Recent News
A network meta-analysis in the Journal of Autoimmunity reviews the pharmacologic options for rheumatoid arthritis–associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD). RA-ILD guidelines were recently presented by ERS/EULAR, but these were mainly conditional, low-certainty recommendations.Read Article
NEJM Retracts Pivotal ADVOCATE Trial of FDA-Approved Avacopan
MedPage Today
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) retracted the pivotal study supporting FDA's approval of avacopan (Tavneos) for severe forms of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis.
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Prosthetic Jt Infections after prior Septic Arthritis? Systematic review of 35 retro studies/7,447 pts (4,896 TKA, 2,564 THA). PJI rate = 2.6%, more after TKA (9.8%) than THA (1.1%). Lower rates w/ longer intervals between TJA and septic arthritis. 2 stage procedures increased https://t.co/M425Xuc7Z4
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Long term F/U of Gout (CARES) trial (febuxostat vs allopurinol) shows remission increased from 37% (1,593/4,259) 1st Yr to 63% (322/510) at year 6. Over the 6 years, ~60 achieved remission at least once; more likely based on age, race, dz severity, comorbidities, & febuxostat
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
A federal judge has blocked the Department of Education new rule restricting graduate school loans for NPs and PAs. DEA plan does not qualify NP & PA degrees as "professional", & loans were to be limited to $20,500 annually ($100K lifetime) https://t.co/5eIcFgbbx6 https://t.co/xuik5TWjVU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
American Gastroenterological Association announced the launch of AGA APP GI Readiness and Credentialing, a professional development initiative fir advanced practice providers throughout their careers. Establishes structured professional pathways for APP https://t.co/k3pC7HazMt https://t.co/8wT4ltIsSC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The Power of Self-Management with Chronic Low Back Pain
EurekAlert!
Almost everyone will deal with back pain at some point in their lives. Most recover quickly — but for about 20% of people, acute pain becomes a chronic condition that interferes with daily life and keeps them out of the workforce.
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Uric Acid: Is Lower Better?
Lowering serum urate and urate crystals in the body is indispensable for long-term management of gout. The pathophysiology is simple and powerful: no urate crystals, no gout flares. However, this simplicity in goal belies a nuanced consideration in management: how low should serum urate be maintained to improve outcomes for our patients with gout?
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Chinese target trial emulation of 2092 adults with stage G3–G4 CKD & asymptomatic hyperuricemia starting ULT. At 3 yrs, renal progression (ESKD or ≥40% eGFR decline) was 33.3% in T2T vs 35.8% in non-T2T (risk ratio 0.93; 0.83–1.08). https://t.co/lAT0noE1uA https://t.co/mFVpvvFcsN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Cochicine overdose still occurs & can be deadly. There is no antidote. From 2011-2021, there were 57 pediatric cases (median 7 yrs)(0.41 /million kids/year. 52% started w/ GI Sxs, 12% multiple organ failure &4 deaths (7%). Ingested doses ranged from 0.01 to 1.45 mg/kg. https://t.co/RULmdBX0Qj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RHEUM SURVEY>> Which Gout drugs lower the risk of cardiovascular death? Answer here: https://t.co/1OY1B3ET7B https://t.co/MRJP5OOtXb
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
JAMA HBV review - Worldwide, HBV affects ~254 million, causing 1.1 million deaths. In 2022, 14k new HBV infx in the US. HBsAg = ongoing infxn; HBsAb indicates immunity; HBcAg=ongoing or past infection. Do HBV DNA for virus-replication activity https://t.co/Yvdx09DrQ5 https://t.co/88VsTEgFev
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
EULAR26: Vasculitis updates: Glucorticoid use in AAV and GCA
EULAR recommends a combination of glucocorticoids with either rituximab or cyclophosphamide for remission induction in life-threatening or organ-threatening AAV, followed by gradual tapering of glucocorticoids. https://t.co/9HI9SwMSSv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ICYMI: Worldwide Trends in Hyperuricemia
A Lancet Rheumatology systematic review shows the prevalence of hyperuricaemia has risen markedly over the past two decades in both men and women, owing to population growth, aging, and increasing age-specific rates. https://t.co/8QAWkka0DM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RheumIQ: Per the 2025 EULAR RA recommendations, if a csDMARD strategy fails, which drug class requires careful risk assessment before use? Test your knowledge this week at https://t.co/z8mLbcgE5D. https://t.co/r61gvyMHPS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
2026 Guidelines for the Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis
New guidelines offer clinicians and patients clearer directions on diagnostic workup, treatment selection, and long-term disease management, while emphasizing shared decision-making due to ongoing evidence gap. https://t.co/3V8bfDptDU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ICYMI: 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/K9IMLBdCGI https://t.co/LJdnRflzsU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
EULAR26: GLP-1 Agonist Use in the RISE Registry
At EULAR 2026, McCormick and Curtis et al presented data from the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) registry on the use of GLP-1 agents in rheumatic diseases (RMD). https://t.co/EqgETKjN1v
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Insights into Treating Lupus - A Rheum Survey
RheumNow recently surveyed clinicians to better understand current practice patterns, educational needs, and barriers to the use of new, advanced therapies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A total of 197 clinicians completed https://t.co/HNaUK5Q9uq
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RheumIQ: True or False: In the NORD-STAR trial, failure to achieve early remission in RA was associated with a significantly increased risk of fibromyalgic RA at 48 weeks. Find out if you got it right at https://t.co/z8mLbcgE5D. https://t.co/vkusOYHcQj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
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
ICYMI: Great Lectures; Great Presentations-
Generic Tofacitinib (6.26.2026)
DERM on RheumNow (June 2026)-
Do You Zoster Vaccinate? (6.19.2026)
Therapeutic Updates
Fundamentals of CAR T Cell Therapy and Its Investigational Use in Autoimmune Diseases
Sponsored By Bristol Myers Squibb
Therapeutic Update
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Watch our 'Systemic Burden of Gout' series as part of this month's Gout More than Flares campaign. Now available: 3 New Things It Pays to Know About Gout Pathobiology, Outcomes of Tophaceous Gout & Subclinical Inflammation in Intercritical Gout.
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Poster Hall
Daily Gem
Gout prevalence rises with obesity (1% → 7%)
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