Recent News
Read ArticleThe number of U.S. patients prescribed long-term opioid therapy declined from 2015 to 2023, but co-prescribing of opioids with gabapentinoids increased, prescription data showed.
VEXAS Syndrome - A Review
Beck et al has published a review of the VEXAS syndrome in The Lancet, focusing on the pathogenesis, spectrum, and treatment strategies.
https://t.co/Nik0TJm6Qu https://t.co/WS35PRnbBv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
JAMA Guideline on the Management of Crohn Disease
JAMA has published a current Clinical Guidelines Synopsis on the Management of Crohn Disease (CD) in Adults.
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Itch is common in Scleroderma (SSc) and not related to Dz duration. Study of 2173 Pts (~20K itch assessments), 87 F; mean age 55 yrs; 40% w/ diffuse SSc. Itch (moderate 4/10) seen in ~35% at all times https://t.co/QnT8d0xA5Z https://t.co/yEgB6ImDTi
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
5 yr Italian study of hospitalized autoimmune pts(2018-23) 4,896 IMID pts compared to 301,126 non-IMIM. IMID had signif higher risk cancer (adj OR 1.32) highest 1st yr. Decreased from 1.83 @ yr 1 to 1.2 @5+ yrs. IMID had more lung & bladder CA, leukemia lymphoma & melanoma https://t.co/UXqDHQtzv0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From 2015 to 2023, long-term opioid therapy declined in the USA. Approximately 4 million to 5 million patients were prescribed long-term opioid therapy in 2023. Long term opioid use remains a challenge https://t.co/N5s7mYvXSw https://t.co/YHdTbHLB4q
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Claims data 2,751 #AAV patients - 6.2% developed #PJP infx. w/ predictors: age, max GC dose, rituximab, CTX, & PJP prophylaxis had Good concordance (0.70) @2mos & 0.66@1yrs. W/ monthly risk of 1.0%, prophylaxis yielded 34 potentially preventable PJP cases https://t.co/c2ObDnmfYp https://t.co/Ljr5maHZcr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Single-centre retrosp study of established 257 PMR pts. 98 referred by GPs were for Dx uncertainty (51 vs 14%), less for relapse (27%) or recurrence (11%). PMR Dx accuracy better by Rheums vs PCPs (83% v 62%, P < 0.05) https://t.co/DvTKeuGa4Q https://t.co/wQDXR46k5F
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
COMMON - Incidental Rotator Cuff Abnormalities on MRI
In this cross-sectional study of 602 Finnish adults undergoing bilateral shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical assessment, found abnormalities in nearly everyone over age 40yrs, regardless if asymptomatic or symptomatic.
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Predictors of Calcinosis Cutis in Systemic Sclerosis
Calcinosis cutis (CaC) is a common and disabling non-lethal manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study used SSc patients from the EUSTAR database to clinically characterize patients and identify risk factors for CaC development.
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ILD in RA - Recent Advances. Dr. Jeffrey Sparks
ILD in RA – Dr. Jeffrey Sparks
In this https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2026 podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Sparks reviews the latest advances shaping diagnosis and management of ILD in RA.
🎧 Listen here: https://t.co/U5cZVlgAka
#Rheumatology #ILD https://t.co/0AWneSEPjP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
CDC: In 2023, age-adjusted prevalence of U.S. adults (>20 yrs) with obesity was 40.3% (9.7% with severe obesity; 31.7% overweight). BMI data from NHANES, & the National Center for Health Statistics https://t.co/kH9ajbUJ2m https://t.co/utbGWf4D12
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Couldn’t attend https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2026?
You can now watch the entire meeting On Demand.
This high-impact program features leading experts discussing:
• RA outcomes and pathogenesis
• Obesity, inflammation, and rheumatic disease
• Treatment decisions in Psoriatic https://t.co/mre5aQcR8M
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Updated CRA/SPARCC Recommendations for Axial Spondyloarthritis
The original CRA/SPARCC recommendations endorsed IL-17i and TNFi as equivalent second-line options for adults with active axSpA who fail an adequate NSAID trial. JAK inhibitors were reserved for patients with prior https://t.co/1GNb3Tc5gR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Korean Insurance claims nested case–control study of 27,410 RA pts - 5482 w/ > comorbid Dsx Vs 21,928 w/ < 10 comorbd Dz. Having >10 signif incr Serious infx (OR 1.44), opportunistic (21.9)& Hzoster (1.18); mainly skin & soft tissue infx - NOT fatal infx. https://t.co/qDrU3BXYzd
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
What’s New PsA? (4.3.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and major articles from this week, including FDA safety warnings, reports from AAD, PsA trials.
https://t.co/Ew1wAFDfa1 https://t.co/AJfqqEAdik
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
VEXAS Syndrome - A Review
Beck et al has published a review of the VEXAS syndrome in The Lancet, focusing on the pathogenesis, spectrum, and treatment strategies.
Read Article
Machine learning predicts macrophage activation syndrome in adult Still's disease - 312 AOSD - XGBoost model had 5 predictors: ferritin, splenomegaly, Plt#, cholesterol, & ESR (AUC 0.839, sensit 0.824, specificity 0.710. https://t.co/QrogaCYPCT https://t.co/Z6WgCnFTfx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Danish real-world study anifrolumab use in 36 #SLE pts. SLEDAI-2K decreased from 8 (baseline) to 2 @ mos 3; @6 mos 52% had SLEDAI-2K=0. 87% had PGA ≤0.5 w/ LLDAS, & 70% DORIS remission. Pred use declined by >50%. Herpes infx were most freq AE https://t.co/tbMOyOioeU https://t.co/jDJgImjgQt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Phase 1b trial shows transdermal Curcumin Gel (VAS-101) in was effective in Knee Osteoarthritis. Enrolled 60 KOA pts 45–75 yrs Rx w/ PBO or gel qd x 28d w/ signif improvement in pain & KOOS scores https://t.co/yNiNocZxa4 https://t.co/3W7j1bIvBc
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Video
From the Blog
At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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Podcasts
Whats New PsA? (4.3.2026)
PsA GRAPPA Domains- Outcomes With a JAKi-
Moral Distress (3.27.2026)
DERM on RheumNow Podcast (March 2026)
Therapeutic Updates
PsA GRAPPA domains: Outcomes With a JAKi
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Dr. Schwartzman and Dr. Ruderman discuss how PsA disease activity across GRAPPA domains may guide treatment decisions, sharing both the evidence for and their experience with a JAKi across domains.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
