Rheumatology / Image of interest Pigmented villonodular synovitis in the thoracic spine: a rare and under-recognized condition Jacob A Schroeder, Márcio Luís Duarte, Leonardo Furtado Freitas Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(4):782-784.   Published online July 1, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.323

Rheumatology / Original Article Association of hyperuricemia with valvular heart disease and the modifying effect of obesity Seung Min Jung, Sang-Hyuk Jung, Su-Nam Lee, Jin A Choi, Dokyoon Kim, Hong-Hee Won, Jae-Seung Yun Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(4):748-762.   Published online July 1, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.269       Background/Aims: Hyperuricemia has been widely associated with cardiovascular health, but its relationship with incident valvular heart disease (VHD) remains uncertain. This study investigated the association between hyperuricemia and VHD, and further explored the role of weight management within thi..

Rheumatology / Review From Sjögren syndrome to Sjögren disease: rethinking classification and diagnostic complexity Jennifer Jooha Lee, Howook Jeon, Hyun-Sook Kim, Hae-Rim Kim, Seung-Ki Kwok, Yoon-Kyoung Sung, Jisoo Lee, Shin-Seok Lee, Sung-Hwan Park, Yun Jong Lee; on behalf of the Korean Society of Sjogren Disease Research (KCR-SjD) Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(4):620-635.   Published online July 1, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.340       Sjögren syndrome (SS), traditionally regarded as a sicca-predominant condition, is now recognized as a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by type I interferon activation, B-cell hyperactivity, and periepithelial lymphocytic infiltration. This conceptual shift has prompted changes in terminology, wit..

Rheumatology / Review Autoimmune diseases in the era of COVID-19: emerging mechanisms, clinical implications, vaccine considerations, and future directions Jaehyun Kong, Seohyun Hong, Jiyeon Oh, Sooji Lee, Lee Smith, Francesco Branda, Hanseul Cho, Jiyoung Hwang, Dong Keon Yon Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(4):597-619.   Published online July 1, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.301       The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted a complex, bidirectional relationship between SARSCoV-2 infection and autoimmune diseases. This review examines how SARS-CoV-2 infection influences the incidence, progression, and outcomes of five major autoimmune conditions: systemic ..

Rheumatology / Correspondence Comment on: “Comprehensive analysis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease” by Kim et al. Umut Bakay Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(3):555-556.   Published online December 23, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.316

Rheumatology / Original Article Opposing associations of muscle and fat mass changes on serum uric acid levels: a 2-year longitudinal cohort study Jiwon Hwang, Mi Yeon Lee, Joong Kyong Ahn Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(3):537-554.   Published online May 1, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.362                      Background/Aims: Obesity elevates serum uric acid (SUA) levels, but the influence of muscle mass remains unclear. As a major endogenous purine pool, skeletal muscle may affect SUA dynamics. We evaluated the impact of changes in body components, including skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), fat mass in..

Rheumatology / Original Article LncRNA as a diagnostic marker for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis Lin-ling Luo, Yu-tong Chen, Yi-ning Xu, Miao Lu, Xi-de Liu Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(3):524-536.   Published online May 1, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.079                 Background/Aims: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is categorized as an autoimmune disorder characterized by the absence of a definitive cure. In this investigation, we executed a systematic review and diagnostic meta-analysis to ascertain the diagnostic efficacy of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the ide..

Rheumatology / Image of interest Relapsing polychondritis presenting with intractable chronic cough, acute visual disturbance, and hearing loss Hyunje Kim, Eunjung Kong Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(2):369-371.   Published online March 1, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.112

Rheumatology / Original Article Cross-cultural adaptation and preliminary validation of the Korean version of the Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease-12 questionnaire Bon San Koo, Jung Gon Kim, Bo Young Yoon, Ji-Hyoun Kang, Sung-Eun Choi, Sooin Jung, Seyeong Kim, Tae-Jong Kim Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(2):341-349.   Published online March 1, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.101                      Background/Aims: The Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID-12) questionnaire was developed to measure quality of life and disease impact in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We aimed to translate the English PsAID-12 into Korean and to evaluate its reliability and validity. Methods: T..

