The identification of responders to methotrexate (MTX) would optimize the therapy of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA). Our aim was to identify protein biomarkers for the prediction of the response to MTX.

Understanding the impact of intensive treatment on pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is crucial to informing the application of evidence-based arthritis pain care. The impact of intensive treatment on inflammatory arthritis pain has received relatively limited attention. We addressed this through a detailed secondary analysis of three trials evaluating varying intensities of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug treatment. We considered a range of pain outcomes of clinical relevance to patients, including the achievement of mild endpoint pain scores and clinically-meaningful pain reductions.

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a group of systemic autoimmune diseases affecting small blood-vessels. Class-II HLA genes often reported as major genetic determinants. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the susceptibility conferred by HLA genes in AAV and five sub-types i.e. PR3+AAV, MPO+AAV, Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA).

The role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) pathogenesis is emerging, with NETosis-associated markers potentially linked to disease activity. This study aimed to explore the relationship between NETosis biomarkers and IgAV disease phases.

The Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), a non-invasive tool for assessing liver fibrosis, has also been linked to cardiovascular (CV) risk in the general population. This connection is due to the association of chronic liver diseases, particularly fibrosis or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, with systemic inflammation, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to calculate the FIB-4 index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a condition associated with increased CV disease risk. We then examined its association with disease characteristics and CV comorbidities, including lipid profile, subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, and insulin resistance indices.

Cognitive dysfunction is a common neuropsychiatric manifestation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly affecting processing speed and memory. This study aims to identify behaviorally relevant topological networks of functional connectivity underlying neuropsychological test performances, using connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM).

We systematically reviewed the literature to identify the incidence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) flare, criteria used to define it, and associated risk factors.

Imaging holds a pivotal yet contentious role in the early diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis. Although MRI has enhanced our ability to detect early inflammatory changes, particularly bone marrow oedema in the sacroiliac joints, the poor specificity of this finding introduces a substantial risk of overdiagnosis. The well intentioned push by rheumatologists towards earlier intervention could inadvertently lead to the misclassification of mechanical or degenerative conditions (eg, osteitis condensans ilii) as inflammatory disease, especially in the absence of structural lesions. Diagnostic uncertainty is further fuelled by anatomical variability, sex differences, and suboptimal imaging protocols. Current strategies-such as quantifying bone marrow oedema and analysing its distribution patterns, and integrating clinical and laboratory data-offer partial guidance for avoiding overdiagnosis but fall short of resolving the core diagnostic dilemma. Emerging imaging technologies, including high-resolution sequences, quantitative MRI, radiomics, and artificial intelligence, could improve diagnostic precision, but these tools remain exploratory. This Viewpoint underscores the need for a shift in imaging approaches, recognising that although timely diagnosis and treatment is essential to prevent long-term structural damage, robust and reliable imaging criteria are also needed. Without such advances, the imaging field risks repeating past missteps seen in other rheumatological conditions.

Application of the ASAS classification criteria for axSpA in classifying axPsA is a topic of debate. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of axPsA in patients with psoriasis and back pain who do not meet the entry pain features of the ASAS classification criteria.

To evaluate the discordance between patients' global assessments (PGA) and evaluators' global assessments (EGA) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and to explore the association of clinical variables, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and ultrasound (US) factors with this discordance.

In patients with systemic sclerosis, it is common practice to treat interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients in whom progression has already occurred. We sought to clarify whether observed progression of systemic sclerosis-associated ILD confers risk for subsequent progression.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), are revolutionizing medical practice, including rheumatology. However, their diagnostic capabilities remain underexplored in the African context. To assess the diagnostic accuracy of ChatGPT-4, Gemini, Copilot, and Claude AI in rheumatology within an African population.