Elderly women with gout are at increased risk of acute myocardial infarction, even more so than men with this painful arthritis, a population-based study found.

The decision to use once-weekly or twice-weekly etanercept in patients with both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis should be determined by the cutaneous and joint symptoms of the patient, researchers said.

SAN ANTONIO (MedPage Today) -- A humanized monoclonal antibody against nerve growth factor demonstrated efficacy in three chronic pain syndromes, according to a summary of small studies reported as an abstract here.

Multiple courses of rituximab were safe for patients with advanced rheumatoid arthritis, with no increase in serious adverse events or serious infections, an analysis of data from an international follow-up program demonstrated.

Treatment regimens combining leflunomide (Arava) with an antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) agent were as effective in rheumatoid arthritis as regimens combining methotrexate with the biologics, a randomized Italian study found.

The hand impairment experienced by many patients with rheumatoid arthritis did not significantly interfere with their computer use, researchers found.

The immune system is markedly upregulated several years before the onset of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, a nested case-control study in Sweden found.

Overall mortality for children with rheumatologic diseases is down, although the risk of death remains elevated in certain inflammatory disorders, analysis of data from a large registry found.

Researchers say they have identified a genetic marker that can help predict the severity of knee osteoarthritis.

African-Americans of both sexes have more features and patterns associated with progression of hip osteoarthritis than whites, a cross-sectional analysis found.

Women with rheumatoid arthritis whose close relationships are marked by mutuality (MedPage Today) -- the reciprocal sharing of thoughts and feelings -- have lower levels of inflammation, a prospective study found.