Research in pediatric rheumatology has been particularly fast-paced in recent years, with countless studies being published. While this brings advances in treatments to the profession, it can be difficult for clinicians to keep up when science moves that quickly.
To help physicians get up to date on the latest, most significant research, two experts will present Pediatric Rheumatology Year in Review & Awards from 12:30 – 2:00 pm on Sunday in B216-B217, Building B in the Georgia World Congress Center.
The session will begin with a review of the most important clinical literature from the past year by Angelo Ravelli, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Pediatric Residency Program at the University of Genoa, Italy.
Dr. Ravelli said many recent interesting papers recently could influence the practice of pediatric rheumatology. Sunday’s session, he said, would include an examination of important data on the early use of anakinra in the management of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). There are also some important discoveries regarding new autoinflammatory diseases for which genetic associations have been found, he said.
He will also review data from a study by his research group.
“We examined the epidemiology, treatment approaches, and outcomes of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis in different parts of the world,” he said. “This study has shown that the prevalence of various phenotypes of JIA is largely variable across geographic regions throughout the world. It also shows that therapeutic choice also varies around the globe, with lower-resource countries less frequently using the newer — and costlier — biologic medications. The outcomes for children in these countries is poorer compared to children in wealthier countries, which means the lack of availably and affordability of biologic medications might have induced disparity in the outcome of the disease for these patients.”
Following Dr. Ravelli’s talk, Bryce Binstadt, MD, PhD, who is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Fellowship Program Director in the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, will review the latest in basic and translational research in pediatric rheumatology.
Dr. Binstadt has organized his talk according to how scientists think about basic pathogenesis of disease.
“What are the mechanisms that drive disease?” he said. “There are some studies that focus on new diagnostic approaches and biomarkers in pediatric rheumatic diseases and some that point to potential new avenues for treatment.”
One study he will highlight looks at lung disease in systemic JIA, which is an emerging clinical problem.
“We’re recognizing JIA-associated lung disease more,” he said. “So it’s helpful that there’s a new study describing its pathologic features and risk factors.”
Dr. Binstadt will also review data on immune cell heterogeneity and interplay in a variety of rheumatic diseases as well as novel data regarding fundamental mechanisms underlying autoinflammatory diseases. He said that the presentation would include a few studies from adult rheumatology and basic immunology that will be of general interest to the field and are applicable for pediatric rheumatologists, as well.
The session will conclude with the presentation of the pediatric ACR Awards of Distinction, led by moderator Andrea Knight, MD, Clinician-Investigator in the Division of Rheumatology at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.