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Official journals of the American College of Rheumatology: Arthritis & Rheumatology Arthritis Care & Research ACR Open Rheumatology SoMe Editor: Karen Costenbader, MD, MPH
Autoantigen peptide-8-arm PEG-Dyes (APP-Dyes) specifically recognize antigen-specific B cells and improve the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Graphical abstract created using BioRender
Autoantigen peptide-8-arm PEG-Dyes (APP-Dyes), constructed by conjugating autoantigens with multifunctional polymer material 8-arm PEG-MAL, showed efficacy for detecting antigen-specific B cells and potential clinical application for diagnosing RA
Arthritis & Rheumatology
doi.org/10.1002/art....
Arthritis & Rheumatology ACR Convergence 2025 Abstract Supplement cover
The ACR Convergence 2025 Abstract Supplement is now online
https://acrjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/art.43421
You can also search the Convergence abstracts at www.acrabstracts.org
Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Systemic Sclerosis: Current Evidence and Future Directions. Graphical abstract
AHSCT has emerged as an effective treatment strategy for patients with rapidly progressive diffuse cutaneous SSc & interstitial lung disease. Review in ACR Open Rheumatology summarizes RCT evidence, immune reconstitution, long-term outcomes, & future directions
doi.org/10.1002/acr2...
#Medsky
MDSC-derived IFN-Ξ² promotes T follicular helper cell response and exacerbates lupus development. Graphical abstract created using BioRender
Expanded myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in lupus models produced IFN-Ξ², stimulating Tfh differentiation. Blocking MDSC-secreted IFN-Ξ² could be a new therapeutic option
Arthritis & Rheumatology
doi.org/10.1002/art....
Diagnostic Utility of Testing for Novel Murine Autoantibodies for SjΓΆgren's Disease in the Rheumatology Outpatient Setting. Graphical abstract created using BioRender
Testing serum for 3 novel autoantibodies showed poor ability to distinguish patients with SjΓΆgren disease from controls or those with chronic sialadenitis or other autoimmune rheumatic diseases, suggesting poor clinical utility as a test for SjD
Arthritis Care & Research
doi.org/10.1002/acr....
CAR T-cell therapy is increasingly under investigation for autoimmune rheumatic diseases, but its translation into rheumatology is complex. Review in ACROR discusses the framework for rheumatologists to initiate and manage CAR T-cell clinical trials for SLE
doi.org/10.1002/acr2...
#Medsky
In multivariate analyses, older age, lower BMI, low mean 25(OH)D, and prednisone dose >5 mg/d were all predictors of osteoporosis developing among 1,003 patients with SLE
Arthritis Care & Research
doi.org/10.1002/acr....
Description of the content in the four discrete sections of the MyJoint Tai Chi website
Interviews explored the experiences of people with knee osteoarthritis participating in an online unsupervised Tai Chi program
ACR Open Rheumatology
doi.org/10.1002/acr2...
The impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on radiographic spinal progression in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: 10-year results from an inception cohort. A graphical abstract.
What is the impact of NSAID intake on radiographic spinal progression in axSpA? Higher NSAID intake, particularly COX-2 inhibitors, appeared to slow radiographic progression, suggesting a potential effect on slowing structural damage
Arthritis & Rheumatology
doi.org/10.1002/art....
#Medsky
Children are not only disproportionally affected by rare diseases but also represent a perfect study population for many, including systemic inflammatory diseases. Review in ACROR looks at rare disease research in pediatric rheumatology
doi.org/10.1002/acr2...
#Medsky #Pedsky
β’ PAUSS had good to excellent sensitivity in detecting active synovitis, and excellent accuracy for detection of wrist and finger tenosynovitis
β’ PAUSS B-mode scores were highly correlated with contrast-enhanced MRI scores for elbow, wrist, and finger disease severity
Evaluation of the Pediatric Arthritis Ultrasound Scoring System (PAUSS) for upper extremity joints in children with JIA
Arthritis Care & Research
doi.org/10.1002/acr....
