Browse

Search for: rheumatoid arthritis    methotrexate    autoimmune disease    biomarker    gene expression    GWAS    HLA genes    non-HLA genes   

ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
23863094 Heat shock proteins can be targets of regulatory T cells for therapeutic intervention in r 2013 Aug Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by excessive immune responses resulting in inflammation of the joints. Although current therapies can be successful in dampening inflammation, a long-lived state of tolerance is seldom achieved. Therefore, novel therapies are needed that restore and maintain tolerance in patients with RA. Targeting regulatory T cells (Tregs) is a successful strategy to achieve tolerance, as was shown in studies performed in animal models and in human clinical trials. The antigen-specificity of Tregs is crucial for their effectiveness and allows for very specific targeting of these cells. However, which antigen is suitable for autoimmune diseases such as RA, for which the autoantigens are largely unknown? Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are ubiquitously expressed and can be up-regulated during inflammation. Additionally, HSPs, or HSP-derived peptides are immunogenic and can be recognised by a variety of immune cells, including Tregs. Therefore, this review highlights the potential of HSP-specific Tregs to control inflammatory immune responses. Targeting HSP-specific Tregs in RA can be achieved via the administration of HSPs (derived peptides), thereby controlling inflammatory responses. This makes HSPs attractive candidates for therapeutic intervention in chronic autoimmune diseases, with the ultimate goal of inducing long-lasting tolerance.
24123587 Correlation between manual 0.2T MRI assessment of synovitis and EULAR-OMERACT scores of th 2014 May PURPOSE: To test the correlation between manually assessed volumes of magnetic resonance (MR) signal-enhancing regions in postcontrast images and MRI-based rheumatoid arthritis scoring system (RAMRIS) synovitis scores in 0.2T MR data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The low-field (0.2T) extremity MRI scans were acquired in 32 patients (37 study cases) as a part of the rheumatoid arthritis diagnostic procedure in accordance with Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials MRI working group (OMERACT) recommendations. The synovitis in joint regions was assessed based on RAMRIS. Regions of enhanced signals in postcontrast MR images were outlined manually. RESULTS: Spearman's rank-order correlations between RAMRIS scores and both absolute and relative volumes of signal-enhancing regions were equal to 0.68, 0.78 (moderately positive) and 0.84 (strongly positive) for distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ), intercarpal-carpometacarpal joints (ICCMJ), and radiocarpal joint (RCJ), respectively. Absolute and relative volumes of signal-enhancing regions grow significantly with RAMRIS scores. CONCLUSION: Development of algorithms for automated detection of signal-enhancing regions in 0.2T MR images is a reasonable direction of forthcoming studies on computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems supporting low-field extremity MR-based diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis by identifying its symptoms.
24783604 [Successful double-lumen tube insertion using Pentax-AWS Airwayscope with an infant-sized 2014 Apr Successful tracheal intubation with a double-lumen tube was achieved using Pentax-AWS Airwayscope (AWS) with an infant-size Intlock in a patient with restricted mouth opening and head tilting. A 78-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis was scheduled for extended thymectomy under general anesthesia, with anticipated difficult airway. Sufficient mask ventilation with the jaw-thrust maneuver was achieved. The laryngoscopic view was defined as grade III (Cormack & Lehane's classification)with Macintosh laryngoscope. The AWS with an infant-size Intlock facilitated visualization of the glottis, leading to a successful placement of a 32-Fr double-lumen tube under the guidance of the AWS image. Double-lumen tube insertion assisted by the AWS with an infant-size Intlock may be useful for difficult airway management in patients with restricted mouth opening and head tilting.
24556220 Dependence of the minimal clinically important improvement on the baseline value is a cons 2014 Jun OBJECTIVE: Estimates of minimal clinically important improvements (MCIIs) are larger among patients with higher values at baseline, suggesting that these patients require larger changes to appreciate improvements. We examined if baseline dependency of MCIIs was associated with specific patients across three measures, or was owing to floor and ceiling effects. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We prospectively examined 250 outpatients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We used an anchor-based approach to estimate MCIIs for three measures of RA activity (patient global assessment, swollen joint count, and walking time). We examined if the same patients constituted the baseline subgroups with high MCIIs across measures. RESULTS: The MCIIs were greater for those with higher baseline values of all three measures. At the ceiling, there was little opportunity to improve, and judgments were unrelated to measured changes. At midrange, improvements were balanced by worsenings, including some judged as improvements. At the floor, improvements were not similarly balanced. Patients in subgroups with high MCII for patient global assessment were not also predominantly in subgroups with high MCII for the swollen joint count or walking time, and vice versa. CONCLUSION: Variation in MCII by baseline values is because of floor and ceiling effects rather than expectations of particular patients.
