Recent News
On the final day of EULAR 2026, Mukhtyar et al (on the on behalf of a large international task force) presented the updated EULAR recommendations for management of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), giant cell arteritis (GCA), and Takayasu arteritis (TAK). There were 5 overarching principles and 12 recommendations.Read Article
Late-Breaking Studies at EULAR 2026
MedPage Today
Late-breaking abstracts presented at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology's (EULAR) annual meeting, held here last week, addressed a wide range of clinical concerns and suggested that patients and clinicians have much to look forward to in coming months and years.
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20% sample of elder RA Medicare pts (2009-2022) on TNFi who either stopped or tapered TNFi found 38% sustained de-escalation, while 62% re-escalated within a medianof 164. Re-escalation was more likely in Blacks, Hispanic/other, with a lower comorbidity burden. https://t.co/rEB3VdOii2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Imaging in SpA: are we seeing a clearer picture?
The diagnosis of SpA is highly dependent on imaging particularly in a young patient with chronic, inflammatory back pain. It is timely enough since there have been rapid developments in imaging techniques like MRI, Ultrasound and https://t.co/mCPwzGAEVv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
US telehealth utilization rose 10.1% in 1st quarter of 2026 (5% to 5.51% medical claims). Most use in mental health conditions (52%) w/ joint/soft tissue dz at 3% overall, higher in west & NE states. 57% for outpt visits, only 7.7% for new visits. 35% for psychotherapy services. https://t.co/L8c7p3iQPL
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From BiTE to TriTE: Progress of T-cell Engagers in RMDs
At EULAR 2026 in London, T-cell engagers drew attention as a strategy to achieve deep B-cell depletion and drug-free remission in refractory RMDs. BiTEs offer off-the-shelf availability, reversible toxicity from short https://t.co/o8Tn77aYRg
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Nature has published that Hyperglycosylation is a metabolic driver of Alzheimer’s Dz (AD) & Glucosamine (GS; taken by ~7% over 70yrs) & GS may increase hyperglycosylation. A retrosp EHR study of AD pts shows glucosamine use assoc w/ accelerated AD progression & worse survival https://t.co/bv6H9h6gAv
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Long-term Cancer Risk with Targeted Therapy in SpA
Dr. Antoni Chan reports on abstract OP0238 presented at EULAR 2026 in London
https://t.co/f67SvKI6Vk https://t.co/fPp2H0aMoK
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From Cytokine Endotypes to Clinical Reality in Still’s Disease
Recent EULAR 2026 data highlight a paradigm shift in Still’s disease from syndromic management to biologically informed precision therapy.
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Increased VTE Risk with Baricitinib
The RA-BRIDGE and RA-BRANCH studies were presented as a late-breaking abstract at EULAR 2026. This was the pooled results from two large FDA post-marketing commitment safety trials — RA-BRIDGE (global) and RA-BRANCH (US-only) — comparing baricitinib at 2 mg and 4 mg daily against TNF inhibitors (etanercept or adalimumab) in RA patients specifically enriched for venous thromboembolic event risk factors.
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In the psoriasis-to-PsA transition study at EULAR 2026, which ultrasound finding best distinguished progressing from stable subclinical PsA? Test your knowledge in this week's RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/Fnzn4UPu0n https://t.co/kV0zA7qyg7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Kyoto U. cohort study of 55 relapsing polychondritis pts (503 Pt-yrs) Rx w/ TNFi, IL-6i or none -- Crude relapse rates were 46.9/100PYs NoBio, 22.4 TNFi, & 12.5 IL-6Ri. Adjusted relapses signif lower w/ TNFi (IRR 0.4) & IL-6Ri (IRR 0.2) vs no biologic. Estimates for hospitalised https://t.co/h6IcVWjqfp
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
A provacative OPINION piece in The Hill asks, is "China is quietly taking control of US medicine..." Should the US & FDA facilitating, ignorning or opposing Chinas influence? Issues of transparency, manufacturing, global supply chain, outsourcing early phase RCTs, etc