#Medsky
Dosing Biologic Drugs for Patients with Obesity: One Size Does NOT Fit All. Graphical abstract created using BioRender
Current drug labeling & clinical guidelines for most biologic drugs in rheumatology do not account for unique patient factors that impact dosing requirements, including obesity. Review in A&R looks at the relationship between obesity & treatment response
doi.org/10.1002/art....
#Medsky
Systematic review summarized evidence on renal replacement therapies in people with lupus nephritis and end-stage kidney disease, which showed improved outcomes with kidney transplant vs dialysis. Findings helped inform the updated ACR LN guidelines
doi.org/10.1002/acr2...
#Medsky
Use of the EuroLupus regimen for treating lupus nephritis has increased over time relative to modified NIH regimen among North American pediatric rheumatology centers. Study in ACROR looks at demographic and clinical char. patterns in CYC dosing for pediatric LN
doi.org/10.1002/acr2...
#Medsky
β’no stat. or clinically sign. difference in FVC% improvement from baseline
β’mean time to β₯3% improvement in FVC% was numerically shorter with MMF+PFD
β’MMF+PFD assoc. with better improvement in PROMIS-29 phys. function
β’AEs and serious AEs more common with MMF+PFD
β’low recruitment limited stat. power
Primary outcome assessments for the changes from baseline to 18 months in the FVC-%. (A) A line graph displays the least-squares mean (LSM) changes from baseline, at three-month intervals, for the FVC-% by treatment group. Estimates are based on a linear mixed-effect model evaluating the m-ITT population for the primary endpoint as detailed in Table 2 (see footnote). The number of subjects who had their FVC-% outcomes available, at each time point, are displayed beneath the x-axis. The LSM change from baseline at 18 months for the MMF+PLA arm was 2.24 (SEM 1.35) versus 2.09 (SEM 1.28) for MMF+PFD, resulting in a treatment difference of β0.14 (95% CI β3.57 to 3.28; P = 0.93). (B) Treatment differences in the frequency distribution of individual participant changes in FVC-% from baseline to 18 months are compared in a bidirectional histogram for the completers population
Randomized phase 2 trial of pirfenidone (PFD) or placebo along with MMF in SSc-ILD
ACR Open Rheumatology
doi.org/10.1002/acr2...
key findings β
Integrated diagnostic findings and treatment response. (A) Abdominal computed tomography shows mural thickening of terminal ileum. (B) Ileocolonoscopy shows vesicular/pustular lesions with exudate at the ileocecal valve/terminal ileum. (C) H&E staining shows noncaseating granuloma/architectural distortion. (D) Parotid H&E staining shows lymphoepithelial lesions consistent with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. (E) Immunohistochemistry shows a B cell/marginal-zone phenotype (CD20, PAX-5) with colonized follicular dendritic cell (FDC) meshwork (CD21) and a low Ki-67 result; findings were negative for CD5, cyclin D1, CD10, and BCL-6. (F) Pre/post-rituximab parotid/submandibular ultrasonography shows marked lesion regression and reduced gland size.
Case report in ACR Open Rheumatology describes a a 48-year-old woman with 6-year history of primary SjΓΆgren disease and newly diagnosed Crohn disease who developed parotid MALT lymphoma shortly after initiation of a TNF inhibitor
doi.org/10.1002/acr2...
Cervical CT showed bilateral elongation of styloid processes (A) with calcification of stylohyoid ligaments (B, arrows). 3-D reconstruction delineated the anatomical relationships & extent of ossification (C). Lateral projection radiograph of cervical spine showed elongation of hyoid process (D)
30.11.2025 14:02 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
Cervical CT showed bilateral elongation of styloid processes (5.5 cm each, normal <3 cm)(A) with calcification of the stylohyoid ligaments (B, arrows). 3-D reconstruction delineated the anatomical relationships and extent of ossification (C). Lateral projection radiograph of the cervical spine showed elongation of the hyloid process (D)
A 45 y/o man with ankylosing spondylitis (HLA-B27+) presented with 2 years of bilateral anterior cervical pain radiating to the jaw & subauricular regions. Exam revealed firm, fixed cervical masses, with pain exacerbated by neck movements
Arthritis & Rheumatology
doi.org/10.1002/art....
