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‘Tis the Season for Vaccination
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Eric Dein, MD

Oct 19, 2026

As the leaves start changing color and spooky decorations populate neighborhood doorsteps, another autumnal tradition begins: vaccination counseling. Fall offers a golden opportunity to protect our patients before respiratory viruses fill our waiting rooms. In patients with rheumatologic diseases, vaccinations can be confusing and worrisome. For clinicians with limited bandwidth, these conversations can feel like added responsibilities in an already overfull schedule.
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Novel Imaging of Skin Disease in Scleroderma

MedPage Today Oct 20, 2026

Key Takeaways

Skin diseases such as psoriasis and systemic sclerosis (also called scleroderma) are typically evaluated with the modified Rodnan Skin Score instrument, which is reliant on physician skill and thus is of variable accuracy.
Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) is an emerging noninvasive technology for assessing dermal morphology and physiology, with the

REVEAL study enrolled 418 early microscopic polyangiitis pts - High baseline (Pre-Rx) neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR > 10) was assoc w/ signif higer Dz activity (BVAS), alveolar hemorrhage, poor renal function, reduced survival & higher infection-related mortality (P = https://t.co/vXuRwXP9gc

Polish study compared comorbidities #s in incident RA & PsA. RA pts were older at dx (61 vs 44 yrs) & may drive higher rates in RA. 23/3 comorbidities (74%) were signif more prevalent in RA, including HTN (18 v 12%), ischemic HD (11 v 6%), cerebrovascular dz (4 vs 2%) https://t.co/l0RW6bVVHd

FDA has granted Fast Track designation to EG-501 (Evergreen), investigational Rx for cognitive impairment with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE), following positive results from the phase 2 ClearMEMory study https://t.co/n9wO2wLLBk https://t.co/Vejldj5PlQ

FDA Grants Fast Track Status to EG-501 in Neuropsychiatric Lupus | NeurologyLiv…

No difference in MACE risk betw TNFi vs JAKi in 6174 RA pts. Korean claims data compared TNFi (n 5,152) vs JAKi (n 1,022) initiators. MACE risk was 4.1 & 3.6/1000PYs w/ TNFi vs JAKi, respectively. MACE risk did not differ significantly between JAKi and TNFi (adj HR 0.636; 0.283, https://t.co/035WSUQAhJ

Open Evidence study of 952 008 US clinicians (556K MDs), submitted 271 million AI clinical queries over 2.5 yrs study period. MDs submitted ~371 queries/mo - 33% for Rx & 14% fo Dx. Highest use w/ young MD, oncology, hematology, Int medicine, & family medicine https://t.co/FGErefxWD5

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Joint Disease in SLE Reconsidered

Jack Cush, MD Oct 19, 2026

A new Frontiers in Immunology review from Ong, Wincup and colleagues, shows that lupus arthropathy is not a single uniform entity and it is biologically under-studied and clinically mismeasured, Moreover, the biology of lupus arthritis may shed light on choosing the best therapy for MSK manifestations of SLE.

Thai study of opportunistic infx in Pediatric SLE - 177 pSLE, & 38 developed OI (3.4/100PY). Most common OIs: Candida (27%), Aspergillus (13.5%), CMV (13.5%) - lung & skin mostly. Risk factors: Pulse steroids, Dz activity (SLEDAI-2K ≥11) https://t.co/0zjDOnDCEh https://t.co/H7JZ56ItDY

Characteristics and associated risk factors of opportunistic infection in child…

Should You Use Low Dose Naltrexone? A recent review of 105 studies and 15 randomized controlled trials of LDN found that, across a range of disorders (chronic pain, autoimmune and neuroimmune disorders, gastrointestinal disease, dermatological conditions, post-infectious https://t.co/lmjJoGlFAZ

RHEUM SURVEY>> How do you assess cutaneous lupus activity or treatment responses? Click here>> https://t.co/1HWC4DV55h https://t.co/X8MUqjxqys

