Under the spotlight
The future will see us identify biomarkers to improve rheumatoid arthritis treatment outcomes, outlines Dr Darren Plant, Iniobong Ekang and Megan Sutcliffe
A rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis is no longer the millstone that people in the recent past experienced thanks to a plethora of new, effective treatments. But for some people, it takes time to find the drug that will bring their disease under control, and for an unlucky few, an effective long-term solution remains out of reach.
A diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis is life changing, but is no longer a life sentence, explains Prof Anne Barton
The past and present are two very different places when it comes to the impact of many medical conditions, including inflammatory arthritis.
Dr John Bowes and Dr Gisela Orozco reveal how genetic investigations will transform outcomes for people with psoriatic arthritis in the future
Scientists are always on the lookout for new psoriatic arthritis treatments. And the rapidly evolving field of genetics is throwing up some exciting new findings that could make a huge difference to the quality of life of people affected.
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Dr Michelle Barraclough discusses what brain fog is, the ways it impacts people and how research may improve outcomes
Lupus, a long-term condition that can affect multiple parts of the body, can involve the brain too. And in some people this may lead to cognitive issues. Whilst an extensive body of research has looked into how lupus presents in the body, work with the brain is yet to catch up. Interested groups, however, are combining forces to bring about positive change in the light of new emerging research into exactly how lupus can impact the brain.
Language and ethnicity are current barriers to good quality patient care for people with arthritis, says Dr Nasimah Maricar
The UK is a wonderfully diverse place to live. It may not be perfect – improvements are needed in many areas – but awareness is growing and great strides are being made along the lines of inclusivity and opportunity.
However, the pandemic highlighted that almost all minority ethnic groups had higher risks of dying from COVID-19 than the white British majority of a comparable age. Similarly, there is a higher prevalence of arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions among some ethnic minorities compared with white people.
