Rheumatology

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome have a higher prevalence and accelerated onset of osteoarthritis in both weight and non-weight bearing joints than the general population, according to an analysis of data from two Danish-based registries.

Localized inflammatory factors may play a role in joint swelling among people with rheumatoid arthritis, say researchers who found that swelling tends to recur in the same joints over time.

Higher educational attainment, as a marker of socioeconomic position, is associated with a lower risk for rheumatoid arthritis, but this protective effect can be moderated by smoking and BMI, suggests an analysis of genetic data.

Preliminary findings from two studies point to low overall rates of breakthrough COVID-19 following vaccination in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

Having a booster dose of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 augments the humoral immune response in the majority of people with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, suggest findings from a small study.

EULAR has issued evidence-based points to consider for the management of difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Improved adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with a reduction in disease activity among people with axial spondyloarthritis, indicate findings from an Italian observational study.

Preliminary results from a US study suggest that mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 may elicit a stronger immune response than adenovirus-based vaccines among people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

Among people treated with anti-CD20 B cell-depleting agents, timing of treatment and numbers of circulating CD4+ and CD19+ cells are significant predictors of immune responses to messenger (m)RNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, shows the RituxiVac study.

An external validation study suggests that the novel Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics frailty index predicts organ damage accrual and mortality risk in patients with longstanding systemic lupus erythematosus.

Preliminary study results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance suggest that pregnant women with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases have generally favorable outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Both systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis are associated with an increased risk for symptomatic cardiovascular events but data are lacking for asymptomatic events, results of a systematic review and meta-analysis show.

People with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, particularly those on rituximab or abatacept, may have a reduced antibody response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines relative to the general population, show findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Most people with inflammatory diseases treated with immunomodulatory therapies mount an antibody response to mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, but the response may be blunted in those taking glucocorticoids or B cell-depleting therapies, shows the COVaRiPAD study.

Treatment with the IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra may reduce mortality risk versus standard care in people with moderate-to-severe COVID-19, particularly those with hyperinflammation, suggests a systematic review and patient-level meta-analysis.

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Findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that spondyloarthritis is associated with an elevated risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and preeclampsia.

Early initiation of allopurinol during an acute gout flare does not impact time to resolution or rates of recurrent flare, suggest findings from a randomized controlled trial.

People who develop early-onset primary Sjögren’s syndrome have “strikingly more severe disease activity” and greater activation of the cellular immune system compared with those diagnosed at a later age, researchers report.

Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis experienced increased rates of flare during the COVID-19 lockdown period, suggest findings from an Italian cohort study.