Dr. Shiel, Editor of MedicineNet's Focus Topics On Arthritis, Gives Perspectives Of Interest On Topics From 2003 Annual Scientific Meeting of The American College of Rheumatology (held October 23-28, 2003)

Overall, this was another extremely important meeting with brilliant research presented in nearly 2,000 reports. The meeting lasted six days and was attended by over 10,000 doctors from across the nation and throughout the world!

It is critical to the health of patients with arthritis that such important research is occurring. Arthritis alone currently affects 15% of all Americans and the number affected will grow to 18.2% by the year 2020. It has dramatic effects on the function and well-being of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

The themes that were reported at the meeting ranged from basic bench science to reports of exciting new treatments and tests available for rheumatic diseases. I want to highlight for you many of the reports and papers that led to my own excitement as they clearly are going to have an impact on the general public health.

Here, I will summarize reports on a variety of arthritis and rheumatism topics that I know you will find interesting. Click on each item from the Disease Index below for the summary of my coverage for that particular arthritis or rheumatism topic.

Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis - Powerful new treatments documented (Remicade, Enbrel, and others). -- Finally, research emphasizing these potentially devastating forms of arthritis affective 0.21% of Americans over age 15. These are common forms of chronic pain in younger people.

Arthritis Drugs & New Medications - What's new, what's old, what's safe, what's not, what's coming.

Fibromyalgia - Medications and exercises that can work, website info, fibromaylgia gene? -- Helpful tips for the 0.5% of men and 3.4% of women affected, representing 2% of Americans overall.

Gout - Real diet and medications research -- Eye-opening information about a condition that causes suffering to 0.84% of all Americans.

Osteoporosis - Prevention methods underused, men over 70 years of age at risk. In the United States, more than 10 million people have osteoporosis of the hip and almost 19 million more have low hip bone density.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Summaries of new treatments (Remicade, Enbrel, Humira, and more), associated conditions, patient education, and complications, which were reported on this form of arthritis that affects 1% of all Americans.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Sleep significance, Plaquenil benefits.