Rheumatology Effectiveness of Korean Red Ginseng on fatigue in patients with rheumatic diseases: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study Soo-Kyung Cho, Yeo-Jin Song, Jung-Yong Han, Hye Won Kim, Eunwoo Nam, Yoon-Kyoung Sung Korean J Intern Med. 2024;39(4):680-690.   Published online April 5, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.350                      Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in managing fatigue in Korean patients with rheumatic diseases Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to KRG (2 g/day, n = 60) or placebo (n = 60) groups for 12 weeks of blind phase and then open-label KRG from weeks 12 to 24 (..

Impact of socioeconomic status on biologics utilization in rheumatoid arthritis: revealing inequalities and healthcare efficiency Hye Won Kim, Yeon Ju Lee, You-Jung Ha, Eun Bong Lee, Yun Jong Lee, Eun Ha Kang Korean J Intern Med. 2024;39(4):668-679.   Published online February 29, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.276                      Background/Aims: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate biologics treatment disparities in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients based on socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: Data from the KOrean Observational Study Network for Arthritis (KORONA) database were analyzed to assess various facto..

Overlap syndrome of systemic sclerosis with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis according to 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria Jang Woo Ha, Jung Yoon Pyo, Sung Soo Ahn, Jason Jungsik Song, Yong-Beom Park, Sang-Won Lee Korean J Intern Med. 2024;39(3):524-536.   Published online January 29, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.189                      Background/Aims: This study applied the 2022 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) criteria for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) to patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and investigated the frequency ..

Predictors of renal relapse in Koreans with lupus nephritis after achieving complete response: a 35-years of experience at a single center Howook Jeon, Jennifer Lee, Su-Jin Moon, Seung-Ki Kwok, Ji Hyeon Ju, Wan-Uk Kim, Sung-Hwan Park Korean J Intern Med. 2024;39(2):347-359.   Published online January 22, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.255                 Background/Aims: Renal relapse has known to be a poor prognostic factor in patients with lupus nephritis (LN), but there were few studies that identified the risk factors of renal relapse in real world. We conducted this study based on 35-years of experience at a single center to find out predictors..

Effect of belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with low dose or no corticosteroids Yeo-Jin Lee, Soo Min Ahn, Seokchan Hong, Ji-Seon Oh, Chang-Keun Lee, Bin Yoo, Yong-Gil Kim Korean J Intern Med. 2024;39(2):338-346.   Published online November 30, 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.229                 Background/Aims: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) responder index (SRI)-4 response has been achieved with belimumab treatment in patients with moderate disease activity in cornerstone clinical trials and following studies. However, most studies involved patients treated with a mean prednisolone-eq..

Characteristics of patients with psoriatic arthritis in Korea: focusing on axial involvement Hanna Park, Ji Hyun Lee, Seung-Ki Kwok, Ji Hyeon Ju, Wan-Uk Kim, Sung-Hwan Park, Jennifer Jooha Lee Korean J Intern Med. 2024;39(1):184-193.   Published online December 8, 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.044                 Background/Aims: We aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in Korean patients focusing on PsA with axial involvement. Methods: A retrospective medical chart review was performed to identify PsA patients at a single tertiary center. Cases of AS patients with psori..

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis Hyemin Kim, Soyoung Lee, Ji-Won Kim, Ju-Yang Jung, Chang-Hee Suh, Hyoun-Ah Kim Korean J Intern Med. 2024;39(1):172-183.   Published online November 30, 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.193                      Background/Aims: This study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of patients with concurrent rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and suspected non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections as well as determine their prognostic factors. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 91..

Association between knee osteoarthritis and mortality: a serial propensity score-matched cohort study Minkyung Oh, Mi-Yeong Kim, Min Wook So, Doo-Ho Lim, Su Jin Choi, Jae Ha Lee, Minyoung Her, Seong-Ho Kim, Sunggun Lee Korean J Intern Med. 2023;38(6):923-933.   Published online November 1, 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.222              Web of Science 1    Crossref 1                      Background/Aims: The association between symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) and higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is established; however, findings from studies that utilized regression analysis were limited, attributed to the strong association between OA and metabolic risk factors. Th..

Inflammation is responsible for systemic bone loss in patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis treated with rituximab Mie Jin Lim, Kyong-Hee Jung, Seong-Ryul Kwon, Won Park Korean J Intern Med. 2023;38(6):912-922.   Published online October 23, 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.080                 Background/Aims: We investigated the effect of rituximab on systemic bone metabolism in patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Twenty seropositive patients with RA were enrolled and administered one cycle of rituximab. If RA became active for > 6 months after the first ritux..

Nailfold capillaroscopy findings of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features Sang-Heon Lee, Hong Ki Min, Se-Hee Kim, Young Whan Kim, Kwang Ha Yoo, Hee Joung Kim, In Ae Kim, Hae-Rim Kim Korean J Intern Med. 2023;38(6):903-911.   Published online July 25, 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2022.358              Web of Science 1    Crossref 2                 Background/Aims: We evaluated nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) and compared it with that of patients with connective tissue disease-interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). Methods: Patients with newly di..

Long-term renal outcomes of patients with non-proliferative lupus nephritis Eun-Song Kang, Soo Min Ahn, Ji Seon Oh, Yong-Gil Kim, Chang-Keun Lee, Bin Yoo, Seokchan Hong Korean J Intern Med. 2023;38(5):769-776.   Published online August 7, 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2022.339              Web of Science 3    Crossref 3                      Background/Aims: Although non-proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) (class I, II or V) has been considered as a less severe type of LN, data on long-term renal prognosis are limited. We investigated the long-term outcomes and prognostic factors in non-proliferative LN. Methods: We retrospectively revi..

