing of Elective Hip or Knee Arthroplasty for Patients with Symptomatic Moderate to Severe Osteoarthritis or Osteonecrosis Who Have Failed Nonoperative Therapy." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-03-guideline-optimal-elective-hip-knee.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:24:03 EDT news598026241 Study links early TNF inhibitor treatment to higher heart disease risk in ankylosing spondylitis patients, with caveats New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, found that early initiation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors was associated with higher risk of heart disease in patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis. Researchers caution that confounding by indication may have influenced the results. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-links-early-tnf-inhibitor-treatment.html Cardiology Tue, 08 Nov 2022 16:57:01 EST news587149018 Preterm birth more common in unvaccinated pregnant patients with rheumatic disease and COVID-19 New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, found a greater number of preterm births in unvaccinated versus fully vaccinated pregnant patients with rheumatic disease and COVID-19. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-preterm-birth-common-unvaccinated-pregnant.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:50:01 EST news587142104 No increased cancer risk found in rheumatology patients with history of malignancy taking DMARDS and TNF inhibitors New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, found no significant difference in cancer risk in patients with rheumatic disease and a history of malignancy taking biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs compared to those treated with TNF inhibitors. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-cancer-rheumatology-patients-history-malignancy.html Oncology & Cancer Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:40:01 EST news587142090 Primary care provider training program improves rheumatoid arthritis care in Navajo Nation Research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, described a novel program that offers rheumatoid arthritis (RA) training to primary care providers in the Navajo Nation, the largest American Indian reservation in the United States. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-primary-rheumatoid-arthritis-navajo-nation.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:30:01 EST news587142085 Study finds most fetal congenital heart block screening fails to meet guidelines New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, found that most echocardiography screening for fetal congenital heart block in anti-Ro- and anti-La-positive pregnancies did not follow recommended guidelines in one academic medical center. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-fetal-congenital-heart-block-screening.html Cardiology Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:20:02 EST news587142098 Study finds half of patients with low-grade proteinuria develop treatable lupus nephritis within two years New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, found that 50% of people with low-grade proteinuria, which is protein in your urine, progress to clinical proteinuria within two years and show treatable lupus nephritis on biopsies. These "fast progressors" may benefit from early biopsies to detect lupus nephritis sooner, although further studies—the next step—are needed to confirm this. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-patients-low-grade-proteinuria-treatable-lupus.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:20:01 EST news587142081 Study finds more polyarticular JIA patients achieve clinical remission with combined conventional and biologic DMARDs New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, demonstrated that polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients were more likely to achieve clinical remission with a combination of conventional and biologic DMARDs compared with other consensus treatment plans by the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-polyarticular-jia-patients-clinical-remission.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:13:03 EST news587142782 New analysis finds belimumab improves cutaneous lupus erythematosus in patients with or without SLE New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, found that the B-cell inhibitor belimumab significantly improved cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) whether or not patients also had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-analysis-belimumab-cutaneous-lupus-erythematosus.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:10:01 EST news587142076 Higher-dose pneumococcal vaccines improve immune response in ANCA-associated vasculitis patients receiving rituximab New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, showed that a higher dose of pneumococcal vaccine safely and effectively improved antibody response in patients receiving rituximab for ANCA-associated vasculitis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-higher-dose-pneumococcal-vaccines-immune-response.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:05:46 EST news587142343 Study finds gastrointestinal symptoms in systemic scleroderma unrelated to disease-specific medications New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, found no clear association between immunosuppressive or anti-fibrotic medications and worsening gastrointestinal symptoms in early systemic scleroderma. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-gastrointestinal-symptoms-scleroderma-unrelated-disease-specific.html Medications Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:01:53 EST news587142109 Study finds lower risk of severe infection and hospitalization with belimumab compared to oral immunosuppressants New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, found that the biologic B-cell inhibitor belimumab was associated with a lower risk of severe infections and hospitalizations compared to nonbiologic immunosuppressants. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-severe-infection-hospitalization-belimumab-oral.html Medications Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:01:37 EST news587142094 Researchers develop a risk score to help detect interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis patients New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, described a first-of-its-kind validated tool to screen for systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-score-interstitial-lung-disease-sclerosis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:01:03 EST news587142061 Study finds spine disease is more common in chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis than previously thought New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, shows that spine disease, once considered a rarity in chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis, affects as many as 10–35% of patients and is asymptomatic in one-third. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-spine-disease-common-chronic-recurrent.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:00:58 EST news587142055 Study finds antibody-associated vasculitis characteristics and treatments vary across lifespan New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, demonstrated an association between age of diagnosis and clinical characteristics and treatments in Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-antibody-associated-vasculitis-characteristics-treatments-vary.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:00:04 EST news587142001 Artificial intelligence shows potential for accurate assessment of nailfold changes in systemic sclerosis patients New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, showed that the Vision Transformer, an open-source computer vision algorithm, could detect changes in nailfold capillaroscopy images from systemic sclerosis patients, as reliably as human rheumatologists. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-artificial-intelligence-potential-accurate-nailfold.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 08 Nov 2022 14:47:03 EST news587141221