Current rheumatology reviews最新文献

{"title":"Benign and Malignant Tumor Burden in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: A Retrospective Single-Center Study from the United Arab Emirates.","authors":"Sarah Al Qassimi, Rajaie Namas, Waleed Hafiz, Mohamad Masri, Mohamed Alawlaqi, Mohammed A Omair","doi":"10.2174/0115733971393685251119110343","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115733971393685251119110343","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Malignancy is a significant comorbidity for patients with systemic scle-rosis (SSc). Data regarding the prevalence and risks of developing malignancy in SSc, particular-ly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population, are scarce. This study aims to investigate the proportion of benign and malignant tumors in the UAE's SSc patients.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>SSc patients from the UAE Scleroderma Registry from April 2015 to April 2023 were characterized according to the presence of a tumor, whether benign or malig-nant. Descriptive statistics were utilized to examine the study's variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 133 patients, 33 (25%) had a history of a tumor. Benign and malignant tumors were reported in 54.5% and 42.4% of the cohort, respectively. The remaining 3.1% were tumors of unknown nature. Among the 133 patients, seven (21%) had genitourinary tumors, followed by 5 (15%) head and neck tumors, and 4 (12%) gastrointestinal tumors. The mean age of SSc diag-nosis was 38.9 ± 13.7 years. Among patients with tumors, there was SSc autoantibody positivity with topoisomerase I (Scl-70) (36%), anticentromere (ACA) (27%), and anti-polymerase III (ARA) (6%, p < 0.00001). IF-ANA was positive in 88% of patients with a predominantly centromere pattern (p < 0.05) and elevated titers ranging between 1:640 and 1:1280 (p < 0.05). Tumors were diagnosed a mean of 3.2 years before SSc diagnosis in some patients and a mean of 11 years after SSc diagnosis in others.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Our findings reveal a distinctive malignancy profile characterized by a higher preva-lence of genitourinary, head, and neck, and gastrointestinal tumors compared to international co-horts, and an earlier average age of tumor onset highlighting unique regional characteristics.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study is the first to describe tumor burden in the UAE's SSc population and highlights the need to tailor malignancy screening and management.</p>","PeriodicalId":11188,"journal":{"name":"Current rheumatology reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148886779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Skin Disease Burden on Quality of Life in Patients with Scleroderma: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.","authors":"Ashaq Hussain Parrey, Hyder Lone, Shazia Jeelani, Mohd Ismail, Javeed Ganai, Dilnawaz Manzoor, Muhammad Yawer","doi":"10.2174/0115733971465203260728045756","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115733971465203260728045756","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introduction: &lt;/strong&gt;Systemic sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by skin and internal organ involvement. While clinical management focuses largely on life-threatening organ complications such as pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease, and renal crisis, the burden of skin disease is often underestimated, despite its substantial impact on physical, psychological, and social well-being. To assess the impact of skin disease severity, measured by the modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS), on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with systemic sclerosis using the WHOQoL-BREF questionnaire.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at a tertiary care center from December 2022 to December 2024, including patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism 2013 classification criteria for systemic sclerosis. Skin involvement was assessed using the Modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS), and health-related quality of life was evaluated using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Pearson correlation and appropriate univariate statistical tests (Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables, and Chi-square or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables) were used to explore associations between skin disease severity and health-related quality of life.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Fifty-two patients with scleroderma who attended the rheumatology outpatient clinic were enrolled, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:16. The mean modified Rodnan skin score in the studied patients was 13.85, with a standard deviation of 8.56. The mean health-related quality of life was 52.5, with an SD of 20.07. The mean health-related quality of life in patients with mRSS ≤ 17 was 57, while that in those with mRSS &gt; 17 was 40.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Discussion: &lt;/strong&gt;Our study highlights that increasing skin disease severity in patients with systemic sclerosis is associated with a significant decline in health-related quality of life. Patients with higher Modified Rodnan Skin Scores experienced greater physical limitations, emotional distress, and social restriction. Although systemic sclerosis management often focuses on internal organ involvement, our findings emphasize that cutaneous fibrosis substantially contributes to the disease burden. The results suggest that routine QoL assessment and early interventions addressing skin-related disability and psychosocial impact should be integral to comprehensive care for patients with scleroderma.