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What's New
PubMed · July 25, 2026
Researchers found that adding a traditional Chinese medicine technique called separated moxibustion — where heat from burning herbs is applied over specific points on the skin — to standard drug treatment helped people with rheumatoid arthritis (a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling) experience less joint pain, less morning stiffness, and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to those who only received standard drugs. The researchers also noticed changes in the gut microbiota, meaning the community of bacteria living in the digestive system, suggesting the treatment may work partly by influencing those bacteria and reducing inflammation. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 13, 2026
Researchers found that when people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling — don't get enough relief from their first treatment, there are many other medications available, but it hasn't been clear which ones work best or are safest compared to each other. This large review looked at studies comparing dozens of different options to help sort out which treatments tend to work better after the first one falls short. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 10, 2026
Researchers found that for people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints — taking certain newer medications alongside older standard treatments may raise the risk of serious infections more than taking either type alone. Specifically, combining older standard drugs with four particular medications (adalimumab, infliximab, tofacitinib, or upadacitinib) was linked to a noticeably higher chance of serious infections, while some other drug combinations did not show the same pattern. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 3, 2026
A study found that older adults (over 65) with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling — responded just as well to a structured treatment approach as younger patients, and were actually more likely to reach a state where the disease was no longer actively causing symptoms. Older patients also needed fewer of the stronger medications used when standard treatments aren't enough, suggesting this approach works well even for people with other health conditions alongside their arthritis. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that a traditional herbal formula called Kunduan Yimu Decoction may help reduce joint inflammation and other symptoms in people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints — possibly by influencing a tiny molecule in the body that helps cells clean up damage and keep inflammation in check. The herbal formula was compared to methotrexate, a commonly used medication for rheumatoid arthritis, in a small study of 66 patients over 12 weeks. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed · July 1, 2026
According to Asia-Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) guidelines, doctors caring for people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling — should follow a structured approach that includes regularly measuring how active the disease is, choosing the right medications at the right time, and screening for infections before starting certain treatments. The guidelines also cover how to safely manage rheumatoid arthritis medications during pregnancy, which matters because some treatments need to be adjusted to protect both the patient and the baby. Staying up to date with vaccinations is another key focus, since some rheumatoid arthritis medications can make it harder for the body to fight infections.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient's rheumatoid arthritis treatment plan follows the latest 2024 APLAR recommendations for managing the disease.
Lifestyle
PubMed · July 1, 2026
A study found that people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling — who completed eight sessions of occupational therapy showed meaningful improvements in their daily lives. The therapy was personalized, helping each person identify and practice activities that mattered to them, such as cooking, dressing, or hobbies, while also building habits around rest, movement, and pacing throughout the day. Researchers found that compared to people who only received regular phone check-ins, those in the therapy group reported less pain, less fatigue, better quality of life, and greater ability to do the things they wanted to do — and those improvements were still present six months later.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
A study found that certain older medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis — specifically methotrexate, leflunomide, and sulfasalazine — were better than a placebo (an inactive treatment) at slowing down joint damage, which is when the disease gradually wears away the bones and cartilage in joints. Interestingly, steroid injections (glucocorticoids) performed similarly to methotrexate in some measures but didn't clearly beat placebo using the study's main method of measuring joint damage, which raises questions about how much steroids alone actually protect joints over time. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and stiffness — who followed a hand and wrist exercise program delivered through short videos sent via WhatsApp saw meaningful improvements in wrist pain, morning stiffness, and hand strength after 12 weeks, compared to those who didn't do the exercises. The program, called SARAH, was designed specifically for hand and wrist exercises and required no clinic visits, suggesting that guided exercise delivered remotely could be a practical option for people managing this condition. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that baricitinib — a pill used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, a condition where the immune system attacks the joints — worked just as well as etanercept, an injected medication, at reducing joint inflammation. This was true whether patients took baricitinib alone or paired it with another common medication called methotrexate, and the improvements showed up as early as four weeks in, even when measured with ultrasound imaging that can detect swelling inside the joints. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that for people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling — who had already tried and not responded well to one type of medication, switching to a different kind of drug called upadacitinib worked better than switching to another similar drug (adalimumab) at reducing disease activity and pain after 12 weeks. About 43% of people on upadacitinib saw meaningful improvement in their joint inflammation scores, compared to about 22% on adalimumab, suggesting that choosing a medication that works in a completely different way in the body may help more when the first treatment stops working. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient might do better switching to upadacitinib instead of trying another TNF inhibitor like adalimumab, since the patient's previous TNF inhibitor didn't work well.
