
Screening for latent TB in patients with inflammatory arthritis who will be starting TNFα inhibitors is important to prevent complications of TB-reactivation. However, currently there is no ‘gold standard’ for the diagnosis of latent TB.
Many autoimmune diseases have a female predominance. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are no exception. Both of these diseases can affect young women in their reproductive years, but little is known about the impact of RA and SLE on a woman’s opinion regarding pregnancy or, further, how this translates into family planning.
Kidney involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, lupus) is an important predictor of and contributor to morbidity and mortality from lupus. The approach to treatment for lupus nephritis is that of an induction phase of therapy (with cyclophosphamide vs mycophenolate mofetil) followed by long-term maintenance therapy. However, the optimal agent for chronic immunosuppression to prevent relapse or worsening of renal SLE is unknown.
Fibromyalgia has no cure and the management of this condition is difficult. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches are considered essential to assist these patients in better managing their illness. Exercise also has been shown to improve symptoms and quality of life in multiple studies.