Latest Rheumatology research

Top 10 this week

Week of 20 September 2026

1. 1

   Impact of Dual Interleukin-17A and Interleukin-17F Inhibition with Bimekizumab on Inflammatory and Structural Lesions in Axial Spondyloarthritis: MRI and Radiographic Outcomes from the Phase 3 BE MOBILE 1 and 2 Studies and their Open-Label Extension

   Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 14 September 2026

   Bimekizumab reduces MRI inflammation in axSpA

2. 2

   Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Discontinuation Of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors In Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission/Low Disease Activity: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

   The Journal of rheumatology · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 15 September 2026

   In a 48-week double-blind trial, RA patients who discontinued TNF inhibitors reported higher pain, worse global assessment and higher HAQ scores by week 12 compared with those who continued therapy; the differences were modest. After most relapses were retreated, patient-reported outcomes returned to baseline by week 48, suggesting short-term worsening but reversible effects.

3. 3

   Low-dose interleukin-2 for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

   Autoimmunity reviews · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 16 September 2026

   Systematic review, low-dose IL-2 efficacy in SLE

4. 4

   Effects of gut microbiota-targeted interventions on pain, physical function, and inflammatory biomarkers in osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

   Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 4 September 2026

   Meta-analysis of RCTs showing gut interventions reduce OA pain

5. 5

   Efficacy and safety of rozanolixizumab in severe fibromyalgia: a phase 2A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial

   The Lancet. Rheumatology · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 16 September 2026

   Phase 2A fibromyalgia trial, non‑inflammatory

6. 6

   Corticosteroids as adjunctive therapy to standard treatment in Kawasaki disease: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

   European journal of pediatrics · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 14 September 2026

   Corticosteroids adjunctive therapy in Kawasaki disease

7. 7

   Safety and Efficacy of Brolucizumab in the Treatment of Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema and Diabetic Retinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

   Journal of clinical medicine · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 23 August 2026

   Brolucizumab in diabetic eye disease

8. 8

   Calorie-Restricted DASH, Carbohydrate-Restricted, and Low-Purine Diets for Weight Loss and Urate Control in Men With Overweight or Obesity and Hyperuricemia: A Randomized Trial

   Diabetes care · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 15 September 2026

   Dietary trials for weight loss and urate control in hyperuricemic

9. 9

   Idiopathic Raynaud's Phenomenon and Vitamin D Deficiency in Children and Adolescents: An Exploratory Single-Center Retrospective Observational Study Throughout the Period 2010-2025

   Journal of clinical medicine · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 23 August 2026

   Vitamin D deficiency linked to severity of pediatric Raynaud’s

10. 10

    Antibiotic pretreatment and culture yield in pediatric osteoarticular infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

    Clinical and experimental pediatrics · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 14 September 2026

    Ranked by evidence level and journal quartile

Paper of the day, last two weeks

• Real-world effectiveness and safety of secukinumab in giant cell arteritis: an Italian multicentre cohort study

  Arthritis care & research · Q1 journal · Non-randomized trial · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 21 September 2026

  Secukinumab effective and steroid‑sparing in real‑world GCA cohort

• Comparative Safety of Common Immunosuppressant Therapies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Target Trial Emulation Study

  Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) · Q1 journal · Retrospective cohort · Evidence level 3 (Low) · 17 September 2026

  Comparative safety of immunosuppressants in non‑renal SLE

• Development and external validation of a clinical-genetic risk identification model for rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease

  Frontiers in immunology · Q1 journal · Prospective cohort · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 3 September 2026

  RA‑ILD risk model with clinical‑genetic predictors

• First-line biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs versus methotrexate in early rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis of remission outcomes

  Rheumatology (Oxford, England) · Q1 journal · SR of cohorts · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 17 September 2026

  Meta‑analysis of b/tsDMARDs versus methotrexate in early RA

• Clinical features and a Nomogram for predicting clinical response in juvenile dermatomyositis associated interstitial lung disease

  The Journal of rheumatology · Q1 journal · Retrospective cohort · Evidence level 4 (Very Low) · 15 September 2026

  Nomogram predicts response in juvenile dermatomyositis ILD

• Sequential disease activity assessment for predicting future treatment trajectories in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with JAK inhibitors: a group-based trajectory and landmark analysis

  Annals of the rheumatic diseases · Q1 journal · Unclassified · Evidence level 5 (Expert Opinion) · 10 September 2026

  RA JAK inhibitor trajectory analysis

• Spondyloarthritis in the peripartum period: a systematic review of current knowledge and clinical implications

  Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease · Q1 journal · SR of cohorts · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 11 September 2026

  A systematic review of 167 studies found disease activity stable in psoriatic arthritis pregnancies but variable in axial SpA, with flares in up to 40% of pregnancies, especially when TNF-inhibitors were stopped. Pregnancy outcomes were generally favorable, though preterm birth, cesarean delivery and small-for-gestational-age infants were modestly increased. Continuing biologics and limiting NSAID use may improve outcomes, but high-quality prospective data are still needed.

• Tofacitinib Reduces KL-6 Levels in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease. Results Of A Phase II Investigator-Initiated Study

  Respiratory medicine · Q1 journal · Non-randomized trial · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 10 September 2026

  In a phase II trial of 39 rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease patients, tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily reduced serum KL-6 from about 34,400 to 32,200 units over 48 weeks. Adverse events were common (92%) and mortality/ progressive fibrosis occurred in 38.5 per 100 patient-years, with a modest FVC drop of 72 mL. Further study is needed to determine whether the biomarker decline translates into meaningful clinical benefit.

• Real-world experience with belimumab in lupus nephritis: insights from the Spanish cohort

  Frontiers in immunology · Q1 journal · Retrospective cohort · Evidence level 3 (Low) · 25 August 2026

  Real‑world belimumab effectiveness in lupus nephritis

• IMPACT study: large real-world evaluation of guselkumab in psoriatic arthritis integrating clinical response and treatment persistence

  Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 8 September 2026

  In a multicentre real-world cohort of 389 psoriatic arthritis patients, median DAPSA fell from 24.2 to 10.5, with 58.6% reaching low disease activity and 14.1% in remission at one year. Skin clearance was complete in 68% and enthesitis/dactylitis resolved in 63% and 95% respectively, while 79% remained on therapy with no new safety signals.

• Celecoxib plus topical flurbiprofen patch versus celecoxib alone for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial

  Rheumatology (Oxford, England) · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 9 September 2026

  In a 14-day open-label trial of 90 knee-OA patients, adding a twice-daily flurbiprofen patch to standard celecoxib produced a larger drop in pain scores by day 3 (3.4 vs 2.0 on a 0-10 VAS) and sustained functional gains through two weeks. The regimen improved short-term quality-of-life measures, but the benefit did not persist beyond the first week, leaving longer-term effects unclear.

• AMETHYST: a Retrospective Cohort Study of Treatment Patterns and Outcomes in Patients With Glucocorticoid-refractory Macrophage Activation Syndrome Complicating Still's Disease

  Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) · Q1 journal · Retrospective cohort · Evidence level 3 (Low) · 7 September 2026

  Real‑world treatment patterns in glucocorticoid‑refractory MAS

Evidence summaries in Rheumatology

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Gout
• Giant Cell Arteritis
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Osteoarthritis
• What is the first-line treatment for acute gout?