Hyperuricaemia is not currently included in major global health surveillance frameworks, including the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study, despite its well established clinical associations with non-communicable diseases. The absence of harmonised, comparable sex-specific prevalence estimates of hyperuricaemia across countries has limited its visibility in public health planning and prevention strategies. We aimed to provide the first standardised, sex-specific, global, regional, and national estimates of hyperuricaemia prevalence and cases from 2000 to 2023.

Anifrolumab is a type I interferon receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, real-world evidence on its use, especially from large, unselected cohorts, is scarce. The ongoing REVEAL study is designed to collect real-world data on anifrolumab use. The data reported here are the pre-specified 6-month interim analysis, which aims to provide a phenotypic characterisation of a large real-world cohort of patients with SLE initiating anifrolumab, and to evaluate early treatment response in routine clinical practice.

Mitophagy has been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs), yet its regulatory landscape and diagnostic relevance remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to identify mitophagy-associated genes (MRGs) in RA and to explore their potential diagnostic value using integrative bioinformatics and interpretable machine learning approaches.

Previous studies have identified unique challenges for RA patients of different genders, which impact disease management. However, the association between disease activity and health-care-seeking behaviours in male and female RA patients remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate this association, with a specific focus on the gender-specific effects of follow-up intervals on disease control.

A core set of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has not been established, and no studies have compared predictive validity of disease-specific and generic quality of life (QOL) instruments. We aimed to compare the predictive validity of the Lupus PRO and Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-12 (SF-12) for damage accrual in patients with SLE.

ANCA are a key biomarker for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), particularly microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Although indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) has traditionally been the reference technique, its diagnostic value in contemporary real-world practice remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of IIF ANCA testing in routine clinical practice.

To determine the prevalence of objectively defined gastric dysmotility in SSc and to evaluate its associations with SSc clinical and immunological features and adverse outcomes (SSc-related death and/or lung transplantation).

Belimumab (BEL) is an approved biologic therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that, when added to standard care, reduces disease activity, flare rates, and glucocorticoid exposure. In clinical practice, BEL is frequently combined with conventional immunosuppressants (IS), but the added benefit of concomitant IS once disease control is achieved remains uncertain. Observational data suggest that BEL monotherapy may be effective in selected patients, but comparative real-world evidence is limited. Objectives were to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of BEL as monotherapy vs in combination with IS in patients with SLE included in the BEL-Spain Registry.

To evaluate the clinical utility of serial fetal echocardiographic surveillance, specifically atrioventricular interval (AVI) monitoring, in managing Anti-SSA/Ro-SSB/La-Positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pregnancies.

We aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction of a model of allied health led telemedicine in rheumatology clinic during and beyond COVID-19 pandemic.

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). This review summarises key mechanisms in the pathophysiology of SSc primary heart involvement (SSc-PHI), presents the main clinical manifestations and their management, and discusses unmet needs in SSc-PHI with potential solutions. The pathophysiology of SSc-PHI involves both vascular and immune-mediated pathways, exacerbated by the NLRP3 inflammasome and pro-fibrotic cytokines, leading to myocardial fibrosis as the main cardiac manifestation. Regular screening is recommended to detect SSc-PHI, incorporating clinical assessments, cardiac biomarkers, and transthoracic echocardiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) enables detection of subclinical cardiac involvement, with certain CMR phenotypes holding prognostic significance. Early identification of subclinical disease is a critical unmet need to enhance risk stratification and improve outcomes. Emerging programs and cardiology-rheumatology collaboration will enhance interdisciplinary care and diagnostic strategies.

Upadacitinib (UPA) is an important therapeutic option for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but evidence in older adults and patients with renal impairment remains limited. This study evaluated the real-world effectiveness and safety of UPA in Japanese patients with RA, including older adults and those with renal impairment.

Articular cartilage is crucial for joint function; however, it has limited regenerative capacity when damaged, a hallmark of many rheumatic diseases. Non-invasive imaging is essential for early diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring and prognostication. MRI remains the reference standard, offering detailed assessment of both morphological and compositional cartilage changes. Technological advances, including high-resolution and compositional MRI techniques such as T2 mapping, T1ρ, delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage, sodium imaging, diffusion imaging and ultra-short echo-time imaging, enable early detection of matrix alterations that precede structural breakdown. CT arthrography, although it involves radiation, serves as a valuable alternative when MRI is contra-indicated, offering high performance in the detection and evaluation of cartilage surface lesions. Emerging modalities, such as ultrasonography and PET, offer additional functional insights but are currently limited in scope. Artificial intelligence is poised to transform cartilage imaging through accelerated acquisition, automated segmentation, improved interpretation and enhanced efficiency, with growing clinical adoption. Advanced cartilage imaging will probably have an increasingly important role in clinical rheumatology, particularly for the optimization of individualized management of cartilage pathology.

Depression is a significant comorbidity in patients with AS, contributing substantially to the overall disease burden. While studies have suggested that tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) may alleviate depressive symptoms, their effect on the incidence of depression remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the effect of TNFi on the incidence of depression in patients with AS.