Keep up-to-date on the latest rheumatoid arthritis (RA) research with our brief research summaries.
Factors Predict Methotrexate Response
Finding the best RA treatment for an individual is typically a process of trial and error; however, a new study shows certain clinical and psychological factors may predict who will respond well tomethotrexate. The study, which examined the responses of 1,050 patients starting methotrexate,found negative rheumatoid factor, higher tender joint countsand, high anxiety scores –all were associated with a poorer response to the drug six months later.
Source:Arthritis Research & Therapy, July 13, 2018
Cholesterol Screenings Lacking
New research suggests people with RA arenot screened adequately for a commoncardiovascularrisk factor, high cholesterol. Researchers who followed 5,587 people with RA and 5,613 controls found that both groups received just over half(56.6 and 59.5 percent respectively) of recommended cholesterol screenings.Given the increased risk forcardiovascular diseasein RA, the authors say it is important to communicatewith family physicians (who orderthe majority ofcholesterol tests) that risk and the need for more vigilant screening.
Source:Rheumatology,June 27, 2018
Corticosteroids May Not Damage Bone in Early RA
For patients with early, active RA,corticosteroidsmay not adversely affect bone mineral density (BMD), as has been commonly feared. Researchers identified 797 people with early RA from seven studies in whichpatients tookeither prednisoneor prednisoloneand which measured BMD at baseline and at least once during follow-up.Analyzing data, they found no difference inBMDchange between patientsreceivingplacebo vs those treated withcorticosteroids, suggesting the drugs’ suppression of inflammation may counterbalancetheir adverse effects on bone remodeling.
Source: Bone, September 2018
Sexual Dysfunction Increased in RA
Increasingly research isrevealinga link between RA and other problems.Sexual dysfunction isnowamong them.Researchers who analyzed data from seven studies comprisingalmost 45,000 people —6,642 of whom had RA—found sexual dysfunction was increased by 73 percent in women with RA. For men the risk was almost doubled (99 percent).The researchers say both doctors and patients should be aware of the risk and the need for assessment and possibly treatment in clinical practice.
Source:Journal of Rheumatology, June 2018 (online)