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;Skin disease severity is associated with poorer health-related quality of life in patients with scleroderma; however, this relationship appears modest and is likely influenced by multiple clinical and patient-related factors. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating patient-reported outcomes into routine clinical assessment. While ","PeriodicalId":11188,"journal":{"name":"Current rheumatology reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148807955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of Cytokine Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism in Arthritis Among Jordanian Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.","authors":"Sawsan I Khdair, Alaa Al-Zayadneh, Alaa Hammad","doi":"10.2174/0115733971491653260728115134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115733971491653260728115134","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Arthritis is among its most common clinical manifestations. This study investigated Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in cytokine genes, including TNF, IL6, IL10, IFNG, and TGFB1, among Jordanian patients with lupus arthritis and healthy controls.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 77 patients with SLE and 45 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Peripheral blood samples (3 mL) were collected, and SNPs were analyzed using the PCR-SSP method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The TNF-308 G allele (p = 0.003), TNF-308 G/G genotype (p = 0.003), IL10-1082 G/G genotype (p = 0.002), IL10 GCC/GCC genotype (p = 0.002), and TGFB1 (c10, c25) GG haplotype (p = 0.009) were associated with an increased risk of lupus arthritis in patients with SLE. Conversely, the TNF-308 A allele (p = 0.003), TNF-308 G/A genotype (p = 0.009), IL10-1082 G/A genotype (p < 0.01), and IL10 GCC/ACC genotype (p < 0.01) were more frequent in controls, suggesting a protective role against lupus arthritis.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These findings indicate that cytokine gene polymorphisms may contribute to susceptibility to lupus arthritis among Jordanian SLE patients. Variations in TNF, IL10, and TGFB1 genes appear to be particularly important in modulating disease risk and immune responses.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlight the potential value of cytokine SNP profiling as a supportive tool for early recognition, risk assessment, and management strategies for lupus arthritis.</p>","PeriodicalId":11188,"journal":{"name":"Current rheumatology reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148807972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and Safety of Rituximab in Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results of a Lebanese National Multicenter Observational Study.","authors":"Imad Uthman, Georges El Hasbani, Said Attoui, Georges Merheb, Alla Aiko Saad, Jamil Missaykeh, Iman Estaytieh","doi":"10.2174/0115733971425607260710064702","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115733971425607260710064702","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study aims to evaluate changes in disease activity and safety of the combination of rituximab and methotrexate in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in routine clinical practice in a developing country.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a national, multicenter, descriptive, longitudinal cohort study of adults with active RA who are eligible to receive rituximab following an inadequate response to a single cycle of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy. The study included baseline and follow-up visits whereby demographics, medical history, and clinical data were collected.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>77 patients were included in the study (women: 79.2%; mean age: 51.84 ± 13.19 years). The most common extra-articular manifestations were the presence of rheumatoid nodules (n=13; 16.9%). The mean baseline disease activity score (DAS28) was 5.48 ± 1.23. Descriptive DAS28 mean scores decreased to 3.31 ± 1.16 at the end of the follow-up period compared to the baseline. The majority of the adverse events were non-serious, with few being related to medication.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The study showed a descriptive improvement in disease activity scores among RA patients treated with rituximab in combination with methotrexate. The results were consistent with findings from multi-country studies, and the combination was well tolerated.