Volume 14 Issue 4, April 2018

Bisphosphonates have been proposed as a potential disease-modifying treatment for osteoarthritis (OA); however, it is as yet unclear if this treatment is effective. Evidence from a new meta-analysis raises the question of whether bisphosphonates can reduce damage in OA.

A detailed report on the involvement of skin in vasculitis enriches existing disease definitions and nomenclature, and could improve the diagnosis of these manifestations. The exercise also emphasizes the need for collaboration across different medical specialties in the study of vasculitis.

A great deal of interest exists in the use of regulatory T cells for therapeutic purposes in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Two new studies highlight possible approaches to achieve this aim, but the jury is still out on whether these will become effective therapies.

Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has proved efficacious in treating patients with systemic sclerosis, but different regimens have different associated toxicities and different effects on lung function. Through comparison of different clinical trials, we can learn how to improve the safety of HSCT.

The newly published 5-year outcomes of the IMPROVED trial demonstrate the feasibility of achieving long-term drug-free remission in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These findings raise the bar and support the use of a remission induction and maintenance approach, particularly in patients presenting with early joint inflammation consistent with early RA.

Platelets mediate many non-haemostatic responses, including immune responses, through the production or release of various mediators. Platelets are activated in systemic lupus erythematosus and are implicated in its pathogenesis, and present opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

Inappropriate activation of the type I interferon pathway is implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple rheumatic diseases. Variation in type I interferon activity between patients is revealing new information about pathogenesis and treatment responses that could aid personalization of therapy.

Space travel induces bone loss in crewmembers, who often develop signs of accelerated bone ageing. Here, Vico and Hargens describe the effects of space travel on the skeleton and explain how these findings can inform research into ageing and immobility.