Advancements in rheumatoid arthritis immunotherapy: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research trends and hotspots (2003-2023).

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse research trends and developments in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) immunotherapy through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of literature from 2003 to 2023.

Methods: Publications related to RA immunotherapy were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection database using specified search terms. Bibliometric analysis was performed with VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Pajek, and R packages to examine publication patterns, international collaborations, research hotspots, and emerging trends. Analysis covered publication outputs, country contributions, institutional networks, and keyword evolution patterns.

Results: Analysis based on a total of 940 publications showcased that the associated researches featured exponential growth (R²=0.885) over the study period. The United States led with 285 publications (30.3%), followed by China (187, 19.9%) and Germany (156, 16.6%). International collaboration intensity increased, with average collaborating countries per paper rising from 1.8 to 2.7. Research focus evolved through three phases: fundamental immunology (2003-2010), therapeutic development (2011-2017), and precision medicine (2018-2023). Current hotspots encompassed immunomodulation mechanisms (38% of keywords), immune-related adverse events management, as well as cancer immunity interactions. Emerging trends highlighted nanotechnology applications and microbiome research, with respective growth rates of 218% and 245% in recent years.

Conclusions: This analysis revealed significant evolution in RA immunotherapy research, characterised by increasing international collaboration and methodological sophistication. The involved fields displayed a clear transition from basic immunological research to precision medicine approaches. Emerging hotspots in nanotechnology and microbiome studies suggested promising therapeutic innovations. These findings were seen to provide valuable guidance for future research fields and resource allocation in RA immunotherapy.