A survey of more than 600 people with myositis from the US, Korea, and Sweden identified 5 aspects of living with the disease that are most important to patients.
Muscle biopsy findings identify a unique subgroup of patients with severe Scleroderma
A new study found that people with scleroderma who have muscle weakness due to the accumulation of fibrous tissue in their muscles, are at risk for severe disease outcomes including death from heart disease.
Guidelines for Treating Arthritis Caused by New Cancer Therapies
A collaborative effort between Rheumatology and Oncology offers guidance to doctors treating patients for inflammatory arthritis caused by treatment with “immune checkpoint inhibitors”, a type of cancer therapy.
Hiker’s Feet: A new skin finding in patients with dermatomyositis
A study lead by Lisa Christopher-Stine, M.D., M.P.H. identified “Hiker’s Feet” as a new skin finding in some patients with inflammatory muscle disease (myositis).
The older the better, when it comes to anti-HMGCR associated myositis
Younger patients with a specific form of myositis associated with antibodies to a protein called HMGCR have a worse prognosis than older patients.
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia is a rare but serious complication for patients with rheumatic diseases
Medical record review of patients admitted to the Johns Hopkins Hospital over 20-years, revealed that pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia infection is a rare but persistent risk for patients with rheumatic diseases.
Joint Injections 101
Dr. Myma Albayda with the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center highlights what’s involved in a joint injection.
LEAP: Winter 2017
In this issue of LEAP you can read about our precision approach to an increasingly common illness, gout, to a rare illness linked to Sjögren’s, and to cancer patients who are developing some autoimmune-mediated complications. And we are especially excited to share with you a tremendous breakthrough in understanding how rheumatoid arthritis begins.
Gum disease linked to rheumatoid arthritis
The study provides new evidence that a bacterium known to cause chronic inflammatory gum infections also triggers the inflammatory autoimmune response characteristic of chronic, joint-destroying rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The new findings have important implications for prevention and treatment of RA.
