Feature Channels: Autoimmune Diseases

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New research found that the 30-day death rate for Medicaid patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who underwent coronary revascularization procedures for cardiovascular disease was double that of patients with diabetes mellitus who underwent the same procedures. This study will be presented at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting (Abstract # 897).

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According to new research findings presented this week at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting, use of gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in shoulders of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica may contribute to more accurate diagnosis and prediction of recurrence. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI displayed capsulitis, rotator cuff tendinitis and focal osteitis in shoulders that was relatively specific to patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (Abstract #1161).

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A new study found that very few serious infections were seen in children born to mothers with chronic inflammatory diseases who used non-TNFi biologics or tofacitinib during pregnancy compared to children not exposed to these drugs and children exposed to TNFi biologics in utero. These findings are being presented this week at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting (Abstract #1901).

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New research presented at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting suggests that opioids contribute no measurable benefit to quality of life or depression for patients with osteoarthritis (OA).

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According to new research findings presented at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting, methotrexate did not demonstrate superior efficacy over placebo for pain relief and function evolution at three and 12 months in patients with erosive hand osteoarthritis, but did significantly reduce the progression of joint damage over placebo and seems to facilitate bone remodeling in these patients

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Research presented at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting found that a six-week treatment with low-dose oral prednisolone substantially improves pain and decreases signs of inflammation in patients with painful hand osteoarthritis.

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According to new research findings presented this week at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting, both patients with rheumatoid arthritis whose disease onset occurred at an older age and those whose disease onset occurred earlier in life have similar improvements in clinical disease at 48 weeks after starting biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, as well as similar drug maintenance and adverse events discontinuation rates.

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New research findings presented at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting found that annual spending on biologic DMARDS (biologics) by U.S. public programs and beneficiaries nearly doubled from 2012 to 2016.

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A new study found that patients with Down syndrome arthropathy continue to have an approximate year-long delay in diagnosis from the onset of their symptoms, and that optimal therapy for this condition remains unclear (Abstract # 2722).

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The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) announced the 2019 recipients of its Master of the ACR designation, Awards of Distinction, and Distinguished Fellow Award honors during the opening lecture of the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting.

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New, late-breaking research discovered that there are significant associations between anti-citrullinated protein bodies (ACPA), a characteristic biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and industrial emissions of fine particles matter and sulfur dioxide.

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The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is previewing draft recommendations from an updated treatment guideline for managing patients with gout during the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting in Atlanta.

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The American College of Rheumatology (ACR), in partnership with the Vasculitis Foundation (VF), is previewing new draft recommendations for the treatment of systemic vasculitis at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting in Atlanta.

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According to new research findings presented at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting, adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) in the peripheral blood is a sensitive, specific biomarker for macrophage activation syndrome, a potentially life-threatening complication of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (systemic JIA)

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A new study finds that children with Down syndrome are at an increased risk of an associated form of arthritis.

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According to new research findings presented this week at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting, a treatment strategy guided by ultrasound information use does not appear to provide better treatment decisions in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

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New research findings presented at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting discovered that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) significantly reduces the recurrence rate of congenital heart block in subsequent pregnancies of women with anti-SSA/ Ro antibodies, regardless of their health status.

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According to new research findings presented this week at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting, the live zoster virus vaccine is safe for people who are currently receiving tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) biologic therapies for various indications.

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A new study found that cancer patients with a pre-existing autoimmune disease receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors as treatment are likely to experience a flare.

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According to new research findings presented this week at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting, supportive laboratory assays to diagnose lupus, specifically the antinuclear antibody (ANA) test, are less often offered in developing nations due to a relative lack of resources.

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The American Thyroid Association will hold its 89th Annual Meeting on October 30-November 3, 2019, at the Sheraton Grand Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to hearing major speeches and awards, attendees can view the following poster and oral presentations on autoimmunity.###The American Thyroid Association® (ATA) is dedicated to transforming thyroid care through clinical excellence, education, scientific discovery and advocacy in a collaborative community.

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In a bid to determine factors linked to the most debilitating forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have identified three so-called “complement system” genes that appear to play a role in MS-caused vision loss. The researchers were able to single out these genes — known to be integral in the development of the brain and immune systems — by using DNA from MS patients along with high-tech retinal scanning.

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Dental health and diet may have an impact on the development and severity of psoriasis, according to a study by dermatologists at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes thick, itchy patches of red skin with silvery scales and affects more than 8 million Americans.

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In a finding that could help lead to new therapies for immune diseases like multiple sclerosis and IBD, scientists report in the Journal of Experimental Medicine identifying a gene and family of proteins critical to the formation of mature and fully functioning T cells in the immune system.

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Immunologists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have discovered key biological switches that control regulatory T cells—specialized white blood cells that keep the immune system in check.

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A new study, led by researchers at the University of Chicago, provides an answer to why cancer cells consume and use nutrients differently than their healthy counterparts and how that difference contributes to their survival and growth.

