Arthritis Research at the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center
Did you know:
Arthritis is not one disease, but rather a broad term that encompasses more than 100 very different disorders. All involve the joints and are characterized by chronic pain, limited mobility and decreased range of motion.
- Nationwide, some 70 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis – that’s one out of three – making arthritis one of the most pervasive diseases in the U.S. as well as the leading cause of disability.
- Arthritis is – for now – an almost inevitable part of aging. Joints naturally degenerate over time and most over 50 show some signs of arthritis.
- There is no known cure and early treatment is the most effective treatment.
Addressing the Challenge
The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center has assembled a team of some of the world’s leading experts and specializes in the care of inflammatory arthritis. This includes, most notably, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease often described as bone meeting bone and disproportionately affects women three times greater than men. A common complaint from patients is pain at night as well as discomfort in the weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and spine. This disease often accompanies age as it marks the wear and tear of joints over time. Repetitive movement and prior injuries also contribute to the disease and younger persons are increasingly affected. OA is the most common form of arthritis, affecting nearly 30 million nationwide.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder and can affect many joints, other organs and the whole body. RA is often marked by flares and remissions or times when symptoms are more pronounced, then dissipate. A common complaint is pain and stiffness in the morning, joints that may feel hot and/or tender, symptoms that last a prolonged amount of time, and a general feeling of sickness. Though fewer in number, rheumatoid arthritis is associated with more pronounced symptoms, more frequent hospitalizations and a higher death rate.
What Hopkins Is Doing
The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center treats patients, conducts cutting-edge research and trains physicians.
- Its mission is to provide excellent clinical care while seeking to better understand the causes, treatments, and best treatment approaches for arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
- Team members include clinical psychologists studying pain, exercise and health concerns of arthritis patients, as well as clinical nurses, medical assistants and research and patient care coordinators who assist in patient care.
- These dedicated teams are committed to ensuring the highest quality, state-of-the-art care for arthritis patients as well as clinical research that paves the way for new and better treatment options, slower disease progression, decreased pain and potential cures.
World Renowned & Nationally Ranked
The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center falls under the umbrella of the Johns Hopkins Division of Rheumatology.
- Hopkins has for 17 consecutive years been voted #1 in the country by U.S. News & World Report as America’s Best Hospital and its Division of Rheumatology has been ranked #1 for the last three.
- The Division of Rheumatology operates five specialty clinics. The Arthritis Center was the first and is looked upon as a model for disease-focused care.
- All Arthritis Center doctors are attending physicians and full-time faculty members at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and all are board certified in Rheumatology.
- Patients come from Baltimore and around the world. In addition to receiving excellent medical care, patients may be eligible to participate in Hopkins research and benefit from novel treatment options while helping to advance the field for others with arthritis.
A Collaborative Effort & A Long-Term Approach
Arthritis numbers are escalating. In-patient hospital stays are decreasing but the need for out-patient services is on the rise.
- The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center medical team actively collaborates with physical and occupational therapists, social workers, rehabilitation specialists and orthopedic surgeons to deliver the most comprehensive, coordinated care for patients with arthritis.
- Because arthritis is more common among those who are overweight and/or physically inactive, physicians recommend physical activity and weight management as well as other lifestyle modifications that will enhance quality of life and make treatment most effective.
- Hopkins offers the most advanced therapeutic options available.
- Hopkins research, meanwhile, opens the door for patients to participate in cutting-edge discoveries that benefit arthritis patients worldwide. The Hopkins team leads the way in observational research where routine data from each patient visit is collected into a database. This allows the medical team to better track disease progression, provide more tailored therapy and pinpoint clinical trials that might be of interest to qualifying patients.
The Hopkins Team
The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center team is comprised of internationally recognized leaders in the field.
- Dr. Joan Bathon serves on an advisory panel for the Food & Drug Administration and travels worldwide as an arthritis expert and lecturer. She has been instrumental in the approval of drugs that signified marked therapeutic advances for arthritis care. She founded and directs the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center and its website, which currently receives more than 2 million hits per month.
- Dr. Clifton Bingham III has served as principal investigator for multiple phase II and III clinical trials specifically for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and is a prior recipient of an Arthritis Investigator Award from the Arthritis Foundation. He serves as director of the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center’s clinical sites and leads its research initiatives.
- Dr. Alan Baer was recognized in November 2007 as one of “Baltimore’s Top Docs” and has been spotlighted in local and national rankings since 1996. He joined the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center team in May 2007 and serves as director of the clinical and consultative rheumatology program at Good Samaritan Hospital.
The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center
We invite you to learn more about the exciting work underway on our campus in Baltimore, Md. The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center was founded in 1998 and in its first decade has established a local and global presence, a growing clinical and scientific research program and a vibrant patient community. It’s here that
Physicians Turn for Cutting-Edge Expertise
Patients Receive State-of-the-Art Care
Innovative Research Translates to Scientific Advances
