Course of Grip Force Impairment in Patients With Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Over the First Five Years After Diagnosis
ConclusionGrip strength improved in early RA patients, particularly during the first year. However, it was still significantly impaired 5 years after diagnosis, even among those with limited self‐reported disability and those in clinical remission. This suggests that further efforts to improve hand function are important in early RA. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - March 11, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Maria Rydholm, Christina Book, Ingegerd Wikstr öm, Lennart Jacobsson, Carl Turesson Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients ’ Motivations for Accepting or Resisting Disease‐Modifying Antirheumatic Drug Treatment Regimens
ConclusionFeelings in response to experiences and information played a major role in how patients weighed the benefits and costs of treatment options, suggesting that addressing patients’ feelings may be important when rheumatologists counsel about therapeutic options. Further research is needed to learn how best to address patients’ feelings throughout the treatment decision‐making process. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - March 11, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Yomei Shaw, Ilinca D. Metes, Kaleb Michaud, Julie M. Donohue, Mark S. Roberts, Marc C. Levesque, Judy C. Chang Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Relationship Between Knee Pain and Infrapatellar Fat Pad Morphology: A Within ‐ and Between‐Person Analysis From the Osteoarthritis Initiative
ConclusionIndependent of the ambiguous role of the infrapatellar fat pad in knee osteoarthritis (a potential source of proinflammatory cytokines or a mechanical shock absorber), the size of the infrapatellar fat pad does not appear to be related to knee pain. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - March 11, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Eva Steidle ‐Kloc, Adam G. Culvenor, Jan Dörrenberg, Wolfgang Wirth, Anja Ruhdorfer, Felix Eckstein Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Determinants of Perceived Health Nonimprovement in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients With Favorable Treatment Outcomes
ConclusionThese results demonstrate that clinical improvements do not equate with improved subjective health for all patients. The association of nonimprovement with changes in pain and fatigue suggest that it might be worthwhile to monitor and address pain and fatigue in addition to and independently of disease activity in early RA. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - March 7, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: L. M. M. Steunebrink, M. A. H. Oude Voshaar, E. Taal, H. E. Vonkeman, T. R. Zijlstra, M. A. F. J. Laar Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Restrictive Use of Oral Glucocorticoids in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Prevention of Damage Without Worsening Long ‐Term Disease Control: An Observational Study
ConclusionThe use of reduced oral prednisone doses, which was possible by combining different therapies, reduced glucocorticoid‐related damage and improved CV prognosis without increasing damage caused by SLE. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - March 7, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Ioana Ruiz ‐Arruza, Jesús Lozano, Ivan Cabezas‐Rodriguez, Jose‐Alejandro Medina, Amaia Ugarte, José‐Gabriel Erdozain, Guillermo Ruiz‐Irastorza Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Physical Functioning, Pain, and Health ‐Related Quality of Life in Adults With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Longitudinal 30‐Year Followup Study
ConclusionJIA had a detrimental effect on physical HRQoL as measured by the PCS of the SF‐36. The strongest correlates were physical disability, pain, fatigue, well‐being, and receiving disability/social living allowance. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - March 7, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Anita Tollisen, Anne M. Selvaag, Hanne A. Aulie, Vibke Lilleby, Astrid Aasland, Anners Lerdal, Berit Flat ø Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Occupation and Risk of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From a Population ‐Based Case–Control Study
ConclusionMainly occupations related to potential noxious airborne agents were associated with an increased risk of ACPA+ or ACPA− RA, after adjustments for previously known confounders. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - March 7, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Anna Ilar, Lars Alfredsson, Pernilla Wiebert, Lars Klareskog, Camilla Bengtsson Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Impact of Comorbidities on Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapy in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Population ‐Based Cohort Study
ConclusionThe presence of comorbidities was associated with higher baseline disease activity, shorter TNFi persistence, and reduced clinical response rates in a cohort of Danish patients with PsA. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - March 7, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Christine Ballegaard, Pil H øjgaard, Lene Dreyer, René Cordtz, Tanja Schjødt Jørgensen, Marie Skougaard, Simon Tarp, Lars Erik Kristensen Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

What imaging detected pathologies are associated with shoulder symptoms and their persistence? A systematic literature review
ConclusionThere were conflicting results on the association of imaging features with shoulder symptoms and its persistence. The existing evidence was very low in quality based on the GRADE. Further high quality studies are required to understand the relationship between imaging and shoulder symptoms and determine the appropriate role of imaging in care pathways.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - March 1, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Gui Tran, Paul Cowling, Toby Smith, Julie Bury, Adam Lucas, Andrew Barr, Sarah R Kingsbury, Philip G Conaghan Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Causes of death in rheumatoid arthritis: How do they compare to the general population?
