Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterised by synovial joint inflammation leading to cartilage destruction and bone erosion. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential to minimise the risk of future joint damage and disability. Treatment options include conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) such as methotrexate, and biological therapies including tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and interleukin-6 antagonists. However, some patients fail to respond to biologic therapies. An exciting new development is small molecule DMARDs targeting intracellular signalling pathways, which include Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. Other recent developments include a biologic DMARD that targets and suppresses the inflammatory cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
Expert video highlights and insights from the conference hub and comprehensive peer-reviewed articles from our journal portfolio provide updates on the changing treatment landscape. To learn more about how the latest developments impact on patient outcomes view our expert-led learning activities.
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Frailty is increasingly recognized as an important syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), occurring more frequently and at younger ages than in the general population. In this interview, Editorial Board member Dr Elena Myasoedova explores the importance of frailty in the risk stratification and long-term management of RA, discussing the aims, design, key findings, and clinical implications of a retrospective cohort study investigating the incidence and risk factors for frailty in RA.
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is shining a light on the unique challenges women with rheumatoid arthritis face at key stages of life, particularly during pregnancy and menopause. Through initiatives such as the MAMA study, examining biologic treatments in pregnancy, and work highlighting gaps in menopause care, NRAS is advancing understanding of women’s experiences and helping to shape more informed, responsive care.
Glucocorticoids are a cornerstone for rapid symptom control in early rheumatoid arthritis, but their long-term risks make minimizing exposure essential. A Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort (CATCH) study explored whether parenteral versus oral GC administration impacts the likelihood of being steroid-free or needing advanced therapy at 12 months. touchIMMUNOLOGY spoke with Dr Janet Pope (University of Western Ontario) on the study’s key findings and clinical implications for early RA care.
Despite therapeutic advances, many patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) lose response to biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs over time. In this Q&A, Professor Paul Emery (University of Leeds, UK) discusses the drivers of treatment resistance and the potential of rosnilimab, an investigational PD-1–targeting monoclonal antibody that selectively depletes pathogenic T cells. Prof. Emery explores the methodology and the key efficacy and safety data from the phase 2b trial of rosnilimab presented at this year's ACR meeting.
S3E3_Could senolytics change the treatment landscape of age-related diseases? In this episode, Nicky speaks with Prof. Georgina Ellison-Hughes from King’s College London about the groundbreaking field of senolytics and their potential to advance the treatment of age-related ...
RGB-19 Matches Tocilizumab in Efficacy and Safety: Promising Phase III Data from RA Biosimilar Trial
In this EULAR 2025 interview, Professor Ernest Choy (Cardiff University School of Medicine, UK) discusses the Phase III trial results of RGB-19, a proposed biosimilar to tocilizumab, in adults with active rheumatoid arthritis. He outlines the study’s design, key efficacy and safety findings, and the potential impact of biosimilars like RGB-19 on improving access to biologic therapies.
Physician burnout is at a critical point. In this episode, Nicky speaks with Dr Alfred Atanda about why so many physicians are burning out and what can be done to change the trend. From personal experience to system-wide solutions, Dr Atanda shares valuable insights on improving physician well-being and building a more effective healthcare culture.
What if your medical degree could launch more than a clinical career? In this candid and compelling read, Dr Jon Edelson shares his lessons for early-career doctors ready to think beyond the bedside and explore the business of medicine.
touchREVIEWS in RMD is proud to welcome Dr Vinod Ravindran to our editorial board. With a distinguished background in clinical rheumatology, medical education, and research, Dr Ravindran is widely recognized for his contributions to advancing care and understanding in the field.
In this episode, we explore the future of continuing medical education (CME) with the team behind touchIME. Hannah Fisher and Matthew Goodwin share insights into global and US trends, the importance of patient inclusivity and how educational outcomes are evolving to better measure the direct impact of learning on clinical practice and patient care.
In this edition of our Future Leaders series, we speak with Dr. Santhanam Sham, a rising star in rheumatology. As a Senior Consultant at Kauvery Hospitals, Chennai, Dr. Sham is dedicated to advancing research on autoimmune diseases like SLE and vasculitis, while also fostering patient-centric care and embracing cutting-edge medical technologies.
From advances in targeted therapies to the integration of AI and steps towards precision medicine, 2024 brought many exciting developments in the field. With 2025 now unfolding, many of these are likely to continue gaining momentum and potentially redefine patient care. In ...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most challenging autoimmune diseases. Early, targeted and effective therapy is crucial for achieving remission and preventing long-term joint destruction. Over the past two decades, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors (TNFi) have been the ...
A new study published in RMD Open has revealed that individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are significantly more likely to experience cognitive impairment. The study, which involved 70 RA patients and 70 matched healthy controls, showed that 60% of RA patients scored below the threshold for cognitive impairment on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), compared to 40% of the control group. This cognitive decline was most pronounced in visuospatial-executive function, memory and abstraction.
As we have come to expect, EULAR 2024 was a busy and productive meeting, packed with news and lively discussions among rheumatologists. The conference, which took place in Vienna, Austria, highlighted a wealth of innovative research and significant advancements in rheumatology. ...
Beginning with the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort (CATCH) we explore non-articular pain in patients with early RA and discuss how the findings could support a link between disease activity and non-articular pain, as well as confirm the need to intervene. Staying in early RA, we then discuss the two-year data PRAIRI trial data and what they demonstrated in terms of the impact of rituximab on the quality of life of patients with pre-RA.
We had the pleasure of talking with Ailsa Bosworth, a patient advocate for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and Founder and National Patient Champion for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), UK. In this interview, Ailsa explores NRAS's profound impact on the ...
We are joined by Ailsa Bosworth, Founder and National Patient Champion for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), UK. Ailsa Bosworth is a patient advocate for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and joins us in this interview to discuss her personal journal ...
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