Cutaneous Lupus Challenges | RheumNow

Congratulations to John J. Cush, MD, of @RheumNow, recipient of the ACR Distinguished Clinician Scholar Award. The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to clinical medicine, scholarship, and education in rheumatology. #ACR26 https://t.co/9wWLjQNnxH

https://x.com/ACRheum/status/2110881413402689797/photo/1

Lancet: A Public Health Policy Call Out for Osteoarthritis In honor of World Arthritis Day (Oct. 12th), The Lancet has published a public Health Policy report is to "outline a globally relevant roadmap to address the osteoarthritis identity problem, focusing on health policy https://t.co/XTRDJnOEGn

Placebo beats probiotics in PsA. And nearly 90% of well-controlled RA patients may be able to cut their targeted therapy dose in half. Dr. Jack Cush breaks down the findings worth a closer look in this week's RheumNow podcast, Troubles with ‘Gut Feelings’. Probiotics in PsA: https://t.co/Aqy4HxGHbU

Yale researchers propose repurposing the epilepsy drug, lacosamide, to treat osteoarthritis. In animal models, delivered as a hydrogel conjugate IA, improved cartilage repair, slowed deterioration, & reduced pain. Chosen as it blocks Sodium channels, esp Nav1.7 involved in pain https://t.co/ERJ2xPEyzl

Market info: Ankylosing Spondylitis market size in USA estimated at $3.3 billion USD in 2020 & is expected to increase 8.36% annually from 2019–2032. US prevalence of AS in 2020 was 1,300,971 cases https://t.co/EAginmKFF9 https://t.co/2Ye4Gk1awT

Ankylosing Spondylitis Market in the US to Grow from USD 3,366.93 Million at a …

Italian GISEA (early RA) registry = 1304 pts Rx w/ JAK inhibitors. Retention rates at 6, 12, & 24 mos = 81%, 75%, & 61%. Low retention w/ baseline GC, high Dz activity, & pain. https://t.co/kKZmTHmEUb https://t.co/JlUUrFIU4G

Effectiveness, survival and prescription patterns of Janus kinase inhibitors in…

Single center study of Probiotics in #PsA showed no benefit. 66 moderately active PsA pts (PASDAS>3.2) on stable Tx: Rx probiotic vs PBO x 12 wks. 56 pts analyzed, PASDAS <3 responders: 43% probiotic vs 65% PBO (P 0.167), w/ no change in gut permeability markers or stool https://t.co/0JUZ8SrRuw

92 early (<2 yrs) systemic sclerosis pts were treated with #MTX; 79% diffuse SSc. At 3 mos, 34% of dcSSc ≥25% reduction in mRSS - increasing to 612% a@ 24 mos (29% at 24 mos ITT w/ non-responder imputation). GC did not improve skin. Dz progression seen w/ 75% of MTX monoTx D/C https://t.co/w5Gc3ntej0

"Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." - Vince Lombardi https://t.co/KgQGp6mKlH

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From the Blog

Treatment for Obesity and Inflammation, but at what Cost?
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Jonathan Kay, MD

Sep 29, 2026

The costs of GLP-1 agonists must come down in order to make these treatments available to the people who need them - including many people with rheumatologic diseases.

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Podcasts

Troubles with ‘Gut Feelings’
Oct 16, 2026
Don’t Hold the JAK (10.9.2026)
Oct 09, 2026
PsA Beyond the Joints: Rheum, Derm, and Gastro Perspectives
Oct 06, 2026
Remission – Believe it or Not (10.2.2026)
Oct 02, 2026

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Therapeutic Updates

Clinical dilemmas in axSpA and PsA

PsA Beyond the Joints: Rheum, Derm, and Gastro Perspectives

Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact

Oct 01, 2026

Dr. Saakshi Khattri hosts dermatologist Dr. Ahmad Amin and gastroenterologist Dr. Joshua Steinberg to discuss multidisciplinary care in PsA and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Learn how signals in the skin and gut may prompt the need for collaboration across specialties to support better patient outcomes that extend beyond the joints.

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