Juvenile idiopathic arthritis outcomes vary greatly across the world, possibly due to genetic factors, referral biases, and differential access to treatment. Daniel Horton, MD, MS, discussed disease variations across North America.

Lead author Lisa Sammaritano, MD, discussed the development of the 2024 ACR guideline for the screening, treatment, and management of lupus nephritis and key recommendations, including a kidney biopsy for patients with suspected disease.

In a discussion on molecular phenotypes and functional response biomarkers in systemic sclerosis, Francesco Del Galdo, MD, PhD, discussed data-driven approaches to managing the clinical manifestations of the disease.

Grace Wright, MD, PhD, FACR, and Christopher Ritchlin, MD, MPH, discussed key presentations at ACR Convergence 2024 that highlighted new developments in rheumatology that are most likely to impact patient care and outcomes.

Many educators struggle to write effective learning objectives. Rebecca Sadun, MD, PhD, offered tips on how medical educators can create actionable, measurable, observable, and specific learning objectives to help learners succeed.

Some infectious diseases can mimic rheumatic disorders. In a session on identifying these mimics, Joyce Hui-Yuen, MD, MS, highlighted leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, in children.

Toxic chemicals, air pollution, and other harmful substances pose environmental health hazards to people with rheumatic disease. Tamiko Katsumoto, MD, and other experts detailed the impacts of these threats and ways to combat them.

Lupus arthritis is a puzzle. The symptoms are familiar, but distinguishing lupus arthritis from other arthritic diseases is an evolving conversation. “The spectrum of lupus arthritis is much wider than what we may have thought of some years ago,” said Anca D. Askanase, MD, MPH.