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Rituximab in combination with methotrexate demonstrated a clear reduction in DAS28 scores and was well tolerated in patients with RA who had failed a single course of anti-TNF therapy in routine clinical practice in Lebanon, a developing country. However, due to complete-case analysis and the lack of a control arm, these longitudinal trends should be interpreted with caution regarding absolute clinical efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":11188,"journal":{"name":"Current rheumatology reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148807980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COVID-19 Vaccine-induced Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: A Systematic Review of Case Reports.","authors":"Sepideh Tahsini Tekantapeh, Paria Safarkhanlou, Seyedeh-Tarlan Mirzohreh, Reza Jahangiri, Alireza Khabbazi","doi":"10.2174/0115733971459198260722053837","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115733971459198260722053837","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) have been reported following various vaccinations, including those against COVID-19. Given widespread global vaccination and the rarity of these events, the causal association between COVID-19 vaccination and ARD onset remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to summarize reported ARD cases occurring after COVID-19 vaccination.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and EMBASE was conducted for publications from 2020 to September 2024. Eligible studies included case reports describing new-onset ARDs occurring within 30 days after COVID-19 vaccination in individuals aged ≥16 years without prior ARDs. Data on demographics, vaccine type, ARD subtype, onset interval, and clinical outcomes were extracted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 181 reports comprising 372 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median time to ARD onset was 7 days. Vasculitis was the most frequently reported ARD (50.8%), followed by connective tissue diseases and inflammatory arthritis. Most cases occurred after mRNA vaccines (66.9%). Among 366 cases with a known vaccine type, Pfizer accounted for 55.7%. Cross-tabulation analysis revealed a significantly higher likelihood of ARD following Pfizer vaccination compared with other vaccines (OR = 3.25). Complete remission was achieved in 87.3% of cases, while two deaths were reported.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The predominance of vasculitis and the temporal proximity of onset raise the possibility of an immunological association, although causality cannot be confirmed due to underreporting and limited clinical details in case reports.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Clinicians should consider ARDs in patients presenting with musculoskeletal or multisystem symptoms shortly after COVID-19 vaccination, particularly following mRNA-based vaccines.</p>","PeriodicalId":11188,"journal":{"name":"Current rheumatology reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148807939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients Treated with Febuxostat Compared to Allopurinol: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Andri Reza Rahmadi, Alqa Fauzan Syahreza, Annisya Diva Shafira, Agfi Bifadhlika Prasetya, Anamika Lingga Anjani Akbari","doi":"10.2174/0115733971489998260714111731","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115733971489998260714111731","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>To evaluate the cardiovascular safety of febuxostat compared to allopurinol in patients with gout or hyperuricemia, with a focus on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Event (MACE) outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for studies published up to 25 September 2025. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and observational cohort studies were included comparing febuxostat and allopurinol in patients with gout or hyperuricemia and reporting cardiovascular outcomes. Study selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment were performed using PRISMA guidelines by independent reviewers. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals for MACE and other cardiovascular events.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>A total of eleven studies encompassing 3,559,863 participants were included. Pooled estimates demonstrated no statistically significant difference between febuxostat and allopurinol in terms of MACE risk. Similarly, no significant differences were observed for myocardial infarction (HR 1.17; 95% CI 0.85-1.63), cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.01; 95% CI 0.59-1.72), congestive heart failure (HR 1.05; 95% CI 0.71-1.55), or cerebrovascular events (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.54-1.25). Substantial heterogeneity was noted across several outcome measures.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The findings of this study are consistent with large randomized trials and observational studies demonstrating non-inferiority of febuxostat to allopurinol across major cardiovascular endpoints. Substantial heterogeneity across several outcomes reflects variation in study design, population characteristics, and follow-up duration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review showed no significant differences between the two therapies across major cardiovascular endpoints.</p>","PeriodicalId":11188,"journal":{"name":"Current rheumatology reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148600169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the Causal Association Between Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Hypothyroidism Using Mendelian Randomization Analysis.","authors":"Kaige Gao, Xin Yang, Zhenyu Wang, Suyin Yang, Min Tang, Xun Gong","doi":"10.2174/0115733971437026260630071509","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115733971437026260630071509","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>To perform a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the potential causal relationship between polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and hypothyroidism.