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Read ArticleWilliam James famously wrote in Pragmatism, “There can be no difference anywhere that doesn’t make a difference elsewhere.” Gout treatment offers a striking medical example of that idea. Drugs prescribed to calm flares or lower uric acid are designed with one primary goal in mind, yet many also produce meaningful effects beyond the joints.
Expert Perspective on Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease
A recent perspective by Tedeschi tackles many unresolved issues around CPPD diagnosis, classification, and management, including the lack of clinical trials or FDA approved treatments.
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2 Still's dz cohorts (96 Shanghai, 28 Erlangen0 compared response to biolgics vs DMARDs (MTX, CNI,JAKi). in 124 AOSD pts, biologic had more sustained event-free remission and event-free state (P 0.0065, P 0.0096) & more steroid D/C vs MTX/CNI (p < 0.05). https://t.co/lJaI9nhPYr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ACR: Medicare Cuts for Physicians Highlight Need for Reform
The ACR was disappointed that the proposed MPFS from the CMS once again included a serious cut to the conversion factor. The -1.68% cut would lower reimbursement to physicians providing care to Medicare beneficiaries https://t.co/PmAmFPnw6R
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The Marriage between Gout and the Kidney
While the link between uric acid and gout was first described by Alfred Baring Garrod in the 1800s, the proof that uric acid might actually be the cause had to await the self-experimentation of two rheumatologists from the University of https://t.co/AWZbjaUtdu
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From 2015-2024, 148 inflam arthritis pts (43 SpA, 35 PsA, 50 RA) w/ a prior cancer were followed 58.1 mos. 24 (19%) had CA recurrence/progression. Post-CA exposure to b/ts-DMARDs did not incr. recurrence risk after adjusting for age & comorbidity burden. https://t.co/MHKIqwyjNN https://t.co/uhOdq1cCPW
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RHEUM SURVEY Q: Which gout drug has the greatest toxicity risk? Answer here>> https://t.co/EQrEjD9237
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
SGLT2i use in gout reduces use of gout meds. Study of 26,739 gout pts w/ NIDDM (mean 66 yrs), 67% w/ polypharmacy. SGLT2i (vs DPP-4i) user had less Allopurinol starts (HR 0.62;0.52–0.73), also lower use of steroids (,78), NSAID (.85), colchicine (.87) & diuretics (.87) https://t.co/1dW27YzSvg
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
GI dz & malnutrition in scleroderma (SSc) is common, assessed by BMI. Among 450 SSc (F/U 5.3 yrs), lower BMI were significantly assoc w/ pseudoobstruction, smaller oral aperture, higher Medsger vascular severity scores. Defines those at risk https://t.co/w45OhUOUTh https://t.co/hWuIaS6OUe
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The Hidden Cost of Gout
For many people, gout is viewed as an episodic disease: a painful flare, a short course of treatment, and then life returns to normal. However, as rheumatologists, we know that recurrent attacks can lead to joint damage and tophi if left untreated. Furthermore, the true burden of gout extends far beyond the musculoskeletal system.
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Fibromyalgia: Diagnosis and Management
Fibromyalgia (FM) affects 4–6% of the U.S. population, with nearly a 2 fold female predominance. Nociplastic pain underlies the pathophysiology of FM. CNS hypersensitization to both painful and non-painful stimuli occurs with little or no tissue pathology. Framing FM as a disorder of CNS processing is critical to diagnosis, treatment approaches and patient buy-in.
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Metanalysis of 51 studies shows vaccination is suboptimal in Rheum. Influenza Vax rates: RA 50%, SLE 42%, AS 43% & Psa 53%. Pneumococcal vaccinations even lower: 37%, 30%, 39% and 41%. More by with age & comorbidites and by rheumatologists (vs PCPs) https://t.co/3DborC9BLW https://t.co/MPDeJUH0HI
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Gout in Minority Populations
Recent research has revealed substantial racial and ethnic disparities in both who develops gout and the care patients receive. These differences reflect not only genetic susceptibility but also the substantial influence of social determinants of https://t.co/SKEsQVZPw6
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Low dose ASA (81mg or 325mg) increase gout attacks by 81% (RR 1.81). Effect nullified by allopurinol use.
For more gout content, follow our Gout: More than Flares campaign at https://t.co/lQoiFjubZJ, https://t.co/sSm4s3vUtE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
#THA revisions in 3657 RA vs 446428 OA pts (mean F/U ~7y) find RA has signif incr risk of revision (HR 1.35); espec due to infx (HR 1.48), dislocation (1.87), aseptic loosening (0–3m; 2.81). No diff w/ cemented, cementless, hybrid THA. Age > 65 was main risk factor. https://t.co/iK6pL3QF1W
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ACP Position Paper on Dietary Supplements
More than half of U.S. adults use dietary supplements, yet only a quarter use supplements recommended by a healthcare professional, and current law allows supplements to reach the market without a premarket safety evaluation, unlike https://t.co/gwLG4ElfCq
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Tomorrow!
Registration is still open!
Time-tested gout therapies remain the cornerstone of care, optimizing their use requires thoughtful, patient-specific decision making.
Join our expert faculty for Upgrading & Maximizing the Classics where they'll explore practical https://t.co/ZN0vcVjUex
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Gout TRUST trial compared gout flares in 28 pts assessed biweekly electronically or by phone. Over 12 wk (109 flare periods, 108 electronic & 99 phone assessments) there were 23 flares on electronic surveys and 22 flares on phone surveys (96% agreement; strong concordance, ICC https://t.co/fugYIasf4G
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Systemic sclerosis metanalysis of 31 studies (32,134 pts) shows malignancy risk signif increased (SIR 1.66; CI 1.32 - 2.08). Highest: esophageal, liver, cervical, lung, & Heme (SIR 3.35 - 13.95). 7.4 yr mean from SSc to CA dx. https://t.co/IhxvfkMqkf https://t.co/dTFjD4iqth
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metanalysis of 31 studies (14,548 pts) looked at infection in idiopathic inflamm myopathy (IIMs). Infection prevalence was 24%, primarily Respiratory tract. PJP, aspergillosis, H zoster most prevalent pathogens. Risk factors: older age, male, DM, HTN,MDA5+ (OR 3.41), rapidly https://t.co/GvOvAVRkRv
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
Seronegative RA Disease Activity (7.17.202)
What Lies Beneath - Uric Acid Deposition & Imaging
Gout QD clinics - lessons from the Clinic QD307-QD311-
Gout Cavalcade (7.10.2026)
Therapeutic Updates
Fundamentals of CAR T Cell Therapy and Its Investigational Use in Autoimmune Diseases
Sponsored By Bristol Myers Squibb
Learn more about the fundamentals of CAR T-cell therapy and its investigational use in autoimmune disease
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Watch our 'Systemic Burden of Gout' series as part of this month's Gout More than Flares campaign. Check out our videos including: Gout & CVD, Gout & Obesity, Outcomes of Tophaceous Gout and more.
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Poster Hall
Daily Gem
Low dose ASA (81mg or 325mg) increases gout attacks by 81% (RR 1.81). Effect nullified by allopurinol use.
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