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Cell metabolism has long been at the forefront of tumour biology, but in the past decade the importance of cellular bioenergetics has been increasingly recognized in regulating immune cell function. Mechanistic studies in 2018 have highlighted cell metabolism as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
In 2018, advances in the treatment of gout flares came in the form of a new nurse-led management approach to serum urate lowering and evidence that allopurinol might have a better cardiovascular safety profile than febuxostat. However, are IL-1β blockers such as canakinumab the future of care for patients with gout?
Multiple scientific fields pertaining to inflammation, including the fields of cardiovascular, infection and cancer research, are increasingly contributing to our understanding of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In 2017, such research has helped develop our understanding of RA comorbidity, the link between RA pathogenesis and infection, and the effects of new therapies.
Osteoarthritis research in 2017 provided new insights into the long-term effects of intra-articular glucocorticoids, and also led to the approval of a novel, longer-lasting glucocorticoid formulation. New drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis also emerged this year, including a small-molecule inhibitor of the Wnt signalling pathway.
The rarity, severity and complexity of paediatric rheumatic diseases make progress in treating these diseases a challenge. In 2017, a new series of recommendations for treatment, studies that unravel the complexity of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and clinical trials that tackle sight-threatening uveitis have helped to improve paediatric care.
Tremendous progress has been made in the identification of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk factors in 2017. The results of epidemiological studies highlighted dietary and hormonal factors that are associated with slowing the transition from one preclinical phase of RA to another, potentially protecting individuals from developing RA.
A large number of patients with osteoporosis are not receiving appropriate treatment, due in part to concerns regarding drug safety. Great progress has been made to address this crisis in therapy in 2017, including highlighting the patients' views, developing new therapies and treatment strategies and addressing these safety concerns.