23897767 Alcohol consumption as a preventive factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis: a dose-res 2014 Nov OBJECTIVE: To summarise the evidence regarding the dose-response association between alcohol consumption and risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHOD: Studies were identified from search of MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science databases between 1 January 1946 and 10 April 2013, and from review of the conference abstracts and the reference lists of retrieved articles. Prospective studies that reported relative risks (RRs) with 95% CIs for the association between alcohol consumption and the risk of RA were included. Results from individual studies were pooled using a dose-response meta-analysis. RESULTS: Up to 10 April 2013, 8 prospective studies contained 195 029 participants and 1878 RA cases were included. The results indicated that low to moderate alcohol consumption yielded a preventive effect on RA development (RR: 0.86; 95% CI 0.78 to 0.94), and provided some evidence of a non-linear relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of RA. Dose-response meta-analysis of the study data revealed that compared with that for no alcohol consumption, the adjusted RR was 0.93 (95% CI 0.88 to 0.98) for 3 g/day of alcohol consumption, 0.86 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.97) for 9 g/day, 0.88 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.99) for 12 g/day, 0.91 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.03) for 15 g/day, and 1.28 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.73) for 30 g/day. Subgroup analysis indicated that women who had low to moderate alcohol consumption had a 19% reduction in RA risk. Regardless of sex, a consistent low to moderate alcohol consumption for a period of at least 10 years was found to have a 17% reduction in RA risk. CONCLUSIONS: Low to moderate alcohol consumption inversely associated with the development of RA in a manner that appears to be dose-dependent, time-dependent and sex-dependent. Large prospective studies that investigate gene-environment interactions are required to further clarify the aetiology of RA.
23204037 In vivo confocal microscopic evaluation of corneal Langerhans cell density, and distributi 2013 Corneal Langerhans cells (LCs) offer the opportunity to gain insight into the activity of the innate immunity. We examined the density and the distribution of LCs and compared the results with dry-eye parameters in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fifty-two RA patients with various degrees of disease activity and 24 healthy subjects were enrolled. Peripheral and central LC number and morphology were assessed with in vivo laser confocal microscopy. In addition, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), lid parallel conjunctival folds, Schirmer test, and tear break-up time (TBUT) were evaluated. The prevalence of central and peripheral LC, and the central LC morphology values (LCM) were higher than normal in RA. Within the RA group, LC prevalence and morphology were not affected by disease activity. However, patients on anti-TNF or glucocorticosteroid (GCS) therapy exhibited normal LCM, and normal central and peripheral LC density. OSDI was higher and TBUT was lower than normal in RA. The alteration of LC in RA suggests an active inflammatory process in the cornea, which may reflect an increased activation state of the innate immune system-even in inactive stages of RA and without ocular symptoms. The results also indicate ocular effects of GCS therapy in RA.
23503938 The diagnostic utility of matrix metalloproteinase-3 and high-sensitivity C-reactive prote 2013 Sep Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are well-established serological markers that show high sensitivity and specificity in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are associated with bone erosions of RA. However, some patients subsequently progress to RA even if there is no presence of anti-CCP antibodies in an early stage. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic utility of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and IgM rheumatoid factor for predicting RA in anti-CCP-negative patients with recent-onset undifferentiated arthritis (UA). Baseline levels of those markers were measured at the entry of the study. A total of 99 patients with UA were included, among them 44 patients (44.4 %) had been classified as having RA by a skilled rheumatologist at some point during 1-year follow-up. Of these 99 patients, 34 patients (34.3 %) had anti-CCP antibodies and 65 patients (65.7 %) had no anti-CCP antibodies. Eleven patients who were anti-CCP-negative developed RA. We compared sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of serum markers of these anti-CCP-negative RA patients. The combined usage of MMP-3 with hsCRP is relatively superior to other markers as predictors of RA.
23489789 Increased interleukin-23 is associated with increased disease activity in patients with rh 2013 Mar BACKGROUND: Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is thought to be central to the development of autoimmune diseases. This study was conducted to determine whether or not the serum concentration of IL-23 is elevated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to determine the relationship between the IL-23 level and disease activity in RA patients. METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 59 patients with RA and 30 healthy controls. The clinical parameters of disease activity were determined, including the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) levels, and the degree of bony erosions based on X-rays. The levels of IL-23 and IL-17 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlations between the serum levels of IL-23 and disease activity parameters of patients with RA were determined. RESULTS: The serum IL-23 level was significantly elevated in patients with RA compared to healthy controls. The serum IL-23 levels in the RA patients correlated with IL-17 and CRP levels, and the DAS28. The levels of IL-23 based on X-ray classification phase I, II, III, and IV were gradually elevated in RA patients. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of serum IL-23 in RA patients were higher than in healthy controls. Thus, elevated serum IL-23 levels may be useful markers to detect active RA. In addition, IL-23 is involved in disease progression and bony erosions in patients with RA.
