Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis
New chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis research, summarized each month in plain language.
2026 so far: So far in 2026 (January 2026 to September 2026), real-world reports describe frequent step-up beyond NSAIDs in pediatric CNO/CRMO, with MRI-centered monitoring and early signals for bisphosphonates and TNF blockers. Read the 2026 review
We also cover clinical trials.
Yearly update
2026 so far
- Stepping up treatment. Multiple cohorts and cases described escalation when NSAIDs were insufficient.
- TNF blocker outcomes. Comparisons were confounded, while small series linked TNF blockers to improvement.
- Bisphosphonate reports. Retrospective data and case experience linked bisphosphonates to improvement.
- MRI and activity tracking. Reports increasingly paired symptoms with MRI for defining activity and flare.
- Getting the diagnosis. Work clarified how MRI patterns, criteria, and biopsy support diagnosis.
New
September 2026
- Stronger medicines. Many children later used methotrexate or TNF blockers.
- Clinical remission. Some children with follow-up were reported in clinical remission.
- Blood tests and MRI. Very high inflammation tests often matched more MRI bone lesions.
- Neutrophil findings. One study linked neutrophil changes to anti-TNF treatment.
August 2026
- Adalimumab response. Small pediatric reports often linked adalimumab with symptom relief.
- MRI lesion clearing. Some children had bone lesions fully clear on follow-up MRI.
- Medicine changes. Rash or anti-drug antibodies sometimes led to a medicine switch.
June 2026
- Different treatment paths. Some improved with NSAIDs; others needed stronger immune medicines.
- Remission and return. Remission was common, but symptoms sometimes came back.
- Unusual early symptoms. Fever or neck pain sometimes appeared before typical bone pain.
- Single-family gene clue. One family linked a gene change to stronger inflammation.
May 2026
- Neridronate symptom and MRI changes. In routine-care reports, many children had pain improvement with intravenous neridronate, and some also had fewer bone lesions on MRI.
- Neridronate short-term reactions. Reports of neridronate mainly described short-term infusion-related effects, such as flu-like reactions after the first infusion and occasional temporary low calcium.
- Vitamin D and disease activity. In one pediatric study, lower vitamin D levels were linked with worse symptoms and more MRI-detected bone lesions.
- Whole-body MRI for follow-up. A pediatric consensus document emphasized whole-body MRI for diagnosis and for longer-term follow-up.
April 2026
- Classification criteria. In one pediatric cohort, newer EULAR/ACR criteria identified more children with CNO/CRMO-like patterns than older Bristol criteria.
- Who received TNF inhibitors. TNF inhibitors were more often given to children who already had signs of more severe disease, such as spine involvement or bone damage.
- Remission with TNF inhibitors. In that comparison study, complete remission and recurrence rates were similar between children who did and did not receive TNF inhibitors.
March 2026
- Stronger immune medicines. In a few complex cases, symptoms and imaging improved after moving to stronger immune-targeting treatment.
- Changing the immune target. In one case report, remission followed a switch from blocking TNF to blocking IL-6.
- Chest wall imaging steps. An expert document outlined when to use ultrasound, MRI, or CT for front chest wall inflammation based on the clinical question.
February 2026
- Early bone density and treatment changes. In pediatric CRMO, lower bone density early in care was linked with more treatment switching later, which may be a clue to disease course but is not a guarantee.
- Where MRI inflammation sits. Across comparisons, MRI interpretation depended on the location of inflammation, with CRMO more often showing bone-centered changes than inflammation in the joint lining or at tendon attachment points.
- Ustekinumab: single case report. One case report described symptom and MRI improvement with ustekinumab in CRMO with Crohn’s disease, which is an individual experience that mainly points to questions for future study.
January 2026
- Bone pain causes. Painful bone lesions had several causes, so diagnosis took steps.
- Whole-body MRI. It often found additional lesions, supporting a multifocal CNO pattern.
- Skin and nail signs. One report described psoriasis and nail changes alongside CRMO.
Get the monthly update by email
Subscribe here to receive an email when a new monthly chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis update is published. You can unsubscribe at any time. Your address is used for this only; delivery is handled by MailerLite (privacy policy).