Ranganath VK, et al. - A total of 323 early seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cases (symptom duration ≤15 months) were examined to evaluate the impact of obesity on the swollen joint count (SJC). While accounting for other American College of Rheumatology (ACR)measures, authors also calculated the association between high body mass index (BMI) (≥30 kg/m²) and lower extremity (LE) SJC and SJC44. They observed differences in Disease Activity Score 44/ESR4 item, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, physician global, and SJC44 across BMI categories. A linear correlation between increased BMI and increased swelling of LE joints in subjects with RA was also reported. They found an incline in DAS44–measured disease activity in obese RA subjects due to increased LE swollen joints. No significant influence by obesity on Disease Activity Score 28 and Clinical Disease Activity Index, which emphasize upper-extremity joint assessment was noticed.