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for PMR and hypothyroidism were obtained from publicly available databases. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was primarily used to evaluate the potential causal effect of PMR-related traits on the risk of hypothyroidism. To assess the robustness of the findings, additional methods, including the weighted median (WME), MR-Egger (ME), simple mode (SM), and weighted mode (WM), were employed. Sensitivity analyses were performed using the MR-PRESSO method and Cochran's Q test to detect potential heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy. Furthermore, a reverse MR analysis was performed to investigate the possibility of reverse causality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>IVW analysis demonstrated a significant causal relationship between PMR and hypothyroidism (OR=1.373, 95%CI:1.287-1.465, P=5.84×10⁻²²). In contrast, ME produced a non-significant result (OR=0.880, 95%CI:0.602-1.286, P=0.577). WME supported IVW findings (OR=1.373, 95%CI:1.280-1.480, P=8.97×10⁻¹⁸), as did WM (OR=1.410, 95%CI:1.243-1.599, P=0.013) and the SM (OR=1.398, 95%CI:1.240-1.575, P=0.012). Collectively, these findings provide evidence supporting a causal effect of PMR on the risk of hypothyroidism. Reverse MR analysis using the IVW method also indicated a significant causal association (OR=1.195, 95%CI:1.135-1.258, P=9.35×10-12). However, both ME regression and IVW heterogeneity tests showed evidence of heterogeneity (P=3.16×10⁻³⁸; P=4.11×10⁻³⁸). The ME analysis revealed no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy (P=0.615).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>A study suggested that hypothyroidism-induced myopathic changes may mimic or exacerbate PMR symptoms, potentially leading to misdiagnosis or overtreatment with corticosteroids. Importantly, recurrence of PMR symptoms has been observed after thyroid hormone replacement, even in the presence of normalized thyroid function. These findings underscore a potential bidirectional relationship between PMR and hypothyroidism. In addition, some researchers held that HLA-B8 and DR3 may be a significant indicator to assess the association between these diseases; however, some observations suggest that it may not serve as a specific risk marker for PMR or its complications.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PMR is closely associated with the development of hypothyroidism; the risk of hypothyroidism increases as PMR progresses; on the other hand, advancing hypothyroidism may also raise the likelihood of developing PMR.</p>","PeriodicalId":11188,"journal":{"name":"Current rheumatology reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148535559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Expression Profile and Clinical Significance of Ferroptosis-Related Genes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis.","authors":"Shun-Bing Wang, Tian-Yi Lei, Jian-Wei Guo, Xiang Yu, Hong-Yuan Xie, Zeng-Zhang, Jian-Xiong Zheng, Quan-Bo Zhang, Yu-Feng Qing","doi":"10.2174/0115733971453461260624045940","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115733971453461260624045940","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a severe autoimmune disease marked by immune dysregulation and progressive fibrosis, yet reliable blood biomarkers remain limited. Ferroptosis, an iron‑dependent lipid peroxidation-driven cell death pathway, links iron/redox imbalance to inflammation and fibrotic remodeling, but its role in SSc is poorly defined. To profile Ferroptosis‑Related Genes (FRGs) in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) from SSc patients and assess their clinical significance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Transcriptional profiles from four SSc patients and six Healthy Controls (HCs) were analyzed using the Arraystar Human LncRNA Microarray to identify Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs). Ferroptosis-related DEGs in SSc (Ferr-DEGs) were obtained by intersecting DEGs with a ferroptosis database, and key Ferr-DEGs were prioritized using bioinformatic analyses. Immune cell infiltration was estimated using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). The expression of selected genes was validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in an expanded cohort (SSc = 36, HC = 36), and correlations with clinical indicators were assessed. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using ROC curves.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Microarray analysis revealed 397 upregulated and 637 downregulated DEGs in the SSc group. Bioinformatic analyses identified eight ferroptosis-associated key genes in SSc: MAPK14, SRC, ATF3, CYBB, ACSL1, STK11, PLIN2, and NCF2. MAPK14, SRC, ATF3, and CYBB were significantly upregulated in SSc compared with HCs, whereas ACSL1 was downregulated. Notably, SRC showed good diagnostic performance for SSc, with an AUC of 0.891 (95% CI, 0.819-0.964).