Keep up-to-date on the latestrheumatoid arthritis (RA)research with our brief research summaries.
Obesity May Affect RA Tests
Research has shown thatobesity can increase the risk of RAor worsen symptoms. A new study of more than 2,000 people with RA suggests it could also affect the results of tests used to measure RA inflammation.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found a link between body mass index (BMI, a measure of body fat) and elevated results of two common tests – SED rate and C-reactive protein (CRP) – used in diagnosing RA and gauging its activity. Researchers say this association is related to fat mass and not RA disease activity. Doctors should consider a patient’s BMI when interpreting lab results.
Source: Arthritis Care & Research, published online April, 2017
DMARDs Reduce Dementia Risk
Taking adisease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)一项研究表明，风湿性关节炎不仅可以控制你的风湿性关节炎，还可以降低你患痴呆症的风险。英国研究人员分析了11772名RA患者的结果，这些患者都是大型初级保健数据库的一部分。
研究人员发现，那些使用dmard的患者——超过70%的患者——与不使用dmard的患者相比，患痴呆症的风险显著降低。虽然他们不能解释这种联系，但他们相信dmard控制炎症的能力可能发挥了作用。
Source: Rheumatology 2017, Annual Meeting of the British Society of Rheumatology
Early Treatment Reduces Disability
A new study confirms the importance ofearly, aggressive treatment for RA. Using a British arthritis database, which recruited patients between 1990 and 1994 and followed them over 20 years, researchers classified 602 patients into three groups: those receiving treatment within 6 months of symptom onset, those receiving later treatment and those whose symptoms were not deemed serious enough to require treatment.
They found the patients who received early treatment had disability rates comparable to those who had not required treatment, while disability was greatest in those who had received later treatment.
Source: Arthritis & Rheumatology, July 2017
Related Resources:
- Understanding Your Arthritis Treatment Plan
- DMARDs Drug Guide
- Arthritis Today Drug Guide
- Subscribe to Arthritis Today Magazine
Thank you. I suffer from juvenile dermatomyositis and RA, and Lupus. I’m 30 years old, diagnosed at 14. I live in NYC. I love your publication. Thank you so much.
I went to the ER 4 times last year with shortness of breath, hurt to take a deep breath, jaw pain. I have been to a cardiologist, neurologist, and gastroentorologist. I had a nuclear stress test that revealed no blockages and was told it was esophogeal. Had an EGD w/biopsy that was negative. Mine starts with jaw pain, then goes to my throat, then to my chest, shortness of breath. Once it gets there I have to go the ER to resolve it. Does anyone have similar symptoms or been treated for the above. I am ready to give up. Don’t know where to go or what to do next. Very frustrated with no answers. Just wondering if anyone else has had similar issues and got resolution.
I was diagnose with RA, tested for lupus. My sister has lupus. We were told that cant have both, it’s one or the other.
So my dx was RA with lupus trates ??????