25794992 How the rheumatologist can guide the patient with rheumatoid arthritis on sexual function. 2015 Sep Sexuality, an integral part of human life and quality of life, is one of those responsible for our individual welfare. Sexual dysfunction can be defined as a change in any component of sexual activity, which may cause frustration, pain and decreased sexual intercourse. Although it is known that chronic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), influence the quality of sexual life, sexual dysfunction is still underdiagnosed, due to two reasons: both patients fail to report the complaint because of shame or frustration, and this subject is rarely called into question by doctors. Rheumatologists are increasingly willing to discuss areas which are not directly related to drug treatment of joint diseases, such as quality of life, fatigue, and education of patients; however, sexuality is rarely addressed. The aim of this review is to present some useful concepts to Rheumatologists for orientation of their patients with RA with respect to sexual function/dysfunction, some considerations concerning the role of these professionals in order to instruct the patient, general notions about sexual function, including practical concepts about the more appropriate sexual positions for patients with RA, and a multidisciplinary approach to sexual dysfunction.
24213780 Targeting motivation and self-regulation to increase physical activity among patients with 2015 Feb The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of targeting both the motivation and action phases of behaviour change in a 5-week intervention to increase physical activity (PA) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) not meeting current PA recommendations. In a randomised controlled trial, a control group—which received a group-based patient education session led by a physical therapist—was compared to a treatment group which received the education session plus a motivational interview from a physical therapist and two self-regulation coaching sessions from a rheumatology nurse. Outcomes included leisure-time PA, days per week with at least 30 min of moderate-intensity PA, self-efficacy and autonomous motivation (cognitions which predict PA initiation and maintenance), disease activity, functional status, depressive symptoms and fatigue. Effects were assessed using mixed models repeated measures. Of the 78 patients randomised, 76 and 67 completed the post-treatment and follow-up assessments, respectively. Significant treatment effects were found for leisure-time PA (p = 0.022), active days/week (p = 0.016), self-efficacy (p = 0.008) and autonomous motivation (p = 0.001). At post-treatment and 6-months follow-up, significantly more treated patients than controls met current PA recommendations. No significant effects were found for disease activity, functional status, depressive symptoms or fatigue. Combining motivation- and action-focused intervention approaches improved PA-related cognitions and led to improved uptake and maintenance of leisure-time PA. However, further research is necessary to identify ways of helping patients with RA transition to—and maintain—more intensive forms of PA which are more likely to improve disease activity and functional status.
23335345 Factors associated with attrition in a longitudinal rheumatoid arthritis registry. 2013 Jul OBJECTIVE: Loss of participants in longitudinal data collection can affect the validity of outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) registries. Prior research indicates that demographics and socioeconomic and psychosocial factors contribute to attrition. This study analyzed the characteristics of an RA registry that may contribute to attrition in a hospital-based population. METHODS: Subjects consisted of RA patients enrolled in the Brigham and Women's Rheumatoid Arthritis Sequential Study. Demographics and clinical and psychological factors were evaluated in univariate analyses to determine differences between participants who dropped out and those who completed 5 years of followup. Univariate factors with a P value <0.1 were used in a survival analysis to determine significant factors associated with attrition. A secondary analysis looked at patients who dropped out during the first year. RESULTS: A total of 1,144 RA participants were enrolled (509 completed 5 years of followup, 227 were still actively enrolled, and 408 dropped out). The attrition rate was 4.31% per 6-month cycle. Shorter disease duration, higher disease activity (3-variable Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using the C-reactive protein level), less education, RA drug therapy, and lower arthritis self-efficacy were statistically significant in multivariate survival analyses. In a secondary analysis, sex and age were the only additional factors found that contributed to attrition. CONCLUSION: The attrition rate for this registry was similar to rates reported by other registries. Shorter disease duration, higher disease activity, and several other socioeconomic factors were associated. Men and younger patients tended to drop out during the first year. Population differences in each registry may result in different attrition patterns and ultimately, each longitudinal registry should consider conducting its own analyses.
