Volume 13 Issue 6, June 2017

The infrapatellar fat pad and other adipose tissues in close proximity to the joint have been linked with osteoarthritis (OA), but the nature of this relationship is unclear. Two new studies elucidate the features of intra-articular adipose tissues in OA and raise important questions for future investigations.

The changing microbial and clinical profile of reactive arthritis suggests that rheumatologists need to reconsider the approach to its identification and treatment.

Clinical trials of novel therapeutics in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have so far been disappointing. A high placebo response rate in these trials owing to continued use of background immunosuppressive therapy could be confounding results. Could patient stratification and minimization of entry medications improve the effect size and interpretability of SLE trials?

Several different autoantibody systems recognizing post-translationally modified proteins have been identified in rheumatoid arthritis, beyond the well-known rheumatoid factors and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies. This Review summarizes what is known about the presence and properties of these emerging autoantibodies, in particular those recognizing carbamylated proteins.

With the ageing population, sarcopenia is becoming a public health concern. However, controversy remains over how it can best be defined. In this Review, the authors discuss the various approaches to defining sarcopenia, its prevalence and potential lifestyle modifications and potential therapeutic strategies.

Components of the human diet can have a profound effect on the way in which the human body responds to its environment. In this Review, the authors discuss several common dietary factors, outlining their effects on the development and progression of autoimmune rheumatic diseases via a common factor — the microbiome.

In this Review, the authors discuss the latest insights into the genetic associations and pathological mechanisms of ankylosing spondylitis, in particular HLA-B27-mediated pathology, antigen-presentation pathways and the role of type 3 immunity.

A growing body of evidence supports a shift away from bed rest and inactivity to prescribing physical activity for children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases. Increasing physical activity levels, as well as reducing hypoactivity, can improve symptoms and outcomes in this paediatric population.

Necrotizing vasculitis is a classic lesion of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and a number of other disorders. This Perspectives article discusses how the characterization and understanding of PAN and related disorders has developed and enabled more-specific treatments.