Top in rheumatology: Aquatic exercise for back pain, RCTs on connective tissue disease

A recent study found that patients with chronic lower back pain who underwent therapeutic aquatic exercise saw greater improvements than those who underwent physical therapy. It was the top story in rheumatology last week.

Another top story highlighted data showing that 33% of randomized controlled trials for connective tissue disease were discontinued before publication, often due to insufficient patient accrual. Researchers cautioned that this may not only waste resources, but also negatively impact patient health.

Read these and more top stories in rheumatology below:

Aquatic exercise superior to physical therapy in relieving chronic lower back pain

Therapeutic aquatic exercise results in greater lower back pain relief than physical therapy, and demonstrates long-term effects for up to 12 months, according to data published in JAMA Network Open. Read more.

'Waste of energy': One-third of connective tissue disease RCTs never completed, published

One out of three registered randomized controlled trials on connective tissue diseases are never completed or published, representing a “waste of energy or resources” that may skew meta-analyses, according to researchers. Read more.

First patient treated in trial of investigational splenic nerve stimulation for RA

Galvani Bioelectronics has treated its first patient with a novel bioelectronic implant stimulating the splenic nerve as an experimental therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, according to a company press release. Read more.

African American women with lupus at higher risk for adverse perinatal outcomes

African American women with systemic lupus erythematosus were found to be at increased risk for preterm and small-for-gestational age births, even prior to clinical diagnosis, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research. Read more.

Tofacitinib linked to higher cardiovascular, cancer risks than TNF inhibitors in RA

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who received tofacitinib demonstrated a greater risk for major adverse cardiovascular events and cancer than those treated with TNF inhibitors, according to data in The New England Journal of Medicine. Read more.