Recent News
Read ArticleDr Jack Cush and his podcast friends are out to change the world. Here is his weekly review of the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.
Available the first time: https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2025 On Demand!
On Demand gives you access to all lectures, Q & A panels, and STEP talks, and all speaker slides and handouts — all packed with insights you won’t find anywhere else.
Non-CME, practical, and finally here.… https://t.co/qZb8OKjPpw https://t.co/Exr8u6QkNc
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Avacopan Versus Prednisone Taper in Patients With ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Without Kidney Involvement in a Phase 3 Trial
Sponsored by Amgen
https://t.co/KAIm3pT0ga https://t.co/g9vmMMzbI7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Effectiveness of IL-6 Receptor Inhibitors versus Methotrexate or any Conventional Immunomodulators in Patients with Steroid Refractory Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Sponsored by Sanofi
https://t.co/9zgPnYIp7V https://t.co/7Nl2wTt1sC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Treatment goals for RA: Is it time to transition MOAs?
How could disease control impact your patients’ lives?
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact.
https://t.co/fjZMRA9hcb https://t.co/Euy0q6S5s7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective review of 781#RA pts; 78 Dx w/ILD (77 subclinical, most UIP on HRCT). w/ mean 10 yrs F/U, death rate was 1.5 vs. 7.1 per 100PY (without v with ILD) SMR equal betw RA & gen pop. but 2x higher in RA w/ ILD. Mortality higher w/ ILD (HR~3), age and low BMI… https://t.co/Vj0acewmK8 https://t.co/N1wHTjMfTr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Channeling Bias and Cancer Risk with Biologic or Targeted Synthetic DMARDs
A retrospective US administrative claims cohort study of RA patients on tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis), non-TNFi biologics, or Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) found a statistically significantly higher risk of incident cancer in patients receiving rituximab, abatacept, or JAKis (compared with TNFis).
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Earlier ACL reconstruction and a lower risk of knee osteoarthritis
EurekAlert!
A preclinical study by HSS investigators found that earlier anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction led to lower immune cell activity, less inflammation and fewer joint changes associated with knee osteoarthritis compared to delayed surgery. The research team shared their study results today in a poster presentation at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2025 Annual Meeting.
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Still's Dz Afro-Caribbean study of 58 pts (57% AOSD). Sex differed betw kids F 36% vs F71% in adults. Kids had signif more typical skin rashes (100 vs 29%), coronary artery dilation (16 vs 0%), & MAS (52 vs 9%). Adults signif more polyarthalgia (91 vs 32%) & lung dz (51 vs 4%).… https://t.co/AYKNazgio5 https://t.co/1yQgeMiwku
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Sobi announced it has submitted to FDA a supplemental (sBLA) for Gamifant (emapalumab-Izsg) for use in adult & kids w/ hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)/macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) in Still’s disease with an inadequate response glucocorticoids, or with recurrent… https://t.co/PLpcD5jzxH https://t.co/0LUe9bXaYS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Can you distinguish which PsA? Persistent inflammatory (PIPsA) vs non-inflammatory PsA (NIPsA)? NIPsA has normal ESR/CRP, w/ obesity, biomechanical pain, OA, fibromyalgia, secondary post-inflam damage or central pain mechanisms. https://t.co/9SRmpNfXCF https://t.co/wsH6poUO1m
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
New insights into Moyamyoa a complex cerebrovascular disorder affecting children/young adults w/ carotid or CV vessel narrowing; leading to CVA, Sz, HA, TIA, Cognitive Sx. Genetic mutations add to succeptibility (RNF213, ACTA2, DIAPH1, HLA). DIfficult to Dx vs Atherosclerosis.… https://t.co/LqFcU0xO3J https://t.co/CileSRAZgU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
With GLP-1 agonists, is there a risk of aspiration during gen. anesthesia. Most advise against elective surgery/anesthesia unless the GLP-1 is held for 1-2 weeks. Based on MOA of delayed gastric emptying - 7/8 studies show Incr residual gastric contents in GLP-1, but none… https://t.co/U690OmeqJm https://t.co/Q6kyv9fyVJ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Study of sarcopenia in 138 young adults with inflammatory arthritis (IA) found sarcopenia in ~47% of IA- Signif different between JIA, SpA, & RA. W/ multivariable analysis, predictors of sarcopenia included BMI (OR 0.84), BMD (OR 0.01), vit D (OR 0.96) & HAQ (OR 14.5)… https://t.co/JHKwF8icj1 https://t.co/ph3pVIYuXx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Congratulations to Dr. Joseph Merola (Rheumatologists & Chair of Dermatology at UT Southwestern) on his appointment to the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) https://t.co/TxjuZWeXoJ https://t.co/Mo7PwLWD5f
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
A Veterans study of 27,540 #RA pts shows the risk of multiple myeloma (MM) did not differ b/tsDMARD & csDMARD users. 30% took b/tsDMARD during follow-up (192,000 PYs). MM incidence rate: b/tsDMARD-naïve 0.37/1000PYs vs csDMARDs 0.42/1000PYs (HR 1.32; 0.78, 2.26)… https://t.co/Xp4v4eIQnd https://t.co/5MVdz5UQSb
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Glucocorticoid Toxicity Index
Dr. John Stone has led the effort to develop the GTI - glucocorticoid toxicity index. In this review article he acknowledges the need and benefit of steroids, but details a novel means to identify and limit the untoward effects of glucorticoids (GC).
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2024 Rheumatology Year in Review
2024 was a year of surprising new growth in technology, with the expansion of new therapeutic options for many patients and clinicians. While these many advances offer new hope, they are countered by disappointments and gapping unmet needs in rheumatology. Below is my top 10 list (in no particular order) of 2024 developments and desires that may change rheumatologic practices.
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Long-Term Use of NSAIDs Linked to Lower Dementia Risk
https://t.co/nlo2BodhLG https://t.co/TiE34zyvts
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Are Combination Biologics Safe?
Real-life data from a French observational study suggests the overall risk of severe adverse events (SAE) with combotherapy does not seem to be increased (vs monotherapy), but certain combinations warrant caution.
https://t.co/IEIi6kQI4b https://t.co/KVSbqeMbyA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
A Case of IgA Vasculitis Presenting as Duodenal Perforation
Presentation by Dr. Audrey Liu, at the Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposia - Feb 2025
https://t.co/kZWgy1S0Wh https://t.co/9mJAzVRVpl
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From the blog
The effects on rheumatologists and their patients living in Ukraine largely have been unseen by the world. At ACR Convergence 2024, I met Dr. Marta Dzhus who practices at St. Michael's Clinical Hospital in Kyiv; she shared her story with me about the humanitarian crisis in rheumatologic care in Ukraine because of the ongoing war. Here is an excerpt of our conversation.
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Podcasts
World Changers (3.14.2025)
Autoimmune Myositis The Role of the Laboratory in Diagnosis and Phenotyping Sponsored by LabCorp-
EXXELERATE: New Thoughts on High RF Titer Sponsored by: UCB
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Hydroxychloro-King (3.7.2025)
Therapeutic Updates
Treatment goals for RA: Is it time to transition MOAs?
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Rheumatologists Dr. Christina Charles-Schoeman and Dr. Manish Jain discuss their approaches to setting and pursuing treatment goals for patients with poorly controlled RA after TNFis
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EXXELERATE: New Thoughts on High RF Titer
Sponsored by: UCB
Two leading rheumatologists share insights into why RF levels are important to consider when identifying treatment options for patients with RA.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
