Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease one characteristic of which is the deposition of the protein fibrin in the joints, where it forms a matrix that contributes to the loss of joint mobility and function.

Researchers in the United States and Sweden have identified a genetic region associated with increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic and debilitating inflammatory disease of the joints that affects an estimated 2.1 million Americans.

A revered contemplative practice for centuries, meditation has recently inspired research into its therapeutic value for everything from anxiety disorders to heart attack prevention. A painful, progressive autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a high risk of depression—double the risk of the healthy population, by conservative estimates—and various forms of psychological distress.

A paper published this week in the open access journal PLoS Medicine provides strong evidence that one specific part of the genome is associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Rene Toes and colleagues from Leiden University Medical Center, the Karolinska Institute, and Celera studied four groups of patients and matched controls.

The human genome has now been thoroughly screened in the hunt for the genetic causes of rheumatoid arthritis. The results, which both confirms previous hypotheses and turn the spotlight on entirely new genes, are presented in two articles in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.

The relationship between rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease marked by chronic inflammation of the joints and tissue surrounding vital organs, and the incidence of cancer is complicated. Epidemiologic studies have generally demonstrated that blood, lung, and skin cancers are increased among RA patients, while breast and colon cancers are decreased.

Rheumatologists substantially overestimate the physical disability of patients with rheumatoid arthritis – which may lead to inaccurate evaluations of the patient’s ability to work and need for lifestyle modifications, a new study found.

New data presented at EULAR 2007, the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona, Spain, suggests that alcohol may protect against rheumatoid arthritis, with three units a week exhibiting protective effects and ten units a week being more protective still. An alcohol consumption of three units per week or more also reduced the risk by smoking or by a genetic predisposition to RA.

New data presented today at EULAR 2007, the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona, Spain, sheds light on the role of environmental and genetic risk factors in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two new studies by a team in Sweden have identified smoking, a low formal level of education and certain metabolic indicators as important risk factors in the development of RA.

Treatment with denosumab 60 mg and 180 mg (with background methotrexate) reduces the progression of bone erosion according to results of a 227 patient Phase II trial presented today at EULAR 2007, the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona, Spain.

Nearly half (43.9%) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving tocilizumab 8mg/kg, in addition to ongoing methotrexate therapy experienced a 50% (ACR50) improvement in symptoms at 24 weeks and more than one fifth achieved a 70% symptom improvement, according to results of a European study presented today at EULAR 2007, the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona, Spain. This study is the first phase III trial of tocilizumab.

59% of patients receiving certolizumab pegol 200mg plus methotrexate, and 61% of patients receiving certolizumab pegol 400mg plus methotrexate every two weeks achieved a 20% improvement in symptoms (known as an American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 response) after 24 weeks' treatment, according to a study presented today at EULAR 2007, the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona, Spain.