Systemic Autoimmunity Branch
https://www.niams.nih.gov/labs/kaplan-lab
Led by Dr. Mariana Kaplan, the branch studies autoimmune diseases, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, seeking treatments and improved outcomes.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 results
Alopecia Areata
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/alopecia-areata
What is alopecia areata? Alopecia areata is a disease that causes hair loss. In alopecia areata, the immune system attacks the structures in skin that form hair (hair follicles). Alopecia areata usually affects the head and face, though hair can be lost from any part of the body. Hair typically falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter. In some cases, hair loss is more extensive.
Fibromyalgia
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/fibromyalgia
What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a long-lasting disorder that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body. It also can cause you to feel overly tired (fatigue) and have trouble sleeping. Doctors do not fully understand what causes fibromyalgia, but people with the disorder are more sensitive to pain.
NIAMS Involvement in the Accelerating Medicines Partnership® (AMP®)
https://www.niams.nih.gov/grants-funding/funded-research/accelerating-medicines
This public-private partnership seeks to develop new ways of identifying and validating promising biological targets for diagnostics and drug development.
Sjögren’s Syndrome
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sjogrens-syndrome
What is Sjögren’s syndrome? Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic (long-lasting) disorder that happens when the immune system attacks the glands that make moisture in the eyes, mouth, and other parts of the body. The main symptoms are dry eyes and mouth, but the disorder may affect other parts of the body. Many people with Sjogren’s syndrome say they feel tired often (fatigue). They also may have joint and muscle pain. In addition, the disease can damage the lungs, kidneys, and nervous system.
Osteoarthritis
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/osteoarthritis
What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that happens when the tissues in the joint break down over time. It is the most common type of arthritis and is more common in older people. People with osteoarthritis usually have joint pain and, after rest, stiffness (inability to move easily) for a short period of time. The most commonly affected joints include the: Hands (ends of the fingers and at the base and ends of the thumbs). Knees. Hips. Neck. Lower back. Osteoarthritis affects each person differently. For some people, osteoarthritis does not affect day-to-day activities. For others, it causes
Gout
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/gout
What is gout? Gout is a type of arthritis that causes pain and swelling in your joints, usually as flares that last for a week or two, and then go away. Gout flares often begin in your big toe or a lower limb. Gout happens when high levels of a substance called serum urate build up in your body. When this happens, needle-shaped crystals form in and around the joint. This leads to inflammation and arthritis of the joint. However, many people with high levels of serum urate will not develop gout. With early diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes, gout
Close to home: NIH researcher and alopecia patient seeks a cure
https://www.niams.nih.gov/close-home-nih-researcher-and-alopecia-patient-seeks-cure
New clues on tissue damage identified in rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
Research supported by the Accelerating Medicines Partnership (AMP) on Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (RA/SLE) provides new insights into tissue damage for these autoimmune conditions. Findings include the identification of novel molecular signatures related to immune system signaling in kidney cells that may reflect their active role in disease process; molecular targets, including specific white blood cells, for potential treatment in lupus nephritis; and specific types of fibroblasts and white blood cells that are involved in rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rheumatoid-arthritis
What is rheumatoid arthritis? Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that mostly affects joints, such as the wrist, hands, feet, spine, knees, and jaw. In joints, RA causes inflammation that leads to: Pain. Swelling Stiffness. Loss of function. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder because the immune system attacks the healthy joint tissues. Normally, the immune system helps protect the body from infection and disease. RA may cause you to feel unusually tired, to have occasional fevers, and to have a loss of appetite. It also may cause other medical problems in the heart, lungs, blood, nerves, eyes
Advantage, Wozniacki: Tennis star on taking charge of life with RA
https://www.niams.nih.gov/advantage-wozniacki-tennis-star-taking-charge-life-ra
Engineered cartilage produces anti-inflammatory drug
https://www.niams.nih.gov/engineered-cartilage-produces-anti-inflammatory-drug
Machine learning detects early signs of osteoarthritis
https://www.niams.nih.gov/machine-learning-detects-early-signs-osteoarthritis
Parents’ smoking during childhood linked to rheumatoid arthritis later in life
https://www.niams.nih.gov/parents-smoking-during-childhood-linked-rheumatoid-arthritis-later-life
Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/polymyalgia-rheumatica-giant-cell-arteritis
What are polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis? Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis are closely linked inflammatory disorders. Some people have one of the disorders while others develop both of them. Polymyalgia rheumatica causes muscle pain and stiffness in the shoulders, upper arms, hip area, and sometimes the neck. Giant cell arteritis causes inflammation of arteries, especially those on each side of the head, scalp, and the aorta (the large artery that carries blood from the heart) and its main branches. The main symptoms of this disorder are: Headaches. Scalp tenderness. Jaw pain. Problems with your eyes, which may
Health Disparities in Osteoarthritis Workshop - July 2022
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institute on Aging (NIA), and National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) are sponsoring a virtual workshop on Health Disparities in Osteoarthritis on Tuesday, July 12 – Wednesday, July 13, 2022, starting at 11:00 AM (ET) each day. The workshop will focus on combining behavioral and biomedical science to address personal, interpersonal, and societal influences that contribute to health disparities in osteoarthritis. Discussions will cover how understanding these disparities can lead to better health in osteoarthritis. Please visit the NIH Health Disparities in Osteoarthritis Workshop page
Recharging cartilage after knee damage
https://www.niams.nih.gov/recharging-cartilage-after-knee-damage
NIBIB-funded researchers are developing an implantable, biodegradable film that helps to regenerate the native cartilage at the site of damage. Their study, performed in rabbits, could be an initial, important step in the establishment of a new treatment for this common condition, osteoarthritis.
FDA Approves First Systemic Treatment for Alopecia Areata
https://www.niams.nih.gov/fda-approves-first-systemic-treatment-alopecia-areata
The FDA approved Olumiant (baricitinib) oral tablets to treat adult patients with severe alopecia areata. The action marks the first FDA approval of a systemic treatment (i.e. treats the entire body rather than a specific location) for alopecia areata.