Tremendous advances have been made in the field of rheumatology, profoundly changing our understanding of many rheumatologic conditions and creating a new frontier for effective treatments. This book explains the most significant advances in research and care and speculates as to what will be the future of rheumatology over the next several decades, including challenges and lessons learned from past experiences in the field. It highlights landmark research articles and scientific discoveries, discusses how big data, personalized medicine, new biomarkers for disease, and other technological revolutions will shape the future, making it a must-have resource for physicians from all regions of the world. Key Features • Includes concise yet thorough description of the landmark studies and scientific breakthroughs coupled with easy-to-follow organizational structure of chapters that are accessible to readers at different levels of training. • Brings together world-leading experts to provide a fresh perspective to trainees such as residents and fellows-in-training, as well as more senior clinicians and researchers across the field of rheumatology and in specialties such as cardiology, dermatology, pulmonology, nephrology, and neurology, all of whom care for patients with rheumatologic conditions. • Allows the authors to imagine and speculate about the evolution of the field of rheumatology in the coming decades. Examples of such speculative possibilities include use of synovial biopsy to predict response to treatment in rheumatoid arthritis, replacement of renal biopsy with urinary proteomics in diagnosing and classifying lupus nephritis, use of new therapeutics to obviate the need for steroids in the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis, and the use of machine learning to evaluate subtle changes in imaging for management of inflammatory arthritis.

Edited by Drs. Jack Cush and Kathryn Dao, this issue of Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America addresses one of the most significant issues facing the rheumatologist today––drug safety in a changing world where rheumatoid arthritis (RA) severity is less, patients are being identified and treated at a very early stage, and prevention is on the horizon. Topics covered include: communicating the risk of side effects, urate-lowering therapies, biphosphonates, biologics, malignancy risks, and administering therapies to patients with co-morbidities.

Guest edited by Drs. Jeffrey Curtis, Kevin Winthrop and Kaleb Michaud, this issue of Rheumatic Disease Clinics will cover several key areas of interest related to Technology and Big Data in Rheumatology. This issue is one of four selected each year by our series Consulting Editor, Dr. Michael Weisman of Cedars-Sinai. Articles in this issue include, but are not limited to: Adherence & Adverse Event Ascertainment through mHealth; Digital Patient Education and Decision Aids; Imaging in the mobile domain; Quality Measures made easier with mHealth data; Patient self-management and tracking; Motivational Counseling and SMS Reminders; Digital Interventions to build community support; Telehealth to solve cases in under-resourced areas; Trials, eConsents, Data Linkage & the Future; Clinical experience with devices; and PROMIS vs legacy data instruments.

In recent years, the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis has undergone tremendous changes due to methotrexate and biologics in large part. Until a decade ago, avoiding joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis was not realistic for rheumatologist. However, prevention of joint deterioration is now possible, and the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in long-term has been able to improve by advances in treatment. However, there are still many problems to be overcome before achieving the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. All of review articles presented on this book are explaining treatment, basic research, and patient care of rheumatoid arthritis with innovative perspective and ideas. I hope that the ideas that have been described in these articles help the reader to resolve the outstanding issues in rheumatoid arthritis.

In recent years, the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis has undergone tremendous changes due to methotrexate and biologics in large part. Until a decade ago, avoiding joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis was not realistic for rheumatologist. However, prevention of joint deterioration is now possible, and the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in long-term has been able to improve by advances in treatment. However, there are still many problems to be overcome before achieving the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. All of review articles presented on this book are explaining treatment, basic research, and patient care of rheumatoid arthritis with innovative perspective and ideas. I hope that the ideas that have been described in these articles help the reader to resolve the outstanding issues in rheumatoid arthritis.

This book details the practice of telerheumatology. Telemedicine is defined as the delivery of healthcare and the exchange of healthcare information across distances. Following, telerheumatology is the delivery of rheumatology care through telemedicine. There exists an increasing demand from patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems for access to academic specialists through telemedicine. This has been the case for the past several years and the demand has only increased with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There is currently a lack of rheumatologists in rural areas and that is expected to spread to a general lack by 2025. Telerheumatology offers an excellent and timely solution to fill these gaps and provide care. Telerheumatology care has been shown to be feasible and quite effective. The current COVID-19 pandemic has thrust the concept of telemedicine into the spotlight. However, not all telerheumatology care is the same and there exists many nuances and differences when examining telerheumatology care across the United States and the world. After comprehensively reviewing the origins of telerheumatology, this work defines in detail the current practice of telerheumatology, along with the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and all applications of telerheumatology. Expert authors also provide a detailed roadmap for providers to initiate, sustain, and grow a telerheumatology program. The book concludes by covering future directions of telerheumatology, including areas for expansion, improvement, and innovation. After reading this work, the editor and all the contributing authors hope that it will inspire, provoke thought and discussion, and lead to increased adaptation of providing telerheumatology care by rheumatologists and rheumatology providers.

Leading clinicians and clinical researchers discuss in practical detail the newest treatments used in rheumatic diseases, emphasizing-without neglecting current standard treatments-those experimental therapies now undergoing clinical trials and poised for early introduction into the rheumatology armamentarium. The diseases and therapeutic regimes examined here range from rheumatoid arthritis and its treatment by gene therapy, to osteoarthritis and systemic autoimune diseases. Each chapter is organized so that the busy clinician can quickly obtain all the information needed optimal patient treatment. This includes an analysis of the pathogenic mechanisms that explain the molecular basis of the newer therapeutics, reviews of animal data and the results of clinical trials, and recommendations concerning use, side effects, and precautions.

Rheumatology: Symptoms and Syndromes organizes the rheumatic diseases in the form of syndromes as stable combinations of symptoms, and links these to morphological manifestations. This presentation of the rheumatic diseases provides a pedagogical framework for differential diagnosis in rheumatology. To further aid the teacher and student, Professor Efim Benenson provides algorithms of clinical reasoning based on morphology and pathophysiology. Professor Benenson’s practice-oriented, didactic approach, and innovative organization of the rheumatic diseases is a valuable diagnostic aid to practicing rheumatologists and those teaching or training in rheumatology. Readers are recommended the companion book, Rheumatology: Clinical Scenarios, for further reading on Professor Benensons's organization of the rheumatic diseases.