MUC5B Promoter Variant and Survival in Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease.

Objective: Investigate the association between the MUC5B rs35705950 promoter variant and survival in RA-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).

Methods: We studied participants in the Veteran Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis (VARA) registry with validated ILD diagnoses. Participants were followed until death or end of study period.

Missed opportunities for treatment of inflammatory arthritis and factors associated with non-treatment: An observational cohort study in United States Veterans with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To identify factors associated with non-treatment with biologic and non-biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) during the 12 months after initial inflammatory arthritis (IA) diagnosis.

Methods: We identified Veterans with incident IA diagnosed in 2007-2019. We assessed time to treatment with Kaplan-Meier curves.

Lowering Expectations: Glucocorticoid Tapering Among Veterans With Rheumatoid Arthritis Achieving Low Disease Activity on Stable Biologic Therapy.

Objective: In the Steroid EliMination In Rheumatoid Arthritis (SEMIRA) trial, 65% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in low disease activity (LDA) on stable biologic therapy successfully tapered glucocorticoids. We aimed to evaluate real-world rates of glucocorticoid tapering among similar patients in the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis registry.

Methods: Within a multicenter, prospective RA cohort, we used registry data and linked pharmacy claims from 2003 to 2021 to identify chronic prednisone users achieving LDA after initiating a new biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD).

Combined structural and synovial assessment for improved ultrasound discrimination of rheumatoid, osteoarthritic, and normal joints: a pilot study.

Background: Current ultrasonographic scoring systems used to assess the degree of finger joint synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are not designed for distinguishing healthy or osteoarthritis (OA) patients from those with RA in clinical settings.

Objective: To explore a novel scoring approach using structural and synovial ultrasonographic features to distinguish between healthy and OA finger joints and those with RA.

Methods: 22 patients with RA, 16 healthy controls, and 14 OA controls received a comprehensive ultrasound of one hand, with scores assigned using a modification of a previously reported RA scoring system (Semiquantitative Synovial Score), and using the novel approach (Combined Structural/Synovial Score).