Reviews & Analysis

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  • In this Review, the authors describe shared pathophysiology of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and adult-onset Still’s disease and their life-threatening complication, macrophage activation syndrome. Therapeutic developments now enable the targeting of multiple pathways in these conditions, and evidence suggests that early use of DMARDs has the potential to prevent chronic disease.

    • Piero Ruscitti
    • Luca Cantarini
    • Roberto Giacomelli
    Review Article
  • Studies published in 2023 emphasize the long-term efficacy and safety of novel therapeutics for both radiographic and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and provide a consensus definition of ‘early axSpA’ for use in research studies.

    • Diego Benavent
    • Victoria Navarro-Compán
    Year in Review
  • Advances in gene, protein and cellular engineering provide unprecedented opportunities to redirect immune cells to treat autoimmunity. In 2023, novel cellular and precision immunotherapies showed remarkable promise in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

    • Maximilian F. Konig
    Year in Review
  • Research published in 2023 has demonstrated the efficacy of sarilumab for IL-6 blockade in polymyalgia rheumatica and of secukinumab for IL-17 blockade in giant cell arteritis (GCA). Furthermore, preliminary results with human monocyte-derived suppressive cells suggest the potential of cellular therapeutics for the treatment of GCA.

    • Lindsay Lally
    • Robert Spiera
    Year in Review
  • In 2023, large language models demonstrated potential for use in rheumatology to accurately suggest diagnoses and provide empathetic patient education. However, the propensity of this technology to generate misleading information continues to pose risks. Balancing innovation with physician guidance is essential.

    • Vincenzo Venerito
    • Latika Gupta
    Year in Review
  • In this epidemiological Review, the authors summarize the available evidence relating to the prevalence, incidence, risk factors and mortality associated with the autoimmune disorder Sjögren syndrome, with or without the co-occurrence of other connective tissue diseases.

    • Maxime Beydon
    • Sara McCoy
    • Raphaèle Seror
    Review Article
  • For individuals with gout, the treatment options beyond conventional urate-lowering therapies are expanding. Notable advancements in 2023 include developments in uricase therapy, new xanthine oxidase inhibitors, and a class of medications that offer dual benefits for the control of type 2 diabetes mellitus and gout.

    • Kanon Jatuworapruk
    • Worawit Louthrenoo
    Year in Review
  • Studies in 2023 have described eight new monogenic autoinflammatory diseases and their accompanying disease-causing mutations, uncovering clinical phenotypes, pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Researchers have identified autoinflammatory pathways linked to mitochondrial dysfunction or overactivation of SRC family kinases.

    • Riccardo Papa
    • Marco Gattorno
    Year in Review
  • In this Review, the authors discuss the role of IL-18 in human inflammatory disease. They describe the mechanisms of IL-18 biology, discuss how dysregulation of this biology leads to immunopathology, and note the biological and clinical circumstances in which therapeutic manipulation might alleviate suffering and save lives.

    • Emily Landy
    • Hallie Carol
    • Scott Canna
    Review Article
  • In this Review, the authors provide an overview of what is known of the clinical features, pathogenesis and treatment of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis, including emerging biomarkers and clinical subtypes.

    • Xin Lu
    • Qinglin Peng
    • Guochun Wang
    Review Article
  • In this Review, Pandey and Bhutani describe the use of single-cell ‘omics’ technologies to identify cell subpopulations in joint tissues in health and disease, thereby contributing to the construction of joint cell atlases and the identification of pathogenetic cell subpopulations that are potential therapeutic targets for diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

    • Akshay Pandey
    • Nidhi Bhutani
    Review Article
  • Newly published European guidelines for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis, specifically recommending early and aggressive use of new medications, signal that the old paradigm of SLE management is shifting. Although it presents challenges, this shift is welcome — and is likely to have far-reaching implications.

    • Jacob J. E. Koopman
    • Karen H. Costenbader
    News & Views
  • In this Evidence-Based Guideline article, an international, multidisciplinary group of experts presents evidence-based consensus recommendations on screening for cancer in patients with adult-onset idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, addressing cancer risk stratification, screening modalities and screening frequency.

    • Alexander G. S. Oldroyd
    • Jeffrey P. Callen
    • Rohit Aggarwal
    Evidence-based Guidelines
  • Depression is a common comorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis, and shared immune mechanisms link the two conditions. This Review explores potential peripheral and central interactions between the immune system and brain, the understanding of which could aid in the development of novel therapeutics.

    • James Brock
    • Neil Basu
    • Jonathan Cavanagh
    Review Article
  • Interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. In this Review, various unmet needs in the management of SSc–ILD are discussed, and solutions are proposed to help improve outcomes for these patients.

    • Vasiliki Liakouli
    • Antonio Ciancio
    • Francesco Ciccia
    Review Article
  • Treatment of ‘classic’ systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) is evolving markedly, and treatment options for early sJIA without arthritis, and refractory or complicated sJIA are not well defined. This Review outlines current approaches and provides an outlook on knowledge gaps.

    • Claas H. Hinze
    • Dirk Foell
    • Christoph Kessel
    Review Article
  • In this Perspective, the authors propose that despite the known similarities between ankylosing spondylitis and axial psoriatic arthritis, the localization of inflammation to bone in ankylosing spondylitis and to ligamentous soft tissue in axial axial psoriatic arthritis differentiates these diseases and has important implications for diagnosis, pathology and treatment.

    • Dennis McGonagle
    • Paula David
    • Abdulla Watad
    Perspective
  • 2023 marks 25 years since the approval of the first biologic drug in rheumatology. In this Viewpoint, five rheumatology researchers discuss how biologic therapy has transformed clinical practice, reflecting on their own experience, past and current challenges and what the future might hold for biologic drugs.

    • Marc Feldmann
    • Ravinder N. Maini
    • Tsutomu Takeuchi
    Viewpoint
  • Treatment of patients with arthralgia during the ‘window of opportunity’ could prevent disease development or a severe disease course. This Review summarizes available information on the completed and ongoing prevention trials in rheumatoid arthritis, including patient preferences and future considerations.

    • Hanna W. van Steenbergen
    • Andrew P. Cope
    • Annette H. M. van der Helm-van Mil
    Review Article
  • This Evidence-Based Guideline presents the first Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology recommendations for the management of axial spondyloarthritis, addressing therapeutic targets, the use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions and monitoring of patients.

    • Wilson Bautista-Molano
    • Daniel G. Fernández-Ávila
    • Enrique R. Soriano
    Evidence-based Guidelines