Rheumatic Diseases

International experts from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) have recently partnered to produce the much-anticipated classification criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), which were published in Arthritis & Rheumatology in August 2023.1 Prior to the publication of the new ACR/EULAR APS classification criteria, research studies used the Sapporo criteria, […]

Chronic back pain (CBP), defined as back pain lasting for 3 months or more, is the most common pain condition globally.1 Greater healthcare utilization, productivity limitations and poor quality of life have immediate and long-term impacts on patients and the healthcare system.2 The guidelines recommend physiotherapy as a frontline intervention, alongside education and behavioural interventions.3 […]

Welcome to the latest edition of touchREVIEWS in RMD! We’re excited to share a dynamic collection of articles that highlight the evolving landscape of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). We open the issue by delving into a series of editorials offering expert insights and critical analyses on recent developments and key issues in the field. […]

This editorial outlines a clinical approach to patients with periodic inflammation of unknown origin despite initial rational and targeted investigation. The focus of the editorial is on the recognition and diagnosis of systemic autoinflammatory diseases (SAIDs). Although rare, SAIDs are valuable diagnoses given they carry a risk of disease-associated damage and are often treatable. The authors […]

The global burden of disease is heavily impacted by the increased prevalence of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRDs [rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), connective tissue diseases (CTDs) crystal arthropathies and polyarticular osteoarthritis (OA)]), which are prevalent chronic non-communicable diseases associated with pain, functional impairment, and years lived with disability (YLDs).1–4 Comorbidities associated with CIRDs contribute […]

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 RA community, and her role and experiences within the NRAS, and pivotal contributions to pioneering […]

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 to, and following, diagnosis of seronegative RA and the challenges she has faced along the […]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) predominantly affects females and is characterized by multisystem involvement.1,2 Despite advancements in therapeutics, patients with SLE still experience poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL).3 Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by vasculopathy and fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs.4 Like SLE, SSc contributes to a high morbidity burden and negatively impacts patients’ HRQoL.4 Non-pharmacological […]