Medications
PubMed · July 1, 2026
A study found that tofacitinib (brand name Xeljanz), a pill used to treat rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling — worked better than methotrexate, a long-standing arthritis medication, at reducing disease activity after 3 months. Researchers found that about 94% of patients taking tofacitinib showed meaningful improvement, compared to about 75% of those taking methotrexate. This appears to be a new finding about tofacitinib as a possible early treatment option for people newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis who haven't yet tried other medications.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether tofacitinib might work better than methotrexate as a first treatment for the patient's rheumatoid arthritis.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that in people with early rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling — where the disease shows up in the body may predict how well treatment works. People whose arthritis was mainly in the hand joints tended to respond better to medications, while those with many joints affected throughout the body tended to respond less well, regardless of which type of medication they were given. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that certain medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis — biologics, which are drugs that target specific parts of the immune system — may also shift the balance of bacteria living in the gut. In people with arthritis, the gut bacteria seemed to move toward a healthier mix after treatment, with more 'good' bacteria that help reduce inflammation and fewer bacteria linked to it. This is interesting because it raises the possibility that gut bacteria might one day help doctors predict how well a treatment will work for someone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that doubling a weekly folic acid supplement — from 5 mg to 10 mg — in people taking methotrexate (a common medication for rheumatoid arthritis) did not significantly reduce liver-related side effects, but those taking the higher dose did report less fatigue. Methotrexate can sometimes cause side effects like liver stress, and folic acid is routinely taken alongside it to help protect the body. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should take 10 mg of folic acid per week instead of 5 mg to reduce side effects from methotrexate.
What's New
PubMed · June 30, 2026
Researchers found that when looking at the big picture, the main medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis — including several types of biologic and targeted drugs — appeared similarly safe overall, but when scientists looked more closely at specific side effects by body system, meaningful differences between individual drugs and drug types started to emerge. This matters for people with rheumatoid arthritis because it suggests that choosing between these medications isn't just about how well they control the disease — the specific pattern of side effects tied to each drug could be an important factor in finding the right fit for a particular person. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 26, 2026
Researchers found that traditional Chinese medicine herbal drinks, used alongside standard treatment, may help people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling. The study, which looked at results from 36 smaller studies involving nearly 7,000 patients, found that those who took these herbal preparations had less joint swelling, less morning stiffness, and lower levels of inflammation markers in their blood compared to those who did not. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 25, 2026
Researchers found that metformin — a common diabetes and blood sugar medication — may help reduce inflammation and improve daily functioning in people with rheumatoid arthritis (a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling) when added to their existing arthritis treatment. Looking at four studies involving 350 patients, the research found meaningful reductions in inflammation markers and disease activity scores, which measure how active and severe the arthritis is. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
PubMed · June 24, 2026
A study found that two medications — upadacitinib (brand name Rinvoq) and adalimumab (brand name Humira) — both helped people with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition where the immune system attacks the joints causing pain and swelling, maintain improvements in their symptoms over 7 years. Researchers found that upadacitinib worked at least as well as adalimumab at reducing disease activity, though it was linked to somewhat higher rates of certain side effects, including shingles (a painful viral rash) and some liver-related changes. This appears to be a long-term safety and effectiveness update rather than a new treatment option, giving doctors a clearer picture of how these two medications compare over many years.
