https://medicalxpress.com/rheumatology-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Rheumatology A Japanese pharmaceutical firm has warned doctors against prescribing a drug for rare autoimmune diseases to new patients following the deaths of 20 people who took it. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-japan-pharmaceutical-firm-rare-diseases.html Sat, 16 May 2026 05:13:38 EDT news698127201 Involving a collaboration with 118 investigators contributing from 89 institutions, scientists from Queen Mary University of London's Precision Healthcare University Research Institute and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité have led the world's largest study on the genetic regulation of blood proteins. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-blood-protein-people-uncovers-disease.html Wed, 06 May 2026 15:20:27 EDT news697289341 Women who have given birth multiple times are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, while no or fewer pregnancies was a risk factor along with obesity and smoking, a University of Queensland study has found. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-pregnancy-odds-rheumatoid-arthritis.html Tue, 05 May 2026 17:00:05 EDT news697218721 Bone marrow is the spongy tissue located within the hollow center of bones, serving as the primary site for the continuous production of red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells. Despite its physiological importance, the developmental mechanism by which this soft tissue is formed within the rigid confines of hard bone has remained largely unknown. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-bones-marrow-newly-cells-reappear.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:30:01 EDT news696614941 Kidney damage is a serious complication affecting individuals with lupus, an autoimmune disease where immune B cells malfunction and produce antibodies that attack the body's own cells, tissues, and organs. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cells-culprit-kidney-lupus.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:20:01 EDT news696585602 EULAR—the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—has updated its recommendations on physical activity in people with inflammatory arthritis or osteoarthritis. These align with current World Health Organization (WHO) efforts to reduce sedentary behavior and promote regular activity and exercise. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-physical-people-inflammatory-arthritis-osteoarthritis.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:40:01 EDT news696504316 The body's immune reaction to increased levels of a toxic molecule, part of a bacterial species in the human gut, may reveal who is most at risk of developing lupus nephritis, according to a new study led by NYU Langone Health. In people with the disease, which often leads to long-term kidney damage, the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. Bouts of lupus nephritis have been tied by past studies to upticks in growth of the bacterial species Ruminococcus gnavus. This triggers excess production of the key molecule, a lipoglycan, which is a key part of the bacterium's outer wall. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-high-gut-bacterial-toxin-trigger.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:01 EDT news696091005 A study published in Rheumatology & Autoimmunity challenges the assumption that achieving clinical remission in rheumatoid arthritis is sufficient, showing that patient-reported outcomes vary significantly by drug class even when disease activity is comparable. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-drugs-similarly-combat-disease-differing.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 03:00:05 EDT news695977515 The University of Tasmania's Menzies Institute for Medical Research has found that the commonly prescribed medication, Diacerein, does not improve knee osteoarthritis symptoms, following a national study. Diacerein, a medication derived from plants such as rhubarb and aloe vera, has long been recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties and is commonly used to treat osteoarthritis in Europe and Asia. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-common-drug-ease-knee-osteoarthritis.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:20:01 EDT news696004081 Often diagnosed in the teenage years, childhood-onset lupus is a serious, potentially fatal autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack itself. For as many as 10,000 U.S. youths, it can bring extreme fatigue, mood changes, pain and inflammation that affect many parts of the body. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-therapy-kids-lupus-sessions.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:00:02 EDT news695564219 New research from Swansea University has identified significant delays and diagnostic barriers affecting rheumatology patients in Wales. The study is published in the Journal of Patient Experience. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-decadelong-specialist-nhs-rheumatology-referral.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:05 EDT news695637721 Arthritis includes a range of conditions that affect the joints, from inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis to more common conditions like osteoarthritis. Many people experience pain, stiffness, and a reduced quality of life. Treatment today focuses on reducing inflammation and relieving symptoms, depending on the type of arthritis. However, researchers from the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University have now identified a new possible route for future treatments. Their research is published in The Lancet Rheumatology journal. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-glp-joint-fluid-weight-loss.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:00:05 EDT news695569381 A research team has discovered a new mechanism and drug combination strategy that can effectively treat osteoporosis, a representative disease of super-aging societies. The research findings were published on April 2 in Bone Research. The researchers were led by Seoul National University College of Engineering's Prof. Sunghoon Kwon and Prof. Sang Wan Kim. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-laser-breakthrough-supercharges-osteoporosis-treatment.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:40:04 EDT news695394053 Scientists investigating the naturally occurring immunopeptide PEPITEM have shown reductions in arthritic joint swelling to a degree comparable to the current standard of care, and reduce the inflammatory changes that cause joint damage. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-pepitem-therapy-potential-early-stage.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 04:00:02 EDT news695035561 Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a specialized protein, also called a neurotrophin, that is critical for the development and survival of nerves responsible for our senses and the body's fight-or-flight response. While the presence of NGF is crucial during the embryonic stage, its presence in adults is often an indication of inflammation, as it is a key mediator of pain for conditions like osteoarthritis (OA). Now, a study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology shows that NGF is much more than a pain messenger—it can actually change the structure of a joint. