Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and deformity of the joints. Other problems throughout the body (systemic problems) may also develop, including inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis), the development of bumps (called rheumatoid nodules) in various parts of the body, lung disease, blood disorders, and weakening of the bones (osteoporosis).
Study examines relationship between bone density and erosion in arthritis. – A new study has examined the relationship between two rheumatoid arthritis related processes i.e. focal erosions and osteoporosis, in the hopes of providing insight into the underlying pathophysiology of RA-related bone disease.
Trial shows promise for arthritis drug — Rheumatoid arthritis drug masitinib found effective. – A clinical trial of masitinib, a drug in development for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, has shown it to be well tolerated and effective, revealed by researchers in BioMed Central’s journal Arthritis Research and Therapy.
Exercise improves functional and psychological ability and reduces steroid need in rheumatoid arthritis – Undertaking a supervised exercise programme can have beneficial effects on functional status and physical function, reduce the need for daily corticosteroid and anti-inflammatory intake and improve levels of depression and anxiety in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Genes and smoking play role in rheumatoid arthritis — News from Arthritis & Rheumatism. – Recent genetic studies have revealed several new sites of genes that are risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), revealed by researchers in the June issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
UCB’s CIMZIA? (certolizumab pegol) approved by the U.S. FDA for adult patients suffering from moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis – UCB announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cimzia, the only PEGylated anti-TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor), for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Rheumatoid arthritis disease activity measures appear to be worse in women than in men. However, most of the gender differences in RA disease activity may originate from the measures of disease activity rather than from RA disease activity itself. – Women appear to suffer more from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than men. This is revealed in research published in BioMed Central’s open access journal Arthritis Research and Therapy.
Mayo researchers reported at a conference that rheumatoid arthritis rising among women. – After four decades on the decline, rheumatoid arthritis is on the upswing among women in the United States. That’s the finding presented by Mayo Clinic investigators at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals in San Francisco.
Heavy birthweight female babies are twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis in adulthood as their average birthweight peers, suggests research published ahead of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
– People who have a birth weight over 10 pounds are twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis when they are adults compared to individuals born with an average birth weight, according to a study published by researchers from Hospital for Special Surgery online in advance of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