24398122 Patients with rheumatoid arthritis in clinical remission and ultrasound-defined active syn 2014 Jan 8 INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to identify and characterize subclinical synovitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical remission using power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) and serum levels of biomarkers of inflammation and/or angiogenesis. METHODS: We selected patients with RA in clinical remission defined as a Disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28)-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) <2.6 for more than six months tested by two independent rheumatologists. Clinical, epidemiological, demographic and serological data were analyzed. PDUS of knees and hands was performed by a sonographer. Synovial hypertrophy (SH) and PDUS signal were scored (grades 0 to 3). SH ≥2 and a PDUS signal was classified as active synovitis. Serum levels of biomarkers of inflammation/angiogenesis were determined by Quantibody Human Array. RESULTS: This study included 55 patients, of whom 25 (45.4%) met criteria for ultrasound-defined active synovitis. Patients with active synovitis had higher DAS28-C reactive protein (P = 0.023), DAS28-ESR (P = 0.06), simplified disease activity score, SDAI (P = 0.064), and only 12% were taking oral glucocorticoids (≤5 mg/day) compared with 40% of patients without active synovitis (P = 0.044). Patients with synovitis also had significantly higher serum levels of the angiogenic biomarkers angiopoietin-2 (P = 0.038), vascular endothelial growth factor-D (P = 0.018), placental growth factor (P = 0.043), stromal cell-derived factor-1 (P = 0.035), matrix metallopeptidase-2 (P = 0.027) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) (P = 0.007), but not of pro-inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of the patients with RA in clinical remission had ultrasound-defined active synovitis, higher disease activity and less frequent oral glucocorticoid consumption than patients without active synovitis. This clinical situation was associated with a specific biological profile characterized by an excess of angiogenic mediators rather than persistent proinflammatory cytokine responses.
23213004 Clinical and ultrasound-based composite disease activity indices in rheumatoid arthritis: 2013 Jun OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the metrologic properties of composite disease activity indices in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), utilizing information derived from clinical, gray-scale (GS), and power Doppler (PD) ultrasound examinations, and to assess the classification of patients according to disease activity using such indices. METHODS: This ancillary study utilized data from a multicenter, prospective, randomized, parallel-group study conducted in subjects with moderate RA randomized to receive etanercept and methotrexate (ETN + MTX) or usual care (various disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs [DMARDs]). In multimodal indices, the 28 swollen joint count was either supplemented or replaced by clinically nonswollen joints in which the presence of synovitis was detected either by GS and/or PD and was calculated according to the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) or the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI). Reliability, external validity, and discriminative capacity were calculated at baseline/screening by intraclass correlation coefficient, Pearson's correlation, and standardized response mean, respectively. RESULTS: Data from 62 patients (mean ± SD age 53.8 ± 13.2 years, mean ± SD disease duration 8.8 ± 7.7 years, mean ± SD disease activity 4.6 ± 0.5 [DAS28] and 20.9 ± 5.9 [SDAI]) were analyzed, with 32 receiving ETN + MTX and 30 receiving DMARDs. The metrologic properties were at least as good for GS- and/or PD-based indices as for their clinical counterparts. Using GS- and PD-supplemented indices, an additional 67.8% and 32.3% of patients (DAS28-derived and SDAI-derived indices, respectively) could be classified as having high disease activity at the screening visit. CONCLUSION: Multimodal indices incorporating ultrasound and clinical data had similar metrologic properties to their clinical counterparts; certain indices allowed for a significantly larger number of patients to be classified to either high or moderate disease activity at the screening visit.
24488905 Interaction relationships of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis related genes. 2014 BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA), also referred to as degenerative joint disease or wear-and-tear arthritis, is caused by the breakdown of joint cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory type of arthritis. RA is also classified as a kind of autoimmune disease. AIM: To find the important genes in RA and OA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Comprehensively compared 3 datasets of RA with 2 datasets of OA, 98 genes were sifted. We explored protein-protein associations processed for the 98 genes by mining famous gene/protein interaction/association database. RESULTS: We found most of those genes appear to play a key role in the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. CONCLUSIONS: Our research would play a useful role in the diagnosis and treatment of OA and RA.
24190155 Sudden glottic stenosis caused by cricoarytenoid joint involvement due to rheumatoid arthr 2013 A woman with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experienced glottic stenosis approximately two months after switching from etanercept to tocilizumab. Cricoarytenoid joint (CAJ) arthritis due to RA was diagnosed. An awake tracheostomy saved the relievable airway, and the administration of methylprednisolone and infliximab ameliorated the flare-up and glottic stenosis. A follow-up examination revealed the recovery of the patient's normal voice and good control of RA with infliximab and methotrexate. Although general physicians do not frequently encounter patients with symptomatic CAJ arthritis, this condition should be considered as it can be life-threatening. Therefore, when detected, it should be diagnosed and treated immediately.