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-nerve-growth-factor-triggers-osteoarthritis.html Sun, 12 Apr 2026 11:00:02 EDT news694867180 The immune system is designed to protect us against viruses and bacteria. In autoimmune diseases, however, the immune system instead attacks the body's own cells. Conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) and rheumatoid arthritis are well-known examples. It is estimated that just under 250,000 people in Norway live with some form of autoimmune disease, with approximately 8% to 10% of the population worldwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-overactive-immune-cancer.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:20:03 EDT news694958762 For the first time, scientists have used a modern cell therapy called CAR-T to treat a patient with three different life-threatening autoimmune diseases that had resisted years of treatment. The patient, who once required daily blood infusions, has been in remission without needing additional treatment for a year since the CAR-T therapy. The case report, published in Med, suggests that CAR-T therapies can help treat complex and severe autoimmune diseases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-car-therapy-remission-patient-autoimmune.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:00:04 EDT news694881961 Good news: Scientists may be closer to a new way to treat arthritis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-scientists-ways-regrow-joints-arthritis.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:00:01 EDT news694783635 For adults with dermatomyositis, brepocitinib, an oral tyrosine kinase 2/Janus kinase 1 inhibitor, demonstrates significant benefits at a 30-mg dose compared with placebo, according to a study published online March 28 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, held from March 27 to 31 in Denver. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-aad-significant-benefits-brepocitinib-mg.html Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:10:07 EDT news694274982 When patients start getting treated for conditions like psoriatic arthritis, or connective tissue diseases like lupus and systemic sclerosis, their heightened risk of cancer gradually decreases, according to a new five-year study tracking people with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID). Scientists theorize that the anti-inflammatory treatment for these diseases provides potential protective effects, reversing the increased cancer risk caused by high inflammation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-cancer-autoimmune-disorders-anti-inflammatory.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:30:03 EDT news694185721 Skin, our largest organ, acts as a protective barrier against pathogens that try to invade our bodies while constantly monitoring for potential threats. In the skin's outermost layer, the epidermis, reside keratinocytes, cells that detect danger and actively orchestrate the body's immune response. How these cells perform this task in a localized manner and then communicate the message with the entire immune system had been a mystery, but now a team of researchers from China has uncovered the signaling pathway. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-scientists-skin-alarm-pathway-links.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:20:04 EDT news693479936 Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. This disease prompts the immune system to mistakenly attack body tissues, particularly joints, leading to inflammation, swelling, stiffness and pain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-immune-pathway-pain-arthritis.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:40:03 EDT news693227000 Injections of botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox, could be an effective and well-tolerated option for treating debilitating complications caused by reduced blood flow to the fingers, such as acute digital ischemia (which makes the fingers very painful, cold and sometimes white or bluish), digital ulcers (open wounds that heal poorly), and gangrene, according to a study recently published in JAMA Dermatology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-botox-therapeutic-approach-finger-ulcers.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:20:01 EDT news693221281 Osteoarthritis, a condition that causes pain and reduced mobility in joints such as the knees and fingers, is one of the most common joint disorders worldwide, particularly among aging populations. The disease is characterized by the gradual breakdown of cartilage, which normally cushions the bones within joints. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-key-protein-cartilage-osteoarthritis-treatment.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:40:01 EDT news693221162 Rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders (RMDs) like arthritis are having a significant impact on how long people across Europe can remain healthy while working, according to a new study. A research team from Keele University has found that workers in European countries who have an RMD can expect to be healthy and in work for significantly less time than their counterparts who do not have one of these conditions, with the difference being as much as 50% in six of the countries studied. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-musculoskeletal-disorders-shortening-healthy-europe.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:10:06 EDT news692981522 Arthritis is often associated with older age, but it also affects children. One of the most common forms is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), an inflammatory condition that causes persistent joint swelling and pain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-arthritis-children-threaten-eyesight.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:40:06 EDT news692971861 Research at Clarkson University is helping people with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) move with less pain and more confidence. The study, published in the Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, looked at whether an eight-week, online Pilates program could help people with symptomatic joint hypermobility. The program was designed specifically for people with hEDS, a condition that can cause joint pain, fatigue and fear of movement. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-online-pilates-people-hypermobile-ehlers.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:10:02 EDT news692960762 Joint pain is often dismissed as aging, overuse or a minor injury. But for some people it is the first sign of inflammatory arthritis, a group of immune-driven conditions that can damage joints and other organs if not treated promptly. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-years-diagnosis-inflammatory-arthritis-role.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:30:01 EDT news692371737 A new study has found that a prebiotic fiber supplement reduced pain, improved grip strength, and lowered pain sensitivity in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA)—with far fewer dropouts than a digital physiotherapy program. The INSPIRE clinical trial, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, showed that taking a daily supplement of inulin—a natural dietary fiber found in chicory root, Jerusalem artichokes and other vegetables—significantly reduced pain in people with OA. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-gut-health-supplement-relieves-arthritis.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:10:01 EDT news692528210 Johnson & Johnson's nipocalimab has been granted U.S. Food and Drug Administration Fast Track designation as a potential treatment for adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-fda-fast-track-nipocalimab-lupus.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:50:02 EDT news692522383