Recent News
Read ArticleDr. Jack Cush reviews the journal reports and news from RheumNow.com. This week we discuss moral distress, FM in PsA, Lyme Vax is back & hidden but tangible benefits of the MDHAQ.
Spotty Medicare Coverage for Newer Rheumatoid Arthritis Meds
Medicare coverage of targeted disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for RA -- both under Medicare Advantage and in separate Part D plans -- is likely to leave many patients wanting, researchers found. https://t.co/CW6gIHtnIw
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Disease activity defined in adult-onset Still's dz. Criteria developed using Italian cohort 187 & 41 from CONSIDER (canakinumab) trial. Active AOSD based on 5 criteria: fever, plus 1: skin rash, arthritis, pt global>2 cm, CRP > 10 mg/L; or any 3 without fever (AUC 0.93, 0.85, https://t.co/J94pkQqZFP
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NEJM: Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Drs. Dejaco and Matteson have published and update and review of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in the NEJM. They lay out the initial approach to diagnosis, initial steroid dosing, management over time and when to use steroid sparing therapy.
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Real-world safety of tofacitinib vs biologics in 48,167 #PsA pts Rx w/ TOFA (3,166); TNFi (27K); IL-17Ai (20K); risankizumab (4,381); ustekinumab (4,499). Crude IRs/100 PY were 1.78-2.53 for serious infxn, 0.27–0.61 MI/stroke, 0.17–0.42 VTE, & 0.74–1.06 cancer. TOFA had signif https://t.co/Z5wZTGc5gB
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Incident RA is assoc w/ considerable work loss. 3850 RA pts compared to 4422 same-sex siblings (2006-2020). Work loss began 13 mos before RA Dx & peaked the year after, less in last 10 yrs. Work loss highly skewed; small proportion contributed the most work loss days. https://t.co/splolrEDpe
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Advanced Practice Rheum: Evaluation of Rheumatic Complaints
In this review, Dr. Cush provides a systematic approach to evaluating musculoskeletal and rheumatic complaints in clinical practice. He emphasizes three key priorities: identifying "red flag" conditions (septic https://t.co/QX8AM9YNAf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
JAMA survey study of 5741 physicians found mean moral distress score (0-10, >4 High) =3.29, w/ 39% having high level of moral distress; more than US workers. Burnout, intent to leave (ITL), or reduce work hours (ITR) was higher for each 1-point incr in moral distress score https://t.co/dslwMztjV7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Systemic Treatments for Chronic Plaque Psoriasis
JAMA Dermatology has published a review of the pharmacologic landscape on managing adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Armstrong et al report on the efficacy (using the PASI 90) response and safety of these agents (including serious adverse events).
Spotty Medicare Coverage for Newer Rheumatoid Arthritis Meds
MedPage Today
Medicare coverage of targeted disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) -- both under Medicare Advantage and in separate Part D plans -- is likely to leave many patients wanting, researchers found.
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Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory condition that affects persons >50 years of age and is characterized by pain in both shoulders with or without hip or neck pain (or both) and with pronounced morning stiffness. Learn more about the diagnosis and management: https://t.co/pKCl42dGVX
NEJM @NEJM ( View Tweet)
#Glucocorticoid-induced #osteoporosis results from direct suppression of osteoblast & osteocyte function, a transient stimulation of osteoclast formation & activity, catabolic effects on #bone matrix & muscle protein, and metabolic alterations https://t.co/ZmMFAOJkmw
#OpenAccess https://t.co/6CubKRbjin
Links:
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology @TheLancetEndo ( View Tweet)
In this https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2026 podcast, Dr. Elena Myasoedova examines mortality trends in RA, exploring whether we are seeing continued decline, delayed impact, or a concerning plateau.
🎧 Listen here: https://t.co/tYS24BNsXw
#Rheumatology #RheumatoidArthritis #MedEd https://t.co/GbZV43Cnse
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
EULAR 2025 Update for Behçet’s syndrome
EULAR has updated its recommendations for the management of Behçet’s syndrome, the last being published in 2018. The current update carries no recommendations from the previous version: seven recommendations have content modifications, https://t.co/QcjVUqlyMU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective TriNetX Network cohort study of adult PsA (N 123,031) pts, propensity- matched to non-PsA controls. PsA had signif higher CV morbidity: MACE (HR 1.74); mortality (HR 1.95); CHF (HR 1.96), MI (HR 1.71), & CVA (HR 1.49). bDMARDs reduced MACE (HR 0.95) & mortality (HR https://t.co/bHrq9KpwBM
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Economic analysis of ESR & CRP testing (are they same or different?). Compared to doing either ESR OR CRP, they found the ESR + CRP testing was cost-effective strategy, reducing misdiagnoses, followup costs and overall healthcare costs. https://t.co/UU15bxuPKP https://t.co/7zNkUOcQpU
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
phase 3 VALOR trial of 6-valent OspA-based Lyme dz vaccine (LB6V) vs placebo; 4 doses given @ Mos 0, 2, 5-9, & 12 mos later. LB6V reduced Lyme Dz risk by 73.2% @28d after 4th dose. But it was only 15.8% effective (falling short of prespecified 20%) because of fewer than expected https://t.co/TcX0GV05gY
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Who Treats Spondyloarthritis Better?
MedPage Today
European nations may be winning at optimizing care for people with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), international survey data indicate. In data collected from physicians and patients in the U.S. and five European countries, American patients reported a greater symptom burden on average after treatment had begun, and they agreed less often with their physicians regarding satisfaction with therapy.
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Prevalence of fibromyalgia in PsA = 18%. FM-PsA pts have higher scores Dz activity scores from FM, rather than inflammation. Fibromyalgia is assoc w/ worse disease outcomes, including failure to achieve low disease activity state and poorer response to therapy. https://t.co/utQRXPmpDs
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Missed #RheumNowLive 2026?
The full meeting is now available On Demand.
✔ 2 days of clinical updates
✔ Expert faculty panels
✔ Speaker slides
✔ Pre-learn modules
Watch anytime for $250.
Learn from the meeting that kicks off the year in rheumatology.
🔗 Access here: https://t.co/GJwap25PVU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Video
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
Moral Distress (3.27.2026)
DERM on RheumNow Podcast (March 2026)-
Pitfalls in Rheumatology (3.20.2026)
STEP Talks from RNL26 Part #2
Therapeutic Updates
5-Year Results of an IL-23 Inhibitor in Patients With PsA
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Dr. Alvin Wells and Dr. Shikha Singla share their clinical perspectives on using an IL–23 inhibitor to manage patients with PsA throughout their treatment journey in the context of 5-year data from the KEEPsAKE trial program.
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Poster Hall
