Recent News
In 2025, Rheumatology lost many of our greatest clinicians, compatriots, and mentors. This is an honor roll for those who cared, taught, advised and supported many patients, and many of us.Read Article
Subcutaneous Anifrolumab Effective in Lupus
ACR
A new study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology demonstrates that subcutaneous administration of anifrolumab provides efficacy comparable to intravenous administration, offering a promising alternative for at-home care of patients living with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus.
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Data from NHIS surveys show in the USA 24.8 million adults with arthritis reported having an activity limitation AND that the arthritis attributable work limitations in US adults 18-64 yrs affects 38.8%.
https://t.co/Ul2GjrFqfp
https://t.co/Ul2GjrFqfp https://t.co/qzJQwBYDWT
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
VA registry study; among 2771 RA pts (~65y), 64 (2.3%) had CPPD by ICD9/10 codes. RA+CPPD pts signif older [68 v. 64y], w/ more comorbidity/OA (94 v 80%), spine Dz, DM, but less ACPA (63 v 78%). SNRA+CPPD achieved less LDA, more use of pred & b/tsDMARDs (OR >2), death, TJR. Is https://t.co/hUPJzDseVc
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
AC&R metanalysis of Generalized Joint Hypermobility (GJH) in adults - 46 studies (n=23,000 pts). GJH required 6 or more Beighton criteria, w/ prevalence of 2%, but 5% in young adults (18-25 yrs). Propose Dx thresholds should vary w/ age = ≥6/9 (18-25y), ≥5/9 (26-65y) & ≥4/9 https://t.co/fgDGKwUozh
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Obesity and Low Back Pain
A large patient population study finds weight gain, increases risk for low back pain - the risk increased 7% for every BMI unit or 10 pounds over ideal weight.
https://t.co/EZQwhLpNjg https://t.co/tIlEQmedp7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
58 newly Dx #PMR pts (on <8 wks steroids/GC) randomised 1:1 MTX 25 mg/wk or placebo, w/ 24-week GC-tapering protocol. @wk 52 GC-free remission achieved in 80% of MTX vs 46% of placebo pts (risk difference 34%, 1-sided 95% CI: 14%, 1-sided P = .0042) https://t.co/75SLx5LtqZ https://t.co/HtDAJe5VI2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Start 2026 with the meeting that sets the tone for rheumatology.
#RheumNowLive delivers the newest science, practical insights, and real-world guidance clinicians use immediately—across RA, PsA, SpA, vasculitis, ILD, PMR/GCA & more.
Registration is now open: https://t.co/a3m9a3spqA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Glucocorticoid Injections in Knee Osteoarthritis
A randomized clinical trial of 60 patients found that glucocorticoid injections into the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) did not significantly reduce pain scores in patients with inflammatory knee osteoarthritis (compared to placebo).
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Adult co-twin study of 1261 pairs, 1/2 Rx w/ metformin. Although metformin Rx Twin had higher BMI, they had significantly less incident peripheral OA (adjusted HR 0.60; 0.44–0.82). @ 10 yrs, 6.7% of treated twins, vs 9.7% of non-treated twins had incident OA, with difference of https://t.co/7KpiGssFSo
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Systematic review of Difficult-to-treat RA (D2T-RA): 23 articles, 27,987 RA pts from 13 countries - pooled prevalence of D2T-RA was 11.7% (10.9% overall; 13.2% in b/tsDMARDs-treated RA). 47% D2T-RA had persistent inflammatory refractory RA (PIRRA). Prevalence decreased w/ https://t.co/0Gatzbfxid
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Anti-mitochondrial M2 Ab (AMA-M2) in 987 IIM pts-- 55 (6%) were AMA-M2 positive. AMA-M2+ had signif. higher rates of polymyositis (56% vs 23.5%), GGT, alk phos levels, & 3 fold more cardiac involvement (60 vs 13%) (arrhythmias, CHF, pulm HTN (31-56%), but no effect on survival https://t.co/WYWeDpiYOh
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
DPC - direct primary care offices run by nurse practitioners - states that allow independent NP practices have NPs opening DPC offices, that operate under a membership model, with pts paying for access to the office services, tests, and imaging. Over 2,300 DPC offices currently
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
APP Pearls “Steroids: Set a stop date upfront, educate on side effects, and teach "every milligram matters." Prevents dependence and eases tapering” - Barbara A. Slusher, MSW, PA-C, DFAAPA, DipACLM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Congratulations to Dr. Proton Raman - a world class rheumatologist and research scientist!!! https://t.co/ofzGLsofi0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Best of 2025: 2025 BSR Guideline for Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis
The British Society of Rheumatology's 2025 Guidelines for treating axSpa focus on both axial and extra-musculoskeletal issues like uveitis, psoriasis, and IBD. They evaluate the effectiveness and safety of https://t.co/fxFcqy13g7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Comorbidity and Health Management: Tuesday Night Rheumatology
Join panelists Vanessa Hill, NP-C, Lindsay Tom, PA-C, Barb Slusher, MSW, PA-C and Jack Cush, MD as they discuss comorbidity and health management in rheumatic disease.
https://t.co/3KMgBW1Q4W https://t.co/4dVfKd7uy5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
UK study of 1846 RA pts starting a b/tsDMARDs, ~30% on steroids & majority (2/3) continued use over the first year of new novel treatment. This suggests these aer either severe RA pts or that we are not vigilant in limiting/weaning/stopping steroids in RA patients - which is it? https://t.co/7NWeAWTjSy
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Lupus Guidelines 2025
Monica Richey, ANP, New York, reviews the 2025 ACR lupus guidelines as part of RheumNow's "Mission: APP Partners in Care" campaign during the month of December.
https://t.co/D1LE1H4zyi https://t.co/myPnT3ibKd
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Japan retrospective study of 38 RA pts who developed MTX assoc lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD) - 22 w/ spontaneous regression (SR) vs 16 non-SR (w/ 5 deaths). non-SR Pt had higher LDH levels at Dx & lower lymphocyte recovery 1 mo. post MTX withdrawal & higher mortality risk https://t.co/SsBQRxFvD1
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From the blog
Podcasts
DERM on RheumNow Podcast (December 2025)
Comorbidity and Health Management
Telling You Where to Go (12.19.2025)-
APP Controversies and Misconceptions
Therapeutic Updates
IL-23 Inhibition Across Psoriatic Disease* and Inflammatory Bowel Disease†
Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson
Watch Dr. Khattri & Jennifer Labas, MSN, discuss IL-23 inhibition in adults with active PsA, moderate to severe plaque PsO, moderately to severely active UC, & moderately to severely active CD
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Underserved and Under-treated
RheumNow
Watch our Underserved and Under-Treated series as part of this month's Mission: APP Partners in Care campaign. Now available: Pain Management and Workforce & APPs
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
