Rheumatic Disorder: From Basic Science to Clinical Practice—2nd Edition

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (RDs) are chronic inflammatory diseases with a major health impact worldwide, but their management and classification are sometimes difficult due to their unknown aetiology and the heterogeneity of their clinical presentation. RDs have the largest and most consistent impact across all age groups, and they affect a significant proportion of the population. Their economic and social burden results from a decreased quality of life, a loss of productivity, and the increased costs of health care. Moreover, although RDs affect people of all ages, the demographic structure of the population indicates an increasing tendency towards an older population, along with an increasing prevalence of these diseases. Therefore, improving our knowledge of RDs, from basic science to clinical practice, has become critical. The heterogeneity of RDs and the lack of any clear clinical correlation with pathology makes for an inexact estimation of their incidence and prevalence. Moreover, more investigation is needed concerning the causes and mechanisms affecting the development and progression of these disorders, and more studies are needed to discover innovative treatments. As a result, the challenges of studying RDs lie in achieving accurate epidemiological data and making efforts to attain significant progress in determining the etiological mechanisms, clinical behaviour, and the genetic/epigenetic basis of the diseases, as well as the early diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients.

Dr. Andreina Manfredi
Dr. Caterina Vacchi
Dr. Giulia Cassone
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Biomedicines biomedicines	4.5	7.8	2013	18.2 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Clinics and Practice clinpract	2.8	3.5	2011	24 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Diagnostics diagnostics	3.8	6.9	2011	20.4 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Journal of Clinical Medicine jcm	3.3	5.2	2012	16.6 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Rheumato rheumato	-	-	2021	30 Days	CHF 1000	Submit

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All Biomedicines Clinics and Practice Diagnostics JCM Rheumato

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15 pages, 15678 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Neurological Complications in Pediatric Takayasu Arteritis: Insights from a Single-Center Experience

by Esma Sengenc, Sezgin Sahin, Mehmet Yildiz, Huseyin Kilic, Kenan Barut, Serhat Guler, Nergis Akay, Serdar Arslan, Ozgur Kasapcopur and Sema Saltik

J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(16), 6333; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15166333 - 16 Aug 2026

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Pediatric Takayasu arteritis (PTA) is a rare large-vessel vasculitis with limited data regarding neurological involvement. This study aimed to evaluate neurological manifestations and associated neuroimaging findings in a cohort of children with PTA. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 22 patients diagnosed [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Pediatric Takayasu arteritis (PTA) is a rare large-vessel vasculitis with limited data regarding neurological involvement. This study aimed to evaluate neurological manifestations and associated neuroimaging findings in a cohort of children with PTA. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 22 patients diagnosed with PTA and followed at a tertiary center between January 2000 and April 2025 were included. Neurological symptoms, examination findings, and neuroimaging data were reviewed. Angiographic involvement was classified according to the Numano classification. Results: Neurological involvement was identified in 5 patients (22.7%), including ischemic stroke (n = 3) and hypertensive encephalopathy (n = 2). Neurological symptoms were present in 15 patients (68.2%), with headache being the most common manifestation (54%). Other symptoms included dizziness, paresthesia, visual disturbances, syncope, and seizures. Neuroimaging revealed ischemic lesions in a subset of patients, as well as nonspecific white matter changes. Angiographic evaluation showed a predominance of extensive disease patterns, particularly Type V and Type IV involvement. Conclusions: Neurological manifestations in pediatric Takayasu arteritis are common but often nonspecific. However, severe complications such as stroke and hypertensive encephalopathy may occur and can be the initial presentation. Careful neurological evaluation and the use of neuroimaging are essential for early detection and appropriate management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Rheumatic Disorder: From Basic Science to Clinical Practice—2nd Edition)

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28 pages, 847 KB  

Open AccessReview

Gut Microbiota and Psoriatic Arthritis: From Pathogenesis to Microbiota-Targeted Therapies

by Silvia Valentini, Sauro Lorenzini, Stefano Gentileschi, Luca Cantarini, Bruno Frediani and Caterina Baldi

Rheumato 2026, 6(3), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/rheumato6030018 - 4 Aug 2026

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Psoriatic disease (PsD) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations extending beyond skin and joint involvement. Increasing evidence suggests a relevant role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), although a [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Psoriatic disease (PsD) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations extending beyond skin and joint involvement. Increasing evidence suggests a relevant role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), although a clear causal relationship remains to be fully established. The aim of this review is to summarize current evidence on the role of the gut microbiome in PsD, with a focus on immune modulation, disease pathogenesis and potential therapeutic implications. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted, focusing on studies investigating gut microbiota composition, dysbiosis patterns, and microbiome-related mechanisms in PsD and PsA, as well as emerging microbiota-targeted interventions. Results: Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have identified distinct microbial signatures associated with PsA onset and progression. Dysbiosis appears to influence immune system regulation, contributing to systemic inflammation through mechanisms involving intestinal barrier dysfunction and immune activation. Patients with PsA exhibit specific alterations in gut microbial composition compared to healthy controls. Emerging therapeutic strategies targeting the microbiota—including dietary interventions, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation—show potential as adjunctive approaches in disease management, although clinical evidence remains limited. Conclusions: The gut microbiome represents a promising area of research in PsD, offering novel insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. Further studies are needed to clarify causal relationships and to define the clinical applicability of microbiota-based interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Rheumatic Disorder: From Basic Science to Clinical Practice—2nd Edition)

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10 pages, 420 KB  

Open AccessSystematic Review

Mepolizumab Versus Benralizumab for the Treatment of Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Andrew Lurie, Danielle Madison, Jason Baluja, Sandra Madathilethu and Anas Bizanti

Rheumato 2026, 6(3), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/rheumato6030015 - 2 Jul 2026

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Abstract

Background: IL-5 inhibitors are effective at inducing remission in EGPA but the comparative benefit of specific drugs has been poorly studied. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed and EMBASE was conducted on 10 October 2025 to identify all studies that directly compare mepolizumab [...] Read more.

Background: IL-5 inhibitors are effective at inducing remission in EGPA but the comparative benefit of specific drugs has been poorly studied. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed and EMBASE was conducted on 10 October 2025 to identify all studies that directly compare mepolizumab with benralizumab in the treatment of EGPA. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 and ROBINS-I V2 tools. Data extraction and statistical analysis were performed using RevMan software to calculate Odds’ Ratios and assess heterogeneity with the I² statistic. Results: Three studies including a total of 365 participants were analyzed. All patients failed prior treatment, and most patients had a BVAS > 2 and glucocorticoid doses of 10 mg or higher. There was no difference in induction of clinical remission with mepolizumab as compared to benralizumab (OR 0.66 [95% CI 0.43–1.01], I² = 0%). There was decreased odds of glucocorticoid discontinuation with mepolizumab (OR 0.61 [95% CI: 0.38–0.99], I² = 0%). There was no difference in achieving glucocorticoid dose less than 5 mg (OR 0.73 [95% CI: 0.18–2.91], I² = 26%), adverse events (OR 1.26 [95% CI: 0.51–3.12], I² = 8%), or adverse events requiring discontinuation of therapy (OR 0.62 [95% CI: 0.21–1.85], I² = 62%). Conclusions: Both benralizumab and mepolizumab effectively induced remission in EGPA. There was a reduced odds of glucocorticoid discontinuation with mepolizumab thus there is a need for prospective head-to-head trials powered to detect a relative glucocorticoid-sparing effect to further assess this finding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Rheumatic Disorder: From Basic Science to Clinical Practice—2nd Edition)

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