Recent News
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic autonomic disorder affecting an estimated 0.1%–1% of the US population, with peak incidence at ages 13–29 and a striking 90% female predominance.Read Article
Brepocitinib Skin Outcomes in Patients With Dermatomyositis
A secondary analysis of the VALOR trial has shown that the TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor brepocitinib was effective at cutaneous disease activity outcomes, delivering rapid, clinically meaningful, and remission-level control of cutaneous dermatomyositis (DM).
Read Article
Ivarmacitinib (AKA SHR-0302) is a JAK1 inhib approved in China. Phase II/III RCT (NCT04481139) in active #AS Rx w/ ivarmacitinib 4 mg (n 187) or placebo (n 186) showing IVRMA @wk 12 IVRMA had signif better ASAS20 response(49% vs 29%) & ASAS40 (32% vs 18%). Also superior: total https://t.co/ilVtrQgHxR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
🔥 Still’s Disease Awareness Day 2026
🐉 I Won’t Be Still: Making Still’s Disease Visible
Show us a moment from your life with Still’s Disease. 📸 Share a photo/video + what “I Won’t Be Still” means to you.
For 47 hours, let’s make Still’s visible.
#MyStills #StillsDay https://t.co/B7VNmlIOQj
Links:
AiArthritis @IFAiArthritis ( View Tweet)
CAR-T Reality Check!
The hype is outrunning the evidence, which now lives in a handy dashboard created and presented by Dr. Mike Putman @EBRheum. There are almost as many studies as there are CAR-T treated patients. Few numbers, limited F/U - Yet everyone is gaga about CAR-T. https://t.co/aCtA8il2fD
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
🆕 #AutoInflammatory / Periodic Fever Syndromes
In Memory of Dr. Dan Kastner🕊️
So grateful Dr. Kastner agreed to review this graphic >1 year ago, providing thoughtful input and suggestions to improve the final version 🙏
New Board Review Series for Rheum OnePagers 📟
#RheumX https://t.co/zx8dX2yHkA
Mithu Maheswaranathan, MD @MithuRheum ( View Tweet)
Registry Data Shows Liver Risk With Avacopan
A new study may add fuel to the fire already burning around avacopan (Tavneos), approved in 2021 to treat anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), which the FDA wants drugmaker Amgen to pull from https://t.co/nHF6RVpq2Z
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Glucocorticoids: Use vs.Toxicity
This review article addresses the recognition, prevention and management of GC toxicity in rheumatic patients. Despite guidelines and recommendations that GC be tapered, lowered or discontinued, they continue to be widely used with serious https://t.co/rmjoYJzCLD
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Age-specific Incidence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Epidemiologic estimates on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis are limited. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Lupus Registry network of population-based SLE registries has assessed and reported age-specific incidence of SLE by sex, race, and ethnicity.
Guidelines for Adult-Onset IgA Vasculitis
A EUVAS-sponsored expert panel of 37 specialists across rheumatology, nephrology, dermatology and pathology has published evidence-based guidelines for adult-onset IgA vasculitis (IgAV), which behaves very differently in adults compared to usually self-limited childhood form.
Read Article
Rheum Scholarship (8.21.2026)
Dr. Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow; talking about lumbar belts, scholarships and misdiagnosis.
https://t.co/T6uggKb8n7 https://t.co/HJCMQqghaE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
39 studies compared Juvenile systemic sclerosis (jSSc) & adult SSc. 935 jSSc vs 15,451 aSSc pts; jSSc had more diffuse cutaneous dz (70% vs 41%), more overlap myositis (33% vs. 5%), arthritis (33% vs 18%), digital ulcers (51% vs 20%), less renal crisis (0% vs 6%) & lower https://t.co/vflarmwSyv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
402 RA pts w. symptomatic Extra-articular manifestations (eg, neuropathy, KCS) had significant impairment in quality of life and work productivity, independent of disease activity. They had lower HAQ (0.92 vs 0.68) & more Absenteeism https://t.co/1FH9gyxoxK https://t.co/faToGXpdSQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
A Tribute to Thomas A. Medsger Jr., MD (1936–2026)
The rheumatology and scleroderma communities mourn the loss of Dr. Thomas A. Medsger Jr., who died August 15, 2026, in Pittsburgh, at age 89.
https://t.co/GGC3pZVfJp https://t.co/n0ckoeQ3ZX
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Registry Data Shows Liver Risk With Avacopan
MedPage Today
A new study may add fuel to the fire already burning around avacopan (Tavneos), approved in 2021 to treat anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), which the FDA wants drugmaker Amgen to pull from the U.S. market.
Read Article
Glucocorticoids: Use vs.Toxicity
This review article addresses the recognition, prevention and management of glucocorticoid toxicity in rheumatic patients.
Read Article
Misdiagnosis of Still's Disease
High fever, strange rashes, scary labs often lead to a consideration of Still's disease (AOSD or systemic JIA). Yet the dramatic onset of a systemic disorder may overlap with another, and possibly rarer, systemic disorder that should not be https://t.co/pSfSahO5Nw
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in RA
RA confers a 50–100% excess risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) that remains even when remission is achieved. Disease control reduces but does not eliminate thrombotic risk.
https://t.co/GXvuucL3ze https://t.co/fTw6UY7eZH
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
JAK inhibitor Drug Market size (worldwide) was valued at $ 5.51 Billion in 2024 & is estimated to reach $ 19.81 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 13.66% from 2026-2033. https://t.co/1Krd1TeKv1 https://t.co/k0hx7iXTvn
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
e-cigarette use assoc w/ a 1.5-fold incr risk of RA & SLE. All of Us Research prg matched 15,909 e-cig users vs nonusers. 66 new RA or SLE among current e-cig (IR 1.43/1,000PYs) vs nonusers (0.93/1,000PYs; IRR 1.54); applies to past or current smokers https://t.co/xYRezwQFYC https://t.co/pnNANfui4Y
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.”
Read Post
Podcasts
Label update: Structural damage progression in active PsA
Rheum Scholarship (8.21.2026)-
Doubting RS3PE (8.14.2026)
-
Mentshlichkeit (8.7.2026)
Therapeutic Updates
Make Rheum for Rads: Autoimmune ILD Diagnosis, Monitoring, and the Patient Experience
Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Drs. Elizabeth Volkmann and Robert Suh explore the roles rheumatologists and radiologists play in diagnosing and monitoring autoimmune ILD and hear from a patient about her experience.
Read Post
A JAKi After TNFi Failure in RA: SELECT-SWITCH at Week 12
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Dr. Christina Charles-Schoeman and Dr. Manish Jain are back to discuss treatment considerations after TNFi failure in RA. Join them as they review the latest data from SELECT-SWITCH, including post hoc results in primary and secondary nonresponders presented at EULAR 2026.
Read Post
Label update: Structural damage progression in active PsA
Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Medical Affairs
Listen to Dr. Catherine Bakewell’s review of clinical data from a recent label update.
Read Post
Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