What's New
PubMed · June 24, 2026
Researchers found that among people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and stiffness — two types of medications performed better than a commonly used older drug class at reducing limitations in daily activities like walking or dressing. A medication called rituximab ranked highest overall across measures like pain, fatigue, and physical function, while a separate group of medications ranked best for mental health outcomes. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 24, 2026
Researchers found that people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling — who received spa-based treatments using warm sulfur mud and mineral water baths showed noticeably more improvement in joint pain and disease activity compared to those who received a standard therapy. The sulfur mud and mineral water treatments were added on top of regular physical therapy, suggesting this type of spa care might offer extra relief as a complementary approach. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 22, 2026
Researchers found that for people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints — lung complications can quietly develop with little to no obvious symptoms, making them easy to miss. The study looked at cheaper, lower-radiation alternatives to the gold-standard CT scan for spotting these lung problems early, and found that a simple blood protein called KL-6 and a type of ultrasound scan of the lungs both showed strong promise for detecting lung disease sooner. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
ScienceDaily · June 1, 2026
A study found that abatacept (brand name Orencia), a drug that works by calming part of the immune system, helped delay the development of rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the body's immune system attacks the joints — by up to four years in people who were considered high-risk for developing it. Remarkably, researchers found this protective effect continued long after people had stopped taking the medication, even though treatment only lasted one year. This appears to be a new and emerging option being explored for people at risk of rheumatoid arthritis, though it is not yet an established recommendation.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether abatacept might be something the patient should consider if the patient is at high risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis, especially since the study showed it delayed the disease for years even after stopping the medicine.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that special shoe inserts called foot orthoses can help reduce pressure on the front of the foot — which matters for people with rheumatoid arthritis because that extra pressure can cause pain and even skin sores over time. However, the review also uncovered a surprising gap: no studies have actually tested whether these inserts can help stretch tight calf muscles, even though stiff calves are thought to make forefoot pressure worse. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling — who took a more targeted type of JAK inhibitor (specifically ones that focus on a single pathway called JAK1, such as upadacitinib or filgotinib) were less likely to stop their medication compared to those on broader JAK inhibitors like tofacitinib or baricitinib, mainly because the targeted versions seemed to work better for more people over time. The difference in side effects between the two types was not significant, meaning neither group stopped their medication due to side effects at notably different rates. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether upadacitinib or filgotinib might be better options for the patient to stay on longer compared to tofacitinib or baricitinib for treating rheumatoid arthritis.
Lifestyle
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that certain lifestyle habits and other health conditions people already have — such as smoking, obesity, or depression — may be linked to a harder-to-treat form of rheumatoid arthritis, a disease where the immune system attacks the joints causing pain and swelling. The study pooled results from multiple observational studies to measure how strongly each of these factors was connected to cases where standard treatments weren't working well. No single food or exercise was singled out — instead, the research looked at a broad picture of daily habits and existing health conditions together.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
A study found that a structured talk therapy program called the Unified Protocol — which teaches people skills to manage difficult emotions — helped people with rheumatoid arthritis (a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and inflammation) feel less anxious, less depressed, and less stressed. Researchers also found that getting better at handling emotions seemed to be a key reason why people felt improvement, and that the therapy helped reduce 'pain catastrophizing' — meaning people were less likely to dwell on pain or see it as unbearable. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed · June 1, 2026
According to European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) guidelines, people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling — have a range of treatment options, including older standard medicines as well as newer biological and targeted drugs, and their doctor can choose based on what works best for each individual. EULAR guidelines also now consider approaches like using joint tissue samples or drug level monitoring to help guide treatment decisions, moving toward more personalized care. This matters because finding the right treatment sooner can help protect joints from long-term damage and improve day-to-day life.
Guidelines
PubMed · June 1, 2026
According to EULAR (the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology) guidelines, people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling — should be aware that different medications carry different infection risks, which matters when choosing a treatment plan with their doctor. For example, biological medicines (injections or infusions that target specific parts of the immune system) appear to carry a higher risk of serious infections than older oral medications, and one newer class of medicines called JAK inhibitors carries a higher risk of shingles compared to those biological medicines. This kind of safety information helps patients and their doctors have more informed conversations about which treatment option makes the most sense for each person's situation.
Guidelines
PubMed · June 1, 2026
According to European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) guidelines, people with rheumatoid arthritis — a condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling — should typically start treatment with a medicine called methotrexate, often paired briefly with steroids to help control inflammation quickly. The guidelines also outline when doctors might consider switching to more advanced treatments, such as biologic or targeted therapies, based on how well a patient is responding. This matters because following a clear, step-by-step treatment plan — including regular check-ins to hit specific health targets — gives people the best chance of keeping their joints healthy and maintaining a good quality of life.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient's current rheumatoid arthritis treatment plan follows the 2025 European guidelines for managing the condition with drugs like methotrexate.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.