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              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 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                 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                 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                      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                      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

Rheumatology / Original Article Increased risk of dementia in patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome: a nationwide population-based cohort study Kyung-Ann Lee, Hyeji Jeon, Hyun-Sook Kim, Kyomin Choi, Gi Hyeon Seo Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(2):330-338.   Published online February 21, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.536              Web of Science 1    Crossref 1                 Background/Aims: This nationwide cohort study aimed to evaluate (1) whether primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS) can contribute to the development of dementia and (2) whether the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) can decrease the incidence of dementia in patients with pSS using the Health Insurance Revi..

Rheumatology / Review Literature review of non-pharmacological treatment for patients with axial spondyloarthritis Jina Yeo, Mi Ryoung Seo, Jun Won Park, Yeon-Ah Lee, Ju Ho Lee, Eun Ha Kang, Seon Mi Ji, Han Joo Baek Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(1):40-48.   Published online May 27, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.485              Crossref 1                 Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the sacroiliac joints and axial spine. Along with pharmacotherapy, non-pharmacological interventions for axSpA are crucial and constitute the cornerstone of treatment. Here, we review the evidence for non-pharmacological tr..

Rheumatology / Original Article Long-term outcome of interstitial lung disease in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: a retrospective observational study Jung Hee Koh, Youngjae Park, Jennifer Lee, Howook Jeon, Su-Jin Moon, Yong Hyun Kim, Jun-Ki Min, Sung-Hwan Park, Seung-Ki Kwok Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(1):148-159.   Published online October 25, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.402              Web of Science 1                   Background/Aims: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a potentially serious but underdiagnosed manifestation of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). This observational study investigated the prevalence and clinical course of ILD in pSS, together with prognostic factors. Methods: A multicenter, retrosp..

Rheumatology / Original Article Reclassification of the overlap syndrome of Behçet’s disease and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis in patients with Behçet’s disease Tae Geom Lee, Jang Woo Ha, Jason Jungsik Song, Yong-Beom Park, Sang-Won Lee Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(1):135-147.   Published online January 1, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.011                      Background/Aims: This study applied the 2022 American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (ACR/EULAR) criteria for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) to patients with Behçet’s disease (BD) to investigate the proportion and..

Rheumatology / Original Article Assessment of small fiber neuropathy and distal sensory neuropathy in female patients with fibromyalgia Hong Ki Min, Sun Im, Geun-Young Park, Su-Jin Moon Korean J Intern Med. 2024;39(6):989-1000.   Published online October 29, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.038              Web of Science 1    Crossref 1                      Background/Aims: We investigated sudomotor dysfunction, small fiber neuropathy (SFN), and their clinical significance in female fibromyalgia patients. Methods: Fibromyalgia patients and healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Clinical and laboratory data were measured. Electrochemical skin conductan..

Rheumatology / Original Article Association between oral health and hyperuricemia in Korean adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2019 Junyong Park, Minkook Son, Sung Won Lee, Won Tae Chung, Sang Yeob Lee Korean J Intern Med. 2024;39(6):1001-1010.   Published online October 22, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.425                      Background/Aims: Hyperuricemia plays an essential role in the gout. Despite the clinical significance of hyperuricemia, a direct relationship between oral health and hyperuricemia has not been established. We aim to investigate the association between oral health and hyperuricemia. Methods: We sele..

Rheumatology / Original Article Effect of abatacept versus conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs on rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease Kyung-Ann Lee, Bo Young Kim, Sung Soo Kim, Yun Hong Cheon, Sang-Il Lee, Sang-Hyon Kim, Jae Hyun Jung, Geun-Tae Kim, Jin-Wuk Hur, Myeung-Su Lee, Yun Sung Kim, Seung-Jae Hong, Suyeon Park, Hyun-Sook Kim Korean J Intern Med. 2024;39(5):855-864.   Published online August 30, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.207              Web of Science 3    Crossref 4                      Background/Aims: To compare the effects of abatacept and conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) on the progression and development of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD). Methods: This multi-center retrospective study included RA pati..

Rheumatology / Original Article High vegetable consumption and regular exercise are associated with better quality of life in patients with gout Hyunsue Do, Hyo Jin Choi, Byoongyong Choi, Chang-Nam Son, Sang-Hyon Kim, You-Jung Ha, Ji Hyoun Kim, Min Jung Kim, Kichul Shin, Hyun-Ok Kim, Ran Song, Sung Won Lee, Joong Kyong Ahn, Seung-Geun Lee, Chang Hoon Lee, Kyeong Min Son, Ki Won Moon Korean J Intern Med. 2024;39(5):845-854.   Published online June 24, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.476              Web of Science 2    Crossref 2                      Background/Aims: The Gout Impact Scale (GIS), a part of the Gout Assessment Questionnaire 2.0, is used to measure gout-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Although several studies have been conducted on the factors affecting the HRQOL of patients with gout, few have focused on lifestyle..

Rheumatology / Original Article Drug retention of biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in Korean patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis Bong-Woo Lee, Jennifer Jooha Lee, Wan-Uk Kim Korean J Intern Med. 2024;39(5):833-844.   Published online May 27, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2023.297              Web of Science 2    Crossref 3                      Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the short- and long-term retention rates of biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) in Korean patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: This study was conducted with 1,538 treatment cou..

Rheumatology / Original Article 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              Web of Science 2    Crossref 2                      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 (..