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Given the emerging link between ferroptosis and autoimmune diseases, exploring its role in the pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) could open new avenues for improving diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings indicate significant dysregulation of FRGs in PBMCs from SSc patients, suggesting their potential involvement in inflammation, immune cell infiltration, and fibrosis; notably, SRC may serve as a candidate diagnostic marker for SSc.</p>","PeriodicalId":11188,"journal":{"name":"Current rheumatology reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148454730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of Integrated Medicine Protocols in Treating Fibromyalgia: A Retrospective Study.","authors":"Ferreri Rosaria, Cracolici Franco, Bocci Chiara, Tocci Giuseppe, Porciello Giovanni, Piazzini Marco","doi":"10.2174/0115733971396222260612100945","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115733971396222260612100945","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by a wide range of clinical presentations, making it well-suited for an integrated medicine approach that includes complementary therapies. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an Integrated Medicine (IM) protocol in treating fibromyalgia patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective cohort study, we examined a group of 75 fibromyalgia patients treated with an IM protocol that included homeopathy, acupuncture, and nutritional advice. We assessed the protocol's effectiveness using data collected from the SF-12 (Quality of Life) questionnaire, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), and the reduction in the use of conventional drugs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results demonstrated that the application of the IM protocol led to statistically significant improvements (p < 0.001) in pain and mobility symptoms. Additionally, there was a reduction in the use of conventional pharmacotherapy by 60% to 90%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest that the IM protocol is effective in improving the quality of life for fibromyalgia patients and reducing their reliance on conventional drugs. The authors recommend expanding the case series and promoting the paradigm of Integrated Medicine, especially for diseases with multifactorial causes and comorbidities.</p>","PeriodicalId":11188,"journal":{"name":"Current rheumatology reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148307427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and Safety of Tocilizumab Biosimilars Compared to Reference Tocilizumab in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.","authors":"Mus'ab Theeb Mustafa, Ahmad Yousef Alazzam, Aws Khalid Abushanab, Reema Ismaeel, Ala'a Azab, Ghaida'a Nemer, Farah Qandeel, Reem Nassar, Abrar Assanie, Mahmoud Taysir Mousa, Jafar Alsheyyab","doi":"10.2174/0115733971477327260529232525","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115733971477327260529232525","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Tocilizumab biosimilars offer an innovative therapeutic option for pa-tients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, their safety and efficacy compared with the refer-ence product remain undefined. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesize data from all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab bio-similars with reference tocilizumab for RA treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science up to March 2026. We included RCTs comparing biosimilars of tocilizumab to refer-ence tocilizumab in adult RA patients. Primary efficacy outcomes included ACR20 response and DAS28-ESR; secondary outcomes were ACR50/70, DAS28-CRP, and safety outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four Phase 3 double-blind RCTs enrolling 2160 patients were included in the analysis. No statistically significant differences were found between biosimilars and reference tocilizumab for ACR20, ACR50, or ACR70 DAS28-CRP responses at 12, 24 weeks, and approximately 1 year. Similarly, no difference was observed in DAS28-ESR change from baseline at 12 (MD, -0.07; P = 0.26) or 24 weeks (MD, -0.04; P = 0.60). However, at approximately 1 year (48-52 weeks), biosimilars showed a statistically significantly greater reduction in DAS28-ESR (MD -0.24, 95% CI: -0.44 to -0.05; P = 0.01) but did not reach the minimal clinically important differ-ence (MCID). Safety profiles were comparable, with no significant differences in safety out-comes.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Our results indicate that tocilizumab biosimilars are therapeutically equivalent to the reference product in terms of clinical response and safety. However, a primary limitation of this meta-analysis is the small number of included RCTs. Future research should prioritize long-term surveillance and cost-effectiveness analysis in diverse settings to facilitate widespread clinical adoption and ensure sustained patient safety.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our meta-analysis shows that tocilizumab biosimilars have efficacy and safety pro-files equivalent to those of reference tocilizumab for the treatment of RA. These findings support the use of biosimilars as an effective therapeutic alternative.</p>","PeriodicalId":11188,"journal":{"name":"Current rheumatology reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148270669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}