Recent News
Sattar et al. has published an informative overview of the effect of obesity on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). They estimate that nearly 70% of RMD patients are overweight or obese.Read Article
Autoimmune Disease Impact Report
Integrated Benefit Institute, a nonprofit independent research organization, has published its 2025 Autoimmune Disease Impact Report, which examines the health and productivity impacts of five prevalent and costly autoimmune conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel diseases, psoriasis, and thyroid autoimmune disorders.
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Post hoc analysis of 5 ph III Belimumab RCTs (BLISS, etc, N=3086) on skin outcomes BILAG & SLEDAI-2K), BEL was superior to PBO (mcBILAG OR: 1.29; mcSLEDAI-2K OR: 1.37). Also if SLEDAI ≥10 & dsDNA+ pts. BEL prevented skin flares (HR 0.70) https://t.co/p1MVVf97Go https://t.co/qwWUyegpyi
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
55 myositis (IIM) pts studied Nailfold Capillaries, MSAbs, cytokines & IFN genes. MDA5(+) pts signif more dilated (DIL), giant & abnl morphology caps, w/ microhemorrhages (MH) vs ARS (+) pts. MH & DIL assoc w/ MX1, IFI27, IP-10, RANTES, GROα. Giant caps assoc w/ IFI27, SDF-1α, https://t.co/3WQL8Sw0rq
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Veterans Admin (VA) EHR study of #RA-associated ILD (n 1047), matched 237 RA-ILD pts who Rx w/ TNFi vs 237 Rx w/ non-TNF biologics (mean age 68y; 92% male). Death & Resp hospitalisation were similar (adj HR 1·21, 1·27), as was mortality (1·15), Resp mortality (1·38) https://t.co/03LV5B4FSV
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NP and PA Growth in the USA
Forbes has published a thoughtful perspective on the declining number of US physicians and the growth in the number of advanced practice providers or APPs in the US clinical workforce.
https://t.co/syQcSFIeMP https://t.co/wbkofNJxd0 https://t.co/2cY42RX6Xo
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Adrenal Dysfunction after Steroids in PMR and GCA Patients
JAMA has published a study of PMR and GCA patients who stopped glucocorticoid (GC) therapy and noted a low (1.2%) risk of GC-induced adrenal insufficiency after planned cessation.
https://t.co/ZTaIQxs0ex https://t.co/LA5qji8Zj5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Mizoribine Effective in Lupus Nephritis
A randomized clinical trial has shown that oral mizoribine, a common immunosuppressant in Japan, was noninferior to intravenous cyclophosphamide (CTX) as induction therapy in patients with active lupus nephritis.
https://t.co/OWnGly4TUX https://t.co/zbPPH1n4lU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Systematic literature review of sleep Rx in Fibromyalgia - 47 RCTs, 11094 pts, found cognitive behavioral Tx (CBT) significantly benefitted insomnia, but not pain. Pregabalin & sodium oxybate had small effect, but Amitriptyline, milnacipran, & duloxetine showed no benefit for https://t.co/XG8cFlpQqq
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
J&J announced the FDA jas granted the investigational drug, nipocalimab (FcRn recpt Ab), with Fast Track designation for its study in adult patients with moderate-to-severe Sjögren’s disease https://t.co/5rEYHkGVp2 https://t.co/ny2dv6Jtr5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Glucocorticoid Toxicity Index
Dr. John Stone has led the effort to develop the GTI - glucocorticoid toxicity index. In this review article he acknowledges the need and benefit of steroids, but details a novel means to identify and limit the untoward effects of glucorticoids https://t.co/foTaoYrfDn
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Comprehensive review of the management of knee osteoarthritis - topicals, analgesics, narcotics, intraarticular, metabolic, nutraceuticals, TENS, acupuncture and biologics. https://t.co/3UjPQeZut9 https://t.co/kpGsVFDzAV
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
2024 Rheumatology Year in Review
2024 was a year of surprising new growth in technology, with the expansion of new therapeutic options for many patients and clinicians.
https://t.co/JjG8oYTkKQ https://t.co/YgHMMiAQ9Z
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ERA, APPs, & Alpha GAL (3.21.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. Listen in for 2 new case questions - Ask Cush Anything.
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617 seropos ARTHRALGIA pts - 34% got inflamm. arthritis (avg time ~20mos). Arthritis risk factors: high ACPA (HR 4.7) or double positive(HR 6.8); 1st degree relative (1.5); intermittent Sxs(1.6); <12 mos Sxs (HR 0.71); AM stiff ≥1hr (1.6); joint swelling (1.5). IF > 2 https://t.co/tHL19ro5C8
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Large GWAS study of smokers, shows that polygenic risk scores (PRS) for RA & ILD were assoc w/ their intended phenotypes in whites (OR 1.32 & 1.88, respectively) but no in blacks https://t.co/FflF2f1orq https://t.co/NlxcASrj9K
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
For the first time ever, https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2025 is Available On Demand!
✔️ STEP Talks from top rheumatologists
✔️ Lectures on the biggest clinical challenges
✔️ Speaker slides and handouts you’ll use
Non-CME, practical, and finally here.
👉 Register today: https://t.co/YNgLfp4IMb
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ACR Frustrated with Congress Failures on Physician Fee Schedule and Research Programs
The ACR expressed deep dissatisfaction that the recent passage of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, failed to address payment cuts imposed in the CY25 Medicare https://t.co/hObTXHMhRA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
PAFLAR Guidelines for Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
The Pediatric African League against Rheumatism (PAFLAR) initiative has published its guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA).
https://t.co/4MbU8ZDLZf https://t.co/o3Oym9ff0f
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Axial Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis
Analysis of a Greek Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) cohort shows that nearly one quarter of patients have axial involvement, and among them, ∼30% have isolated spinal axPsA and nr-axSpA, respectively.
https://t.co/MmRMlEp7zR https://t.co/ZAbfpIWwRM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The FDA has approved guselkumab(Tremfya) for both subcutaneous (SC) and intravenous (IV) induction therapy treatment of adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease (CD). It is the only IL-23 inhbitor available for SC and IV use in CD https://t.co/ekXRVOwNnS https://t.co/6zveRR5WjD
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From the blog
The effects on rheumatologists and their patients living in Ukraine largely have been unseen by the world. At ACR Convergence 2024, I met Dr. Marta Dzhus who practices at St. Michael's Clinical Hospital in Kyiv; she shared her story with me about the humanitarian crisis in rheumatologic care in Ukraine because of the ongoing war. Here is an excerpt of our conversation.
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Podcasts
ERA, APPs, & Alpha GAL (3.21.2025)-
World Changers (3.14.2025)
Autoimmune Myositis The Role of the Laboratory in Diagnosis and Phenotyping Sponsored by LabCorp-
EXXELERATE: New Thoughts on High RF Titer Sponsored by: UCB
Therapeutic Updates
Treatment goals for RA: Is it time to transition MOAs?
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Rheumatologists Dr. Christina Charles-Schoeman and Dr. Manish Jain discuss their approaches to setting and pursuing treatment goals for patients with poorly controlled RA after TNFis
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EXXELERATE: New Thoughts on High RF Titer
Sponsored by: UCB
Two leading rheumatologists share insights into why RF levels are important to consider when identifying treatment options for patients with RA.
Read Post
Poster Hall