#Medsky
"In the world of chronic complex diseases with both genetic and environmental risk factors and the wide spectrum of patient phenotypes around the world, the challenge of prediction and prevention remains substantial but worth pursuing"
29.11.2025 22:13 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0New editorial: doi.org/10.1002/art....
STOP-ing Rheumatoid Arthritis β Lessons Learned from the Latest Prevention Trial
Weekly recap in ACR Journals banner - ACR Open Rheumatology cover
This week in ACR Open Rheumatology:
Review: concepts & recommendations for advancing cellular therapy for systemic autoimmune diseases
https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.70130
Case report: musculoskeletal infection by M brisbanense
https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.70136
Weekly recap in ACR Journals banner - Arthritis Care & Research cover
New in Arthritis Care & Research β
PK/PD study of subcutaneous belimumab in pediatric SLE
https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.25700
Assessment tools to identify patients scheduled for total joint arthroplasty with low pre-op cardiorespiratory fitness
https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.25703
Weekly recap in ACR Journals banner - Arthritis & Rheumatology cover
This week in Arthritis & Rheumatology
Drugs w/ probable assoc. w/ onset or worsening of Raynaud phenomenon
doi.org/10.1002/art....
Glucocorticoids impact on survival in patients w/ RA treated w/ ICIs for metastatic NSCLC
doi.org/10.1002/art....
Role of IL-33 in IIM-ILD
doi.org/10.1002/art....
ACR Journals on Air podcast banner
NEW EPISODE! Aaron Smith, MD, joins the podcast to discuss why rheumatology needs stronger grounding in aging principles & how clinicians can better support older adults with rheumatic conditions. ποΈ LISTEN to his insights on shifting clinical practice β https://acr.tw/4ikt6XM
#Medsky #geriatrics
Key findings:
β’IL-33 elevated in IIM-ILD patient sera & lungs
β’IL-33 deletion attenuated lung inflammation & fibrosis in myositis-assoc. ILD mice
β’in vitro, IL-33 knockdown suppressed ERK-driven EMT
β’ERK inhibition mitigated ILD progression
IL-33 is upregulated in IIM-ILD patients and promotes disease progression in a murine MAILD model. (A and B) Representative images and quantification of IL-33 expression using IHC staining in lung tissues from IIM-ILD patients (n=3). (C) Serum IL-33 levels measured by ELISA in IIM-ILD patients and healthy controls (n=40). (D and E) Representative images and quantification of IL-33 IHC staining in lung tissues from MAILD mice (n=3). (F) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of lung sections. (G) Ashcroft scoring of lung inflammation (n=5). (H) Body weight changes of mice throughout the experimental period. (I and J) Massonβs trichrome staining of lung sections and quantification of collagen deposition.
Role of IL-33 as a central mediator in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy interstitial lung disease
Arthritis & Rheumatology
doi.org/10.1002/art....
β
Magnetic resonance imaging T2 fat-suppression sequence showed the presence of left hip effusion with synovial hypertrophy.
A 12-year-old boy presented with chronic left hip pain unresponsive to antibiotics. Laboratory tests showed raised white blood cells and C-reactive protein. MRI showed evidence of left hip synovitis
Case report in ACR Open Rheumatology
https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.70136
#Medsky
91-Day Landmark Kaplan Meier curve by glucocorticoid exposure in the first 91 days after ICI initiation
In a large cohort of cancer patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with ICIs for metastatic NSCLC, use of glucocorticoids other than dexamethasone did not affect survival over 91 days. Median prednisone equivalent dose was 6.6 mg/day
Arthritis & Rheumatology
doi.org/10.1002/art....
#Medsky
