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Diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Guest Editor

Michael Doumen, MD, KU Leuven University Hospitals, Belgium


BMC Rheumatology called for submissions to our Collection on the Diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. 

This Collection aimed to share ongoing research, disease management programs, and patient-healthcare professional engagement, which may contribute to diagnostic accuracy, effective therapeutic outcomes, and beneficial healthcare professional collaborations. Rheumatoid arthritis is marked by persistent joint inflammation and loss of function due to autoimmune responses. Its onset can be attributed to a combination of genetic and environmental factors which can significantly impact quality of life. Diagnosis relies on various assessments, yet early detection is hindered by symptom variability and resemblance to other conditions, while treatment strategies focus on pain relief, inflammation reduction, and preventing further joint damage through medication, therapy, and surgery, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic methods and collaborative healthcare approaches.

New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.

Meet the Guest Editor

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Michael Doumen, MD, KU Leuven University Hospitals, Belgium

Dr Doumen is a Rheumatology resident and final-year clinical PhD researcher at the KU Leuven University Hospitals in Belgium. He has a special interest in rheumatoid arthritis, with his research focusing particularly on the multidimensional and psychosocial impact of the disease on patients’ lives and on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to mitigate this impact. In this context, Dr Doumen’s methodological experience extends from clinical epidemiology and statistics to qualitative research. He is a member of the Royal Belgian Society for Rheumatology and fellow of the Belgian Scientific Research Fund (FWO). As a member of Emerging EULAR Network (EMEUNET), Dr Doumen is currently involved in the taskforce to update the EULAR recommendations for patient education in inflammatory arthritis. 

About the Collection

BMC Rheumatology called for submissions to our Collection on the Diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent synovitis, painful swelling, stiffness and loss of function in joints as a result of systemic inflammatory responses towards the body’s own tissues. As the disease progresses, it can lead to further bone and cartilage destruction, associated loss of function and thereby having significant impacts on the quality of life, personal and socioeconomic burdens. The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but studies have shown a combination of genetic and environmental factors may lead to this disease. 

Rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis is based on physical examinations, laboratory testing and imaging. However, rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose at the early stages as only few symptoms are present, these symptoms may differ from person to person and even mimic other forms of arthritis and joint conditions.

Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis are aimed at pain relief, decreasing inflammation and swelling, and preventing further joint damage to improve function and individual well-being. These treatments include medication, physical therapy, surgery and self-care plans.

As the pathogenesis is unclear, delayed diagnoses and early treatments can have severe complications. This Collection aimed to share ongoing research, disease management programs, and patient-healthcare professional engagement, which may contribute to diagnostic accuracy, effective therapeutic outcomes, and beneficial healthcare professional collaborations.

This Collection welcomed submissions on topics including but not limited to:

  • Advancements in diagnostic imaging technologies, biomarker identification, and testing
  • Updates in medical treatments (anti-inflammatory, DMARDs, JAK inhibitors, NSAIDs)
  • Physical therapy approaches for regaining, maintaining, recovering ,and improving overall strength
  • Surgical procedures for joint replacement or repair
  • Routine monitoring for disease progression and treatment efficacy
  • Self-care management – patient education, resources, lifestyle modifications, mental health management, healthcare support
  • Emerging therapies – ongoing research in new biologics and cell-based therapies
  • Current challenges – early detection barriers and accessibility to advanced therapies


This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing.  

Image credit: Oporty786 / stock.adobe.com

  1. Effective biological markers able to monitor the response of Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) are lacking. Exosomal microRNAs (exomiRNAs) can alter their expression during treatment and are ideal biomarkers for t...

    Authors: Jiwei Zhao, Tianjun Zhu, Qiu Liao, Jijia Sun and Fuqun Liu
    Citation: BMC Rheumatology 2025 9:49
    Content type: Research Published on:

  2. This study examines the influence of pharmacological treatments on foot functionality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis over a five-year period. A longitudinal analysis categorized patients into different ...

    Authors: Maria Gamez-Guijarro, Andres Reinoso-Cobo, Manuel Pardo-Rios, Ana-Belen Ortega-Avila, Laura Ramos-Petersen, Gabriel Gijon-Nogueron and Eva Lopezosa-Reca
    Citation: BMC Rheumatology 2025 9:43
    Content type: Research Published on:

  3. This study evaluates the long-term effectiveness and safety of methotrexate-tacrolimus combination therapy compared to methotrexate monotherapy in maintaining successful tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor d...

    Authors: Taio Naniwa and Mikiko Kajiura
    Citation: BMC Rheumatology 2025 9:39
    Content type: Research Published on:

  4. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation, cartilage, and bone destruction. Several studies have shown that leptin plays an important role in the pathoph...

    Authors: Mostafa Kaboli, Manouchehr Nakhjavani, Soghra Rabizadeh, Marsa Gholamzadeh and Seyed Reza Najafizadeh
    Citation: BMC Rheumatology 2025 9:22
    Content type: Research Published on:

  5. Reducing inflammation is central to the management of RA. However, commonly used markers such as CRP and ESR, along with the DAS-28 score, have shown limitations. Hematologic indices, such as platelet-lymphocy...

    Authors: Maryam Masoumi, Maryam Bozorgi, Zahra Nourmohammadi, Mohammad Javad Mousavi, Aref Shariati and Jafar Karami
    Citation: BMC Rheumatology 2024 8:75
    Content type: Research Published on:

  6. Methotrexate (MTX) remains the recommended first-line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, its response varies and is influenced by various factors. This study aimed to identify predictors of MTX ...

    Authors: Rudy Hidayat, Fara Fauzia, Faisal Parlindungan, Suryo Anggoro Kusumo Wibowo, Anna Ariane, Johanda Damanik and Abirianty Priandani Araminta
    Citation: BMC Rheumatology 2024 8:42
    Content type: Research Published on:

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.