Why do we need yet another rheumatology journal?

Peter E Lipsky

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0038 | Full Text | PDF (50K)

Early aggressive therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a 'window of opportunity'?

Tom WJ Huizinga and Robert BM Landewé

There is increasing evidence that treatment in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis can significantly increase the potential for positive patient outcome and prevention of irreversible damage. This Viewpoint considers the evidence that supports aggressive treatment for early rheumatoid arthritis and investigates the available treatment options.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0015 | Full Text | PDF (74K)

Is assaying autoantibodies useful for diagnosing early rheumatoid arthritis?

Walther J van Venrooij and Leo BA van de Putte

Diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis can be significantly hastened by the screening for serological markers such as autoantibodies. This Viewpoint discusses the merits of this new field of serological screening, focusing on the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide tests and their value as diagnostic tools for rheumatoid arthritis.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0018 | Full Text | PDF (77K)

A link between TLR5 signaling and susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus

Jenny Buckland

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0001 | Full Text | PDF (68K)

Progress in immunotherapy for juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Jasmine Farsarakis

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0002 | Full Text | PDF (68K)

Comparison of antibody assays for monitoring systemic lupus erythematosus

Rachel Murphy

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0003 | Full Text | PDF (77K)

Cartilage volume is better than joint-space width for predicting joint replacement in osteoarthritis

Rachel Murphy

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0004 | Full Text | PDF (66K)

Validation of the preliminary criteria for catastrophic APS

Rebecca Doherty

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0005 | Full Text | PDF (75K)

A new treatment strategy for severe refractory rheumatoid arthritis

Rebecca Doherty

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0006 | Full Text | PDF (66K)

C-reactive protein predicts cardiovascular death in patients with inflammatory polyarthritis

Rebecca Doherty

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0007 | Full Text | PDF (66K)

Harm is under-reported in rheumatic disease trials

Caroline Barranco

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0009 | Full Text | PDF (79K)

PDC-derived interferon- is a master cytokine in psoriasis development

Rachel Murphy

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0008 | Full Text | PDF (70K)

Interleukin-17 inhibition suppresses flares of arthritis

Rachel Murphy

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0010 | Full Text | PDF (79K)

Age is the strongest predictor of damage accrual and vascular events in women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Pippa Murdie

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0011 | Full Text | PDF (69K)

Therapeutic target for spondyloarthropathies

Rachel Murphy

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0012 | Full Text | PDF (78K)

Links between bone mineral density, marrow perfusion and marrow fat content

Rebecca Ireland

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0013 | Full Text | PDF (69K)

Systemic lupus erythematosus and neuropsychiatric syndromes

Rachel Murphy

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0014 | Full Text | PDF (68K)

Is combination therapy with methotrexate and intramuscular gold an efficacious method of treatment for RA?

Audrey Lee Fan and Daniel E Furst

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0019 | Full Text | PDF (76K)

From cancer to rheumatoid arthritis: is FACIT a reliable scale for measuring fatigue?

Sarah Hewlett and John Kirwan

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0039 | Full Text | PDF (74K)

Knee osteoarthritis: does physiotherapy help?

David Felson

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0035 | Full Text | PDF (73K)

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: disease modifiers in ankylosing spondylitis?

Michael M Ward

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0040 | Full Text | PDF (73K)

Is lumbar spinal surgery more effective than intensive rehabilitation for management of low back pain?

Charles Pither

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0041 | Full Text | PDF (75K)

Optimum therapeutic approaches for lupus nephritis: what therapy and for whom?

Dimitrios T Boumpas, Prodromos Sidiropoulos and George Bertsias

Renal involvement is common and is a major cause of morbidity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Treatment approaches for lupus nephritis are discussed in this review, based, when available, on data from randomized controlled trials. The authors conclude with their recommendations for the optimum management of this complex and heterogeneous disease.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0016 | Full Text | PDF (154K)

Cytokine networks—towards new therapies for rheumatoid arthritis

Iain B McInnes and Foo Y Liew

Cytokine targeting is an established approach for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis following success with tumor-necrosis-factor and interleukin-1 blockade. Many patients fail to respond completely to these cytokine antagonists, however, meaning that novel cytokine targets are keenly sought. This review describes the new generation of anticytokine therapies that are in preclinical and clinical development.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0020 | Full Text | PDF (316K)

Diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome

Maria Laura Bertolaccini, Munther A Khamashta and Graham RV Hughes

Antiphospholipid syndrome, a disorder characterized by pregnancy morbidity and thrombosis in young individuals, is diagnosed by detection of anticardiolipin antibodies or lupus anticoagulant using laboratory tests. As discussed in this review, correct identification of patients with this syndrome is important as prophylactic anticoagulant therapy can prevent recurrent thrombosis and reduce complications during pregnancy.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0017 | Full Text | PDF (144K)

Mechanisms of Disease: the link between RANKL and arthritic bone disease

Georg Schett, Silvia Hayer, Jochen Zwerina, Kurt Redlich and Josef S Smolen

The link between chronic inflammation and bone loss has been the subject of intense research over the past decade. This has led to the identification of key molecules that bridge the gap between immune function and bone turnover, including receptor activator of NFB ligand, which represents a potential therapeutic target for patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, and is the subject of this review.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0036 | Full Text | PDF (505K)