24692532 Recent trends in orthopedic surgery aiming to improve quality of life for those with rheum 2014 May OBJECTIVE: To describe current trends in the numbers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related surgeries. METHODS: The number of operations was determined for patients with RA in a large observational cohort [Institute of Rheumatology, Rheumatoid Arthritis (IORRA)] enrolled from 2001 to 2012. RESULTS: The total number of operations peaked in 2002 and gradually decreased thereafter, but began to increase again in 2008. The number of total knee replacements has decreased since 2003, while the number of wrist and foot arthroplasties and the number of artificial finger prosthesis surgeries have increased gradually. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the number of orthopedic surgeries may change in response to changes in the drug therapy for RA.
23609778 Rheumatoid arthritis: erosion defined: back to basics. 2013 Jun Current classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis allow its classification on the basis of the presence of erosions, in the absence of other indicators. Nevertheless, definition or quantitation of erosions was lacking. A European task force has now addressed this issue by analysing radiographic erosions in two cohorts of patients with early disease.
24482219 Association of rheumatic diseases with early exit from paid employment in Portugal. 2014 Apr To examine the association between rheumatic diseases (RD) and other chronic morbidity with early exit from paid employment in the Portuguese population. The study population consisted of all people between 50 and 64 years of age (3,762 men and 4,241 women) who participated in the Portuguese National Health Survey, conducted in 2005/2006. Data were collected on demographics, ill-health, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors. Logistic regression was used to estimate the isolated effect of rheumatic diseases and other chronic diseases on the likelihood of exit from paid employment. At the time of the survey, 45.1 % of the Portuguese population with ages between 50 and 64 years old were not employed. In the nonemployed population, 31.6 % self-reported "poor" to "very poor" health, whereas 16.4 % did so in the employed population. A larger average number of major chronic diseases per capita were also found in those not employed (1.9 vs. 1.4, p < 0.001). In the multivariate models, chronic diseases were associated with early exit from paid employment. In particular, rheumatic diseases were more prevalent (43.4 vs. 32.1 %) and associated with early exit from work (OR 1.31; CI 1.12-1.52, p = 0.001). This study suggests an association between RD and other major chronic diseases with early exit from paid employment in Portugal. Thus, health and social protection policies should target these chronic disorders in order to better address sustainability issues and social protection effectiveness.
23045227 Predictive factors of rituximab response in rheumatoid arthritis: results from a French un 2013 Apr OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of several factors (rheumatoid factor [RF], anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide [anti-CCP], serum Ig level, and Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] load) on clinical response to rituximab (RTX) after 6 months in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: Sixty-four patients receiving RTX (two 1-gm doses 2 weeks apart) for active RA were prospectively included. RF, anti-CCP, gamma globulin level, and EBV load were assessed prior to the first RTX cycle. Clinical responses were analyzed 6 months after RTX initiation using the European League Against Rheumatism criteria. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with RTX response at 6 months. RESULTS: The mean disease duration was 16.4 years and 46 patients (71.9%) had already received at least 1 anti-tumor necrosis factor agent prior to RTX. At 6 months, 46 patients (71.9%) had a good to moderate response to RTX. Anti-CCP positivity was associated with a good to moderate response (odds ratio [OR] 4, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.04-15.5; P = 0.04). RF positivity (P = 0.26) and positive initial EBV load (P = 0.16) were not associated with a good to moderate response. Hyperimmunoglobulin was correlated with a poorer response to RTX than normal Ig levels (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.005-0.28; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Anti-CCP positivity was a predictor of good to moderate response to RTX in RA patients. On the other hand, high Ig levels were associated with a poorer outcome in contrast to previous findings. Further support from larger studies is necessary so as to optimize the management of the RA patients with high Ig levels.
24325566 Cost-effectiveness of abatacept for moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis. 2014 Feb Abatacept, a selective T-cell costimulation modulator, has become a valuable treatment option for those with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. Given new clinical evidence, for the first time guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology and Canadian Rheumatology Association are promoting the consideration of abatacept as the first biologic added to initial traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs once an inadequate response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drug monotherapy has been established, putting abatacept at the same line of treatment options as TNF-α inhibitors or rituximab. Since the advent of the subcutaneous formulation of abatacept, positive results from its clinical trials have further increased its appeal. In light of these changes, a review of the literature was conducted on the cost-effectiveness of abatacept for moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis. Here we discuss current evidence, gaps in the literature and abatacept's future outlook.