Comparative effectiveness of JAK inhibitors and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis Soo-Kyung Cho, Hyoungyoung Kim, Yeo-Jin Song, Hye Won Kim, Eunwoo Nam, Shin-Seok Lee, Hye-Soon Lee, Sung-Hoon Park, Yeon-Ah Lee, Min-Chan Park, Sung Hae Chang, Hyoun-Ah Kim, Seung-Ki Kwok, Hae-Rim Kim, Hyun-Sook Kim, Bo Young Yoon, Wan-Sik Uhm, Yong-Gil Kim, Jae Hoon Kim, Jisoo Lee, Jeongim Choi, Yoon-Kyoung Sung Korean J Intern Med. 2023;38(4):546-556.   Published online June 20, 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2022.369              Web of Science 2    Crossref 2                      Background/Aims: We aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) vs. biologic disease- modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had an inadequate response to conventional synthetic DMARDs. Methods: A quasi-exper..

A retrospective observational study of the appropriate starting dose of febuxostat in patients with gout Joondon Lee, Jinseok Kim, Byeongzu Ghang, Wooseong Jeong Korean J Intern Med. 2023;38(3):427-433.   Published online November 3, 2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2022.190                 Background/Aims: The occurrence of gout attacks at the start of uric acid lowering treatment worsens compliance. We aimed to determine the appropriate dose of febuxostat to reduce the occurrence of gout attacks during the initial treatment period. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of ..

Incidence of rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea Soo Min Ahn, Seongho Eun, Sunghwan Ji, Seokchan Hong, Chang-Keun Lee, Bin Yoo, Ji Seon Oh, Yong-Gil Kim Korean J Intern Med. 2023;38(2):248-253.   Published online January 17, 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2022.135              Web of Science 5    Crossref 6                 Background/Aims: The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with changes in the epidemiology of not only infectious diseases but also several non-infectious conditions. This study investigated changes in the recorded incidence of various rheumatic diseases during the..

Incidence and prevalence of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis among Korean women of childbearing age: a nationwide population-based study Min Kyung Chung, Chan Hee Lee, Jin Su Park, Hyun Sun Lim, Jisoo Lee Korean J Intern Med. 2023;38(1):125-133.   Published online May 19, 2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2021.339              Web of Science 4    Crossref 3                 Background/Aims: Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are often diagnosed with the disease during their reproductive years; however, its incidence and prevalence among women of childbearing age have not been studied. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of seropos..

Prevalence, incidence, and risk factors of malignancy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide cohort study from Korea Kyung Min Ko, Su-Jin Moon Korean J Intern Med. 2023;38(1):113-124.   Published online August 20, 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2021.146              Web of Science 6    Crossref 6                 Background/Aims: This study aims to evaluate the incidence of malignancy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to investigate risk factors for such in a nationwide, population-based cohort. Methods: In a large, prospective, observational cohort study, 5,077 patients with RA were enrolled f..

Burden of comorbidities and medication use in childbearing women with rheumatic diseases: a nationwide population-based study Min Kyung Chung, Chan Hee Lee, Jin Su Park, Hyunsun Lim, Jisoo Lee Korean J Intern Med. 2022;37(6):1250-1259.   Published online July 9, 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2021.089              Web of Science 3    Crossref 1                 Background/Aims: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of comorbidities and medication use in Korean women with rheumatic diseases (RDs) during their childbearing years. Methods: We included women aged 20 to 44 years with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and..

Clinical impact of proteinase 3-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positivity in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis Sung Soo Ahn, Jason Jungsik Song, Yong-Beom Park, Sang-Won Lee Korean J Intern Med. 2022;37(6):1241-1249.   Published online December 13, 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2021.043              Web of Science 2    Crossref 1                      Background/Aims: This study investigated the clinical implication of proteinase 3 (PR3)-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) in Korean patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Methods: Among the 242 patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis identified from the hospit..

Two-year clinical outcomes after discontinuation of long-term golimumab therapy in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis Kichul Shin, Hyun Mi Kwon, Min Jung Kim, Myung Jae Yoon, Hyun Gyung Chai, Seong-Wook Kang, Won Park, Sung-Hwan Park, Chang Hee Suh, Hyun Ah Kim, Seung-Geun Lee, Choong Ki Lee, Sang-Cheol Bae, Yong-Beom Park, Yeong Wook Song Korean J Intern Med. 2022;37(5):1061-1069.   Published online December 13, 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2021.018                      Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate long-term post-discontinuation outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had been treated with tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors (TNF-αi) which was then discontinued. Methods: Sixty Korean patients with RA who participated i..

Epidemiology and risk factors associated with avascular necrosis in patients with autoimmune diseases: a nationwide study Hsin-Lin Tsai, Jei-Wen Chang, Jen-Her Lu, Chin-Su Liu Korean J Intern Med. 2022;37(4):864-876.   Published online March 3, 2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2020.098              Web of Science 6    Crossref 7                      Background/Aims: Avascular necrosis (AVN) is a clinical condition characterized by the death of bone components due to interruption in the blood supply. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology and determine the risk factors for AVN in patients with autoimmune diseases. Methods: We conducte..