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A study in humans and mice demonstrated that a fetus has its own microbiome, or communities of bacteria living in the gut, which are known to play important roles in the immune system and metabolism. Researchers also confirmed that the fetal microbiome is transmitted from the mother. These findings open the door to potential interventions during pregnancy to stimulate the fetal microbiome when a premature birth is expected, to help the baby grow faster and be better equipped to tolerate early life infection risk. The study was published in the journal JCI Insight.

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The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), a nonprofit education and advocacy organization dedicated to the eradication of autoimmune diseases, appointed Randall Rutta as President and CEO. Rutta succeeds founder and long-time President and Executive Director Virginia Ladd, who will now serve as Advisor to the President following a nearly 30-year run with the organization.

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In a paper published in Annals of Neurology, a physician-scientist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and colleagues report the presence of cellular features consistent with an immune response targeting specialized brain cells in more than two thirds of autistic brains analyzed postmortem. These cellular characteristics – not previously observed in autism – lend critical new insight into autism’s origins and could pave the way to improved diagnosis and treatment for people with this disorder.

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The first comprehensive look at the immune system of the fetal gut shows that it is far more developed before birth, and could help develop new maternal vaccines and understand if we are predisposed to autoimmune diseases before birth.

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The immune system relies on B cells and their ability to make antibodies against an extremely broad range of pathogens. This broad responsiveness bears some risk, as B cells can also turn against healthy tissue - a phenomenon called autoimmunity. Scientists from the lab of Meinrad Busslinger now reported in the journal "Nature Immunology" how the protein lkaros orchestrates the fine balance between B cell silencing and activation - and thereby controls autoimmunity.

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Below are summaries of recent Fred Hutch research findings, with links for additional background and media contacts.

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A team of college interns at Sandia National Laboratories has built autonomous drones to try out new navigation, guidance and control, and target recognition techniques ultimately bound for autonomous hypersonic vehicles.

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A study largely validates that immunoglobulin IgG is a crucial part of the pathogenic immunodeposits in kidneys of patients with IgA nephropathy. The routine clinical test that identifies the presence of IgA in all cases of IgA nephropathy fails to show IgG in 50 to 80 percent of biopsies.

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Grammy® Nominated Songwriter and Singer Dayna Caddell to Lead 5th Annual Los Angeles Autoimmune Walk on November 3. Former NFL Dallas Cowboys Player Darryl Clack is the Featured Speaker. The Walk is part of AARDA's "Linking Together for a Cure" campaign to raise awareness and funding for research.

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Named a major women’s health issue by the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Research on Women’s Health, it is no surprise that the number of celebrities impacted by autoimmune disease is on the rise. Kim Kardashian West recently opened up about the impact of autoimmune disease on her life. Other celebrities with autoimmune disease diagnoses include Venus Williams, Selena Gomez, and Missy Elliott.

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The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) partners with AHN Autoimmunity Institute to present a free public forum on autoimmune disease and the inaugural Pittsburgh Autoimmune Walk.

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Researchers have found a synergistic connection, or crosstalk, between two rare but potentially deadly blood-clotting diseases — thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The linkage may provide a rationale for a more targeted therapeutic intervention in patients.

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A children’s book published by Hospital for Special Surgery for youngsters with lupus not only explains the illness, but offers a message of encouragement and hope. The book, written by a hospital volunteer with lupus, has received excellent reviews from health professionals around the country.

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The American Neuromuscular Foundation has a new chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy development grant award recipient, Dr. Karissa Gable.

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AARDA presents a free health and wellness event focused on autoimmune patients and families

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Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute today announced a three-year extension to its existing collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) to discover and develop immunological therapies. The goals of the agreement are to advance ongoing projects—including a Phase 1 clinical trial of an immune therapy that arose from the research collaboration—and to expand the previous scope to include omics-based target identification studies.

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Using advanced technology, scientists at Chan Zuckerberg (CZ) Biohub, Mayo Clinic and UC San Francisco, have discovered an autoimmune disease that appears to affect men with testicular cancer.

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A surprising new discovery in mouse models reveals a previously unknown role for pain in immunity and has implications for treating autoimmune diseases

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The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) announced today a strategic alliance with iMD Health Global that will help evolve communications between physicians and patients to improve health outcomes, focused on autoimmune and related diseases, which is estimated to affect over 50 million Americans.

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Results suggest some forms of PD are an autoimmune disease triggered years before noticeable symptoms

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The ideal treatment for any autoimmune disease such as multiple sclerosis (MS) would preserve the immune system’s ability to protect the body. In July, a team of researchers published a study in The Journal of Neuroinflammation reporting progress toward this goal. After ‘knocking out’ a transcription factor called Oct1, investigators saw a significant reduction in symptoms in mice with MS-like disease. More importantly, the mice preserved most of their ability to clear viral infections.

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Irvine, Calif., June 5, 2019 — A nanotechnology treatment derived from bone marrow stem cells has reversed multiple sclerosis symptoms in mice and could eventually be used to help humans, according to a new study led by University of California, Irvine researchers.  “Until now, stem cell therapies for autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases have produced mixed results in clinical trials, partly because we don’t know how the treatments work,” said corresponding author Weian Zhao, an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical engineering who is affiliated with the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center.