Rheumatology / Image of interest Digital ulcerations in amyopathic dermatomyositis Hye In Cho, Ju Hee Han, Youngjae Park Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(1):175-177.   Published online December 4, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.023

Rheumatology / Editorial Expanding therapeutic horizons of calcineurin inhibitors in lupus nephritis: from tacrolimus to next-generation agents Yoon-Kyoung Sung Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(6):863-865.   Published online October 31, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.353

Rheumatology / Original Article Real-world clinical response and efficacy of tacrolimus-based maintenance therapy for Korean patients with lupus nephritis Ji-Won Kim, Ju-Yang Jung, Hyoun-Ah Kim, Chang-Hee Suh Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(6):1052-1064.   Published online October 28, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.035              Web of Science 1    Crossref 1                 Background/Aims: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus as maintenance therapy in Korean patients with lupus nephritis (LN). Methods: A total of 179 patients with biopsy-proven LN were included, of whom 92 received tacrolimus and 87 did not. Clinical parameters were assessed at six mont..

Rheumatology / Original Article Treatment satisfaction and its determinants in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus Hyo Jin Choi, Mi Ryoung Seo, Eunji Kim, Han Joo Baek Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(6):1042-1051.   Published online October 28, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.442                      Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the treatment satisfaction and its determinants in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2021 and December 2021. Data on demographics, clinical..

Rheumatology / Original Article Comprehensive analysis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis associated interstitial lung disease [letter] Ji-Won Kim, Ju-Yang Jung, Chang-Hee Suh, Hyoun-Ah Kim Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(5):845-855.   Published online August 26, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.377              Web of Science 1    Crossref 2                 Background/Aims: To investigate the demographics, disease characteristics, and treatment modalities of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) associated interstitial lung disease (ILD), focusing on ILD exacerbation and mortality. Methods: This retrospective study included individuals aged ≥ 18 y..

Rheumatology / Original Article Factors influencing delayed attainment of low disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients continuing targeted therapy Yeo-Jin Song, Soo-Kyung Cho, Se Rim Choi, Shin-Seok Lee, Hye-Soon Lee, Sung-Hoon Park, Yeon-Ah Lee, Min-Chan Park, Hyoun-Ah Kim, Soo-Bin Lee, Ha-Rim Park, Eunwoo Nam, Yoon-Kyoung Sung Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(5):835-844.   Published online August 29, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.344              Web of Science 1    Crossref 1                 Background/Aims: To identify factors associated with achieving low disease activity (LDA) after 48 weeks of targeted therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite not meeting treat-to-target (T2T) criteria at week 24. Methods: Data were collected from a multicenter, prospective observa..

Rheumatology / Original Article Association of peripheral leukocyte telomere length with patients with rheumatoid arthritis with a focus on interstitial lung disease Young Bin Joo, So-Young Bang, Su Jin Hong, Youkyung Lee, Dongjik Shin, Sang-Cheol Bae, Hye-Soon Lee Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(4):676-686.   Published online April 1, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.148              Web of Science 2    Crossref 2                      Background/Aims: This study investigated whether telomere length (TL) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is shorter than in controls, whether TL in RA patients with interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) differs from that in those without ILD (RA-nonILD), and whether TL varies according to RA-ILD pat..

Rheumatology / Image of interest Hematologic malignancy detected on sacroiliac magnetic resonance imaging in a patient with inflammatory back pain Jiwon Yang, Hyoo Jeong Lim, Seul Ki Lee, Seung Min Jung Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(3):526-527.   Published online March 25, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.243

Rheumatology / Original Article Clinical perspective on serum periostin in antineutrophil-cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis Taejun Yoon, Jiyeol Yoon, Eunhee Ko, Yong-Beom Park, Sang-Won Lee Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(3):512-523.   Published online April 30, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.254                      Background/Aims: This study evaluated the clinical utility of serum periostin measured at diagnosis in reflecting activity at diagnosis and predicting all-cause mortality during follow-up in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods: This study included ..

Rheumatology / Original Article Altered polyunsaturated fatty acids and oxylipins profile in Behçet’s disease Mohamed Kacem Ben-Fradj, Ines Naceur, Emna Talbi, Rahma Wada, Omar Feki, Monia Smiti-Khanfir, Moncef Feki Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(3):502-511.   Published online February 21, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.033              Crossref 1                      Background/Aims: Behçet’s disease (BD) is an autoinflammatory disease of unknown etiopathogenesis. Oxylipins i.e., prostaglandins, leukotrienes, lipoxins, resolvins, and protectins are bioactive polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) derivatives involved in inflammatory response induction and resolu..

Rheumatology / Image of interest Acute gouty arthritis of the atlantoaxial joint Su Jin Choi, Min Wook So, Sunggun Lee, Seung Won Choi, Doo-Ho Lim Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(2):341-342.   Published online February 21, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.247