Commentary on the EULAR recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia

Daniel J Clauw

Published online: 17 June 2008
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0840 | Full Text | PDF (165K)

Is a step-down regimen more effective than a step-up regimen in the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis?

Edward C Keystone

Published online: 08 July 2008
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0861 | Full Text | PDF (167K)

Does early growth hormone therapy prevent glucocorticoid-associated growth retardation in children with JIA?

Lisa G Rider and Ellen W Leschek

Published online: 08 July 2008
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0845 | Full Text | PDF (172K)

Are intra-articular injections of hylan more effective than injections of hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis?

Frances MK Williams and Tim D Spector

Published online: 01 July 2008
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0847 | Full Text | PDF (164K)

Infliximab therapy for patients with ankylosing spondylitis: on-demand or continuous treatment?

Joachim Sieper

Published online: 17 June 2008
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0846 | Full Text | PDF (167K)

Focal and generalized bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis: separate or similar concepts?

Glenn Haugeberg

In rheumatoid arthritis, bone involvement presents as generalized osteoporosis, periarticular osteoporosis and erosions. Prof. Haugeberg discusses evidence for all three features resulting from increased activation of the osteoclast, and suggests that potent anti-inflammatory treatment, or direct inhibition of the osteoclast, might protect against all of these types of bone damage seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Published online: 01 July 2008
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0843 | Full Text | PDF (164K)

Control of autoimmune diseases by the vitamin D endocrine system

Luciano Adorini and Giuseppe Penna

The vitamin D system has both pathophysiological and therapeutic importance for autoimmune disease. In this Review, the authors discuss the role of the vitamin D system in autoimmunity, the mechanistic basis for this role, and present the potential of vitamin D receptor agonists to treat or prevent autoimmune diseases.

Published online: 01 July 2008
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0855 | Full Text | PDF (407K)

Drug Insight: aggrecanases as therapeutic targets for osteoarthritis

Amanda J Fosang and Christopher B Little

High concentrations of intact aggrecan are required for effective weight-bearing in healthy cartilage. Aggrecanases from the ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs) enzyme family, particularly ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5, are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. In this Review, Drs Fosang and Little discuss potential disease-modifying agents for osteoarthritis that could trigger the downregulation of ADAMTS enzymes.

Published online: 24 June 2008
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0841 | Full Text | PDF (462K)

Therapy Insight: the changing spectrum of rheumatic disease in HIV infection

Rashmi M Maganti, John D Reveille and Frances M Williams

The impact of the global HIV pandemic continues to grow and rheumatologists need to be aware of the spectrum of rheumatic diseases that occur in HIV-positive individuals, as outlined in this Review. Changes in the patterns of rheumatic diseases that have developed since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy and the management of treatment of rheumatic diseases in HIV-positive patients are also discussed.

Published online: 24 June 2008
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0836 | Full Text | PDF (695K)

-Catenin in the race to fracture repair: in it to Wnt

David Silkstone, Helen Hong and Benjamin A Alman

The canonical Wnt/-catenin signaling pathway regulates multiple biological events, including embryonic bone development and fracture repair. In this Review, the authors discuss the role of this pathway in fracture repair at the molecular, cellular and physiological levels, and its potential as a therapeutic target.

Published online: 17 June 2008
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0838 | Full Text | PDF (384K)