Dear Readers,

Welcome to the June 2025 edition of our IRA e-newsletter—a rich tapestry of science, experience, and inspiration from the ever-evolving landscape of rheumatology. This quarter, we shine the spotlight on a clinically essential yet under-discussed domain: systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease-associated interstitial lung disease (SARD-ILD). For familiarity and better understanding, we have retained the older term, connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD).

We begin with a deep dive into Interstitial Pneumonia with Autoimmune Features (IPAF), as Dr. C. Saranya explores the nuanced role of the rheumatologist and their clinical acumen in diagnosing and managing this condition. This role continues to evolve in line with our increasing understanding of disease heterogeneity. Managing RA-ILD in daily practice remains a challenge; Dr. C. B. Mithun reflects on the practical solutions for managing it in daily clinical practice.

Personalised medicine is transforming the way we treat complex autoimmune diseases. The feature on precision medicine in CTD-ILD is discussed by Dr Rajesh Kannamuri, who explains how biomarker-based approaches and individualized treatment plans may redefine future standards of care. For patients at the end of the therapeutic spectrum, lung transplantation in CTD-ILD is a complex but vital consideration, and Dr Srinivasa Rajagopala examines the “when” and “how” of this decision.

Looking inward, Dr. S. Ramesh reflects on the journey of the Department of Rheumatology at Madras Medical College—a walk down memory lane that celebrates its legacy while inspiring the future. In the same spirit, Miss S. Gowthami shares her personal experience, titled “A Journey of Hope!!”, and Dr. Naval Mendiratta discusses the unconventional path of HSCT in the context of systemic sclerosis in India.

Our “Quarter in Review’ sections provide carefully curated insights into recent developments across various categories. Dr. M. Sabarinath has chosen the important studies in the ‘basic sciences’ category, Dr. N. Raja in ‘clinical sciences’, and Dr. Neha Singh in ‘Paediatric Rheumatology’. For the academically inclined, we invite you to test your knowledge in the quiz on CTD-ILD and the interactive “Spot the Diagnosis” series, featuring quiz questions posed by Dr. Amit Dua and interesting cases in ‘spot the diagnosis’ presented by Dr. Sagar Bhattad and Dr. M. Madeshwaran.

Dr .Shrikant Wagh has paid homage to the ancient Indian physician, reflecting on the wisdom of historical medical thought. A light-hearted travelogue, “Wandering at an affordable cost to explore at any cost”, Dr. Sanjay Dubey captures the human side of our scientific community. And Dr. Vinod Ravindran, a bibliophile, shares his choice of the five favourite books.

As we navigate the complex terrain of rheumatic diseases and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), we hope this issue informs, inspires, and sparks meaningful conversations. We sincerely thank all the members of the editorial board of the Ira e-newsletter for their support and contribution.