Ruth Jessen Hickman

5 days ago | the-rheumatologist.org | Ruth Jessen Hickman

At a session of ACR Convergence 2024, speakers shared key elements of the new guideline on the screening, treatment and overall management of lupus nephritis in children and adults.1 This guideline attempts to balance the risks of medication side effects with the important goal of preserving kidney function. This is the ACR’s first lupus guideline since 2012.

5 days ago | the-rheumatologist.org | Ruth Jessen Hickman

As part of a session on lupus nephritis at ACR Convergence 2023, Simone Appenzeller, MD, PhD, shared perspectives on the importance of biopsy to inform the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of the condition, with an emphasis on childhood disease. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of lupus nephritis is perhaps even more important for children than for adults because of the risk of kidney failure and longer total lifetime impact.

3 weeks ago | health.com | Ruth Jessen Hickman |Casey Gallagher

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes abnormal inflammation around hair follicles, leading to excessive hair loss. The condition may cause nail symptoms, including texture, shape, or color changes. These changes are usually minor and may not affect your daily life. However, some people have more serious nail changes that can cause pain and interfere with daily activities.

3 weeks ago | the-rheumatologist.org | Ruth Jessen Hickman

Many rheumatology researchers share concerns about the landscape for future opportunities, given recent pressures from the current presidential administration. These may make an already challenging environment even more difficult for academic physicians to successfully navigate. But many in the field will persevere despite obstacles, driven by the need to deepen understanding of these conditions and ultimately improve long-term quality of life for people with rheumatic diseases.

4 weeks ago | health.com | Ruth Jessen Hickman |Katlein França

Maskot / Getty Images Atopic dermatitis may be more challenging for healthcare providers to identify because its color differs in people with darker skin than in people with lighter skin. Atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema, leads to chronic (long-term) inflammation in areas of the skin. With darker skin, this skin inflammation doesn’t usually look red like in people with lighter skin. Instead, the affected skin may have a darker brown or purplish color.