ObjectivesTo evaluate the influence of contrast‐enhanced dual‐energy CT (CE‐DECT) in detecting and differentiating rheumatic joint diseases of the hand.MethodsIn this prospective study, patients with suspected arthritis of the hand were investigated consecutively alongside the standard clinical procedure. CE‐DECT with sequential rotations was performed in all patients pre and three‐minutes post weight‐adapted

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Efferocytosis, the process through which phagocytes clear apoptotic cells (ACs), has rapidly emerged as an expanding field of research. This multi‐step process involves recognizing, binding, internalizing, and degrading ACs. Efferocytosis clears ACs, preventing their secondary necrosis, generating anti‐inflammatory mediators, and promoting the resolution of inflammation. Appropriate efferocytosis is

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ObjectiveAbnormalities in pain regulatory mechanisms are common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated whether pain sensitization changes after treatment with a disease modifying anti‐rheumatic drug (DMARD) and explored associations between changes in pain sensitization and disease activity.MethodsWe included 182 participants with active RA initiating/switching DMARD therapy who

ObjectiveWe used data from the placebo arm of the SENSCIS trial to determine the prognostic/predictive significance of peripheral blood cell (PBC) transcript modules for the course of forced vital capacity (FVC) in patients with systemic sclerosis‐associated interstitial lung disease (SSc‐ILD) with and without mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) treatment.MethodsPatients had SSc‐ILD with first non‐Raynaud

ObjectiveTo evaluate the applicability of the 2016 EULAR/ACR/PRINTO macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) classification criteria in patients with Still's disease (sJIA‐SD) treated with IL‐1‐targeted therapy and to assess the incidence of MAS in this context.MethodsWe analyzed retrospective and prospective data from Dutch sJIA‐SD patients (diagnosis 2008‐2017, n=54) and data from a nationwide prospective

ObjectivesDotinurad is a selective urate reabsorption inhibitor that reduces serum urate levels. We compared the efficacy and safety of dotinurad with febuxostat in Chinese patients with gout.MethodsThis phase 3, multicentre, randomised, double‐blind, parallel‐group study randomly allocated (1:1) eligible patients with gout to receive oral dotinurad or febuxostat. The primary endpoint was the responder

ObjectiveAmong patients with gout, NSAIDs are commonly used despite scarce safety data in this specific population. Therefore, we quantified the comparative cardiovascular safety of NSAIDs versus colchicine among patients with gout starting allopurinol.MethodsWe conducted a sequential, propensity score‐matched, new‐user comparative effectiveness study using the target trial emulation framework to compare

ObjectivesTumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) have significantly improved rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management, yet variability in patient response remains a substantial challenge, with approximately 40% of patients discontinuing TNFi due to non‐response or adverse effects. This study aimed to identify biomarkers predictive of adalimumab treatment response using whole blood transcriptomics, leveraging

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ObjectiveAutoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a condition that can lead to heart failure. However, whether T cells also contribute to the occurrence of PAH in SLE, has not been clarified. The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of Activin A and activated receptor signaling in SLE‐PAH.MethodsCyTOF analysis

Mucosal‐associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are innate‐like T cells defined by their semi‐invariant T cell receptor (TCR) and restriction by the MHC class I‐related molecule (MR1). These cells are primarily activated by microbial‐derived metabolites presented by MR1 or by cytokines. Upon activation, MAIT cells rapidly produce pro‐inflammatory cytokines, including IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, and IL‐17, and secrete

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Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune thrombo‐inflammatory disorder characterized by vascular thrombosis, pregnancy morbidity, and other manifestations driven by antiphospholipid autoantibodies. In this review, we present a clinical case that illustrates some diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in managing severe, relapsing APS manifestations, including microvascular injury and diffuse

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ObjectivesSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which rare and common gene variants contribute to pathogenesis. Severe sporadic disease in children is often explained by ‘de novo’ variants that can be uncovered by trio sequencing.MethodsWhole exome sequencing was performed in 50 Chinese trios with childhood‐onset SLE (cSLE). Rare coding variants in SLE‐associated genes and

