ACPA and the Transition from Arthralgia to Rheumatoid Arthritis
MedPage Today
Recent News
Patients with clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA), a common prequel to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), showed different patterns of symptoms and progression depending on whether they tested positive for anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), researchers found.Read Article
Guselkumab gets FDA Nod for X-ray Protection
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Johnson & Johnson's supplemental Biologics License (sBLA) to include evidence in the guselkumab (Tremfya) label for the inhibition of progression of structural joint damage in adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Guselkumab is an IL-23 inhibitor indicated for use in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
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Increased Polypharmacy in SLE Patients
A cross-sectional study of US adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) shows significantly increased prevalence of polypharmacy, related to age, disease outcomes and often, non-SLE common medications.
https://t.co/3Mo3O8Ra04 https://t.co/zRS8TmFvvf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
APR: Biologics and DMARD Safety
Companion slide deck for the Advanced Practice Rheum: Safety of Biologics and Novel Agents video.
https://t.co/EbbbUC2dK5 https://t.co/1hEATEH4kP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) - analysis of cases 2023-2024 shows 99% were undervaccinated against COVID-19. OVer 2 yrs, 141 MIS-C 78%had no COVID-19 vaccine. All 4 children who died were unvaccinated https://t.co/iBcA4GIdDe https://t.co/IQLLaG55gm
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Integrating D2T into T2T Practices in RA
Researchers at Semmelweis University analyzed how depression, smoking, obesity, sleep disorders, and other health problems are linked to difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T-RA) and how this can inform treat-to-target (T2T) and https://t.co/buCXeK2jNS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
True or False: NLRP3 inflammasome activation in neutrophils triggers PAD release, increasing citrullination of intracellular proteins and contributing to rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis. See if you got it right in this week's RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/DX0qT1iNF2 https://t.co/rVuQM3aeI2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
“Common sense in matters medical is rare, and is usually in inverse ratio to the degree of education.”
– Sir William Osler
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Which of the following is NOT a complication of Gout?
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Review of Ruxolitinib in 7 pts w/ refractory systemic JIA complicated by macrophage activation (MAS) (ages 1.6-11 yrs; 3M: 4F). 5 achieved complete remission; 2 partial remission. 2 relapsed w/ GC tapering (remission after adding canakinumab). No deaths https://t.co/j4Cm3UYB9c https://t.co/pKoDwpSKII
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RepurpSS-II: Hydroxychloroquine plus Leflunomide in Sjögren's
A small pilot, phase 2b trial has shown that the combination of leflunomide and hydroxychloroquine (LEF+HCQ) was effective and safe in treating patients with active Sjögren's disease.
https://t.co/eeyhso0WJ6 https://t.co/ZGWOOtf92E
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
True or False: After successfully treating herpes zoster, it is considered safe to restart anti-TNF therapy without a significant risk of recurrence. See if you got it right in this week's RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/DX0qT1iNF2 https://t.co/pGggdVPhmh
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Cross-sectional study of 339 IBD pts (64% women, median 42yrs (32–53) found osteopenia by BMD in 34%, OP in 12%. Predictors not identified by multivariable analysis. Rheum eval led to OP Rx in 7% & vitamin D in 45% https://t.co/a9RSo9PxHS https://t.co/nIOR9AUjQs
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective Intl SSc study of MD & PT telangiectasia counts (TC) (0, 1–6, 7–15 or > 15) of face, forearms & hands. High TC correlated w/ PAH (AUC 0.824–0.875) & digital ulcers. Moderate agreement betw MD & Pt for face & forearms TC (kappa 0.648 & 0.605, p< 0.001) https://t.co/k7tVeJFeCi
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
In the cross-sectional study of US SLE patients, what was the most common drug class driving polypharmacy beyond SLE medications? Test your knowledge in this week's RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/DX0qT1iNF2 https://t.co/ox4rGp04WH
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Count Your Telangiectasias (5.29.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and missed quiz questions.
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EGPA https://t.co/zlquehIZQ6
Rheumatology update @aabdogafar ( View Tweet)
FDA has approved that guselkumab (Tremfya) for the inhibition of progression of structural joint damage in adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) https://t.co/KwcECQpSz1 https://t.co/pSoK930FAX
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
LRA Awards for Immune Resetting Therapies in Lupus
LRA, the world’s largest private funder of lupus research, in collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced the inaugural recipients of the Lupus Research Alliance-Genentech Award on Immune Resetting https://t.co/eDAq17lhM0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Veterans Administration study of 301 #RA pts Rx w/ immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) for cancer shows all cause mortality in ICI Rx Cancer pts was no worse when RA pts took ICIs (1.09; 0.94–1.25). Cause of death similar; Infx were rare (<1.0%) https://t.co/3ZYujU5nyE https://t.co/MCDcdWHcVx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From the Blog
Podcasts
Count Your Telangiectasias (5.29.2026)-
Quiz Talk (5.22.2026)
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Infectious Rheumatology (5.15.2026)
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Influential Rheumatoid Factors(5/8/2026)
Therapeutic Updates
Psoriatic arthritis and overweight or obesity
Sponsored by Lilly Medical Affairs
Dr. Merola presenting the results from TOGETHER‑PsA, a phase 3b trial evaluating the concomitant use of an IL‑17A antagonist and an incretin receptor agonist in adults with psoriatic arthritis and overweight or obesity.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
