Recent News
Read ArticleLowering 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?
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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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)
Can achieving serum urate targets do more than prevent flares?
Our latest #Gout Journal Club reviews two important studies linking treat-to-target urate-lowering therapy with improved cardiovascular and kidney outcomes—and what the evidence means for clinical practice.
Join https://t.co/6QJXfUEvDy
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)
RT @aurelierheumo
What is new in PsA?
Dennis McGonagle's take at #EULAR2026
-a strong year for discovery in mechanisms of transition from PSO to PsA
-publication of the first single cell atlas Enthesis
-Better understanding of VTE mechanisms in JAKi in PsA
-clinical aspects
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @rheumarampa
"There’s more work to do” as Dr. Floris van Gaalen summarizes the challenges in peripheral SpA
-pSpA has limited lab value testing like imaging, clinical diagnosis
- few clinical trials to support tx guidelines
- SPARTACUS trial: GOL vs. MTX in early pSpA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @jiharheum
MTX PO split dose MTX (15mg AM + 10mg PM) vs SC in early seropositive #RA in SCOOT RCT (n=252): SC MTX had better EULAR response at 16 wks (OR 0.55, p=0.049) and ↑ transaminitis with oral split. SC MTX remains the preferred route above 15mg/wk. #EULAR2026 OP0206
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @yuz6yusof
#EULAR2026 OP0337 In double blind LTE WILLOW study, cutaneous efficacy (change in CLASI, CLASI 70/50) was maintained in Enpatoran, TLR 7/8-i by WK48. Those switched from PBO to ENP at WK24 also showed equal efficacy to ENP-ENP group. Promising treatment for #CLE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @aurelierheumo
A long release version of xanthine oxidase inhibitor in gout
-442 pts 36 wks
-HR091506 vs febuxostat
-SUA <300 μmol/L: 63.8% vs 40.7% (Δ +22.9%, p<0.0001)
-higher SUA reduction vs baseline
-Similar overall TEAEs (~90%)
A molecule to keep an eye on!
#LB0008
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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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Real-World Predictors and Early Indicators for IBD in Patients With PsA
Daily Gem
12.1 million Americans have gout; but only 1.3% are seen by rheumatologists.
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