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of senescent epidermal basal cells in cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) pathogenesis using skin samples from patients with CLE and a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsCellular senescence profiling utilized datasets from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus database and Accelerating Medicines Partnership® (AMP®) Phase 1‐Metro. Gene array data from

ObjectiveRaynaud's phenomenon (RP) is often the initial clinical manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc), but some patients develop other manifestations first. To help elucidate the diversity of SSc presentation in its early stages, we describe the initial clinical manifestations and antinuclear antibody (ANA) profiles of patients in two early SSc cohorts.MethodsAll patient data in the GENISOS and

ObjectiveThis study quantifies the global burden of osteoarthritis (OA) attributable to high body mass index (BMI) from 1990 to 2021 using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data.MethodsUtilizing GBD 2021 data, this research examines the OA burden related to high BMI across 204 countries and regions. Statistical analyses were performed to profile disease burdens, and joinpoint regression was used

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ObjectivesTo reveal causal level osteoarthritis (OA) disease biology by targeting regulatory interactions at GDF5.MethodsBy investigating different GDF5 regulatory regions (R2, R3‐5, R7‐R9, R18‐20, GROW1) we explored their functional impacts on gene expression and joint morphology in vivo and in vitro. We additionally modeled OA variants in said enhancers in vitro and in vivo mouse models for expression

ObjectivesGenome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified >100 loci for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These loci may also impact age of diagnosis. We aimed to identify genetic variants for age of SLE diagnosis, and to complete a GWAS of childhood‐onset SLE (cSLE) diagnosed <18 years of age.MethodsPatients met ACR and/or SLICC SLE classification criteria, had documented age at diagnosis

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ObjectiveThe presence of anti‐nuclear antibodies (ANAs) is characteristic for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Antibody dynamics over time are thought to reflect the cellular source of ANAs and their therapeutic targetability. Anti‐dsDNA is the most prevalent and well‐studied of all ANAs, and fluctuations in anti‐dsDNA serum levels are associated with disease activity. Antibody dynamics of other

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ObjectivesSystemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) is a chronic childhood disease classically attributed to innate immune cell dysregulation. This study aimed to elucidate the role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), including natural killer (NK) cells and helper‐ILCs (hILCs), in sJIA during clinically inactive disease (CID) through phenotypic and functional analysis.MethodsPeripheral ILCs from children

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To assess the impact of differences in the timing of initial biologic DMARD (bDMARD) therapy using the CARRA STOP-JIA polyarticular JIA (pJIA) consensus treatment plans (CTPs) study on outcomes through 3 years.

ObjectiveTo develop and validate classification criteria for pediatric chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) jointly supported by EULAR and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).MethodsThis international initiative had 4 phases: (1) candidate items were proposed in a survey of pediatric rheumatologists, (2) criteria definition and reduction by Delphi and nominal group technique exercises, (3)

ObjectiveThe field of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is moving towards identification of and intervention in people at risk of RA, but a validated risk stratification method is lacking. This work was undertaken to develop a risk stratification method for persons presenting with arthralgia considered to be at risk of RA.MethodsA joint EULAR/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) expert committee was established

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ObjectiveThe SEMAPHORE trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab (TCZ) in glucocorticoid (GC)‐dependent polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). TCZ reduced GC use and disease activity at 24 weeks.This study aimed to assess relapse rates after stopping TCZ in patients achieving remission at week 24.MethodsIn the randomized study, 101 patients received intravenous TCZ (8 mg/kg) or placebo for 24 weeks

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ObjectiveThe objective is to provide evidence‐based and expert guidance for the screening, treatment, and management of lupus nephritis.MethodsThe Core Team developed clinical questions for screening, treatment, and management of lupus nephritis using the PICO format (population, intervention, comparator, and outcome). Systematic literature reviews were completed for each PICO question, and the Grading

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ObjectiveThis study characterized the impact of voclosporin on kidney histology in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) who had protocolized repeat kidney biopsies in the AURORA clinical trials.MethodsPatients were randomized to voclosporin or placebo treatment for up to three years; all patients received mycophenolate mofetil and low‐dose glucocorticoids. Patients had baseline kidney biopsies within

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