Rheumatic Diseases
An Introduction to Rheumatic Diseases
Rheumatic autoimmune diseases are debilitating, painful conditions that cause substantial morbidity and mortality. They constitute a wide spectrum of disorders, which can be due to an abnormal immune response in a specific area, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, or can be systemic, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). They are challenging to diagnose since they often present with nonspecific symptoms. The management of these conditions has been transformed in recent years with the development of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and targeted synthetic disease modifying drugs. However, many patients fail to achieve remission or develop side effects.
Browse video highlights and short articles from the conference hub, providing insights into the latest updates from major conferences and peer-reviewed articles from the journal portfolio. This is complemented by a range of educational activities from our expert faculty, with patient outcomes at the forefront.
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Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common and potentially fatal complication of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs), such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). ILD may be the first sign of disease or develop later, often with variable clinical courses. Early detection is critical, as delayed diagnosis contributes to poor outcomes. In response, the 2023 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines emphasize routine screening and risk-based strategies to improve identification and management of SARD-associated ILD (SARD-ILD).
Physician burnout is at a critical point. In this episode, Nicky speaks with Dr Alfred Atanda about why so many physicians are burning out and what can be done to change the trend. From personal experience to system-wide solutions, Dr Atanda shares valuable insights on improving physician well-being and building a more effective healthcare culture.
What if your medical degree could launch more than a clinical career? In this candid and compelling read, Dr Jon Edelson shares his lessons for early-career doctors ready to think beyond the bedside and explore the business of medicine.
As part of our Future Leaders series, we spotlight Dr Sonali Bracken, a physician-scientist at Duke University advancing rheumatologic care through cutting-edge research on B cells in autoimmunity. Recently awarded the 2024 ACR Distinguished Fellow Award, Dr Bracken shares insights into her path, research focus, and the emerging therapies poised to transform patient outcomes.
touchREVIEWS in RMD is proud to welcome Dr Vinod Ravindran to our editorial board. With a distinguished background in clinical rheumatology, medical education, and research, Dr Ravindran is widely recognized for his contributions to advancing care and understanding in the field.
In this episode, we explore the future of continuing medical education (CME) with the team behind touchIME. Hannah Fisher and Matthew Goodwin share insights into global and US trends, the importance of patient inclusivity and how educational outcomes are evolving to better measure the direct impact of learning on clinical practice and patient care.
Dr. Vinod Ravindran (Centre for Rheumatology, Calicut, Kerala, India) shares his highlights from RheumaPreg 2025, held in Vienna. The conference covered the full spectrum of pregnancy management in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Here, he reflects on key insights from expert-led sessions on fertility, immunosuppression, lupus care, and postpartum outcomes.
In this edition of our Future Leaders series, we speak with Dr. Santhanam Sham, a rising star in rheumatology. As a Senior Consultant at Kauvery Hospitals, Chennai, Dr. Sham is dedicated to advancing research on autoimmune diseases like SLE and vasculitis, while also fostering patient-centric care and embracing cutting-edge medical technologies.
From advances in targeted therapies to the integration of AI and steps towards precision medicine, 2024 brought many exciting developments in the field. With 2025 now unfolding, many of these are likely to continue gaining momentum and potentially redefine patient care. In ...
To gain expert insight into the most impactful developments of the past year and the trends set to shape the next, we reached out to our esteemed expert faculty. From advances in targeted therapies to the integration of AI and steps towards precision medicine, here’s what our experts had to say.
The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in treating cancer has greatly improved survival outcomes, particularly in patients with advanced disease for whom successful treatment options have previously been limited. For example, in patients with metastatic melanoma, the median survival ...
Hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSDs) refer to a group of conditions characterized by an increased range of motion in joints beyond the normal limits, often due to connective tissue laxity. More stringent criteria are applied in the diagnosis of hypermobile Ehlers–...
IgG4-RD is a rare, chronic, relapsing condition characterized by fibroinflammatory lesions rich in CD19+ B cells, which can damage multiple organ systems and lead to organ failure.1 With no approved therapies, glucocorticoids are the primary treatment, but their long-term use is associated with adverse effects and inadequate disease control.1
A new study published in RMD Open has revealed that individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are significantly more likely to experience cognitive impairment. The study, which involved 70 RA patients and 70 matched healthy controls, showed that 60% of RA patients scored below the threshold for cognitive impairment on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), compared to 40% of the control group. This cognitive decline was most pronounced in visuospatial-executive function, memory and abstraction.
As we have come to expect, EULAR 2024 was a busy and productive meeting, packed with news and lively discussions among rheumatologists. The conference, which took place in Vienna, Austria, highlighted a wealth of innovative research and significant advancements in rheumatology. ...
The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) proudly announces the launch of its 2024-2029 European Manifesto, addressing the urgent need for a coordinated response to rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) across Europe.
International experts from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) have recently partnered to produce the much-anticipated classification criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), which were published in Arthritis & Rheumatology in August 2023.1 ...
Chronic back pain (CBP), defined as back pain lasting for 3 months or more, is the most common pain condition globally.1 Greater healthcare utilization, productivity limitations and poor quality of life have immediate and long-term impacts on patients and the healthcare ...
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