ConclusionMortality rates were increased in RA patients relative to the general population across most causes of death. The potential life years lost (before the age of 75) among RA patients was roughly double that among those without RA, reflecting higher rate ratios for most causes of death and RA patients dying at earlier ages.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - March 1, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Jessica Widdifield, J. Michael Paterson, Anjie Huang, Sasha Bernatsky Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Phenome ‐wide association studies uncover a novel association of increased atrial fibrillation in males with systemic lupus erythematosus
ConclusionUsing PheWAS to compare males vs. females with SLE, we uncovered a novel association of increased AF in SLE males. SLE disease status was independently associated with AF even after adjusting for age, sex, race, and CAD. These results demonstrate the utility of PheWAS as an EHR discovery tool for SLE.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - February 27, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: April Barnado, Robert J. Carroll, Carolyn Casey, Lee Wheless, Joshua C. Denny, Leslie J. Crofford Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Training Physical Therapists in Person ‐Centered Practice for People With Osteoarthritis: A Qualitative Case Study
ConclusionAlthough physical therapists found training overwhelming initially as they realized the limitations of their current knowledge and clinical practice, they felt more confident and able to provide person‐centered care to people with knee osteoarthritis by the end of training. Training in structured person‐centered methodology that provides opportunity for skills practice with patients using a restructured consultation framework can change physical therapists’ beliefs about their roles when managing patients with osteoarthritis and positively impact their clinical practice. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - February 26, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Belinda J. Lawford, Clare Delany, Kim L. Bennell, Caroline Bills, Janette Gale, Rana S. Hinman Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Intramuscular Fat Accumulation and Associations with Body Composition, Strength and Physical Functioning in Rheumatoid Arthritis
ConclusionsLow muscle density observed among patients with RA is observed in association with low muscle mass, excess adiposity, poor strength, and greater disability. Interventions to address poor muscle quality could potentially affect important functional outcomes.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - February 26, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Joshua F. Baker, Sogol Mostoufi ‐Moab, Jin Long, Babette Zemel, Said Ibrahim, Elena Taratuta, Mary B. Leonard Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Prescribing for Children with Rheumatic Disease: Perceived Treatment Approaches between Pediatric and Adult Rheumatologists
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - February 26, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Daniel Albert Tags: Letter to the editor Source Type: research

Ultrasonographic efficacy of biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs therapy in RA from multicenter RA ultrasound prospective cohort in Japan
ConclusionThe present prospective US cohort has for the first time shown the variables that are associated with initial PD response to b/tsDMARDs.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Arthritis Care and Research)
Source: Arthritis Care and Research - February 26, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Ayako Nishino, Shin ‐ya Kawashiri, Tomohiro Koga, Naoki Iwamoto, Kunihiro Ichinose, Mami Tamai, Hideki Nakamura, Tomoki Origuchi, Yukitaka Ueki, Tamami Yoshitama, Nobutaka Eiraku, Naoki Matsuoka, Akitomo Okada, Keita Fujikawa, Hiroaki Hamada, Tomomi Tsu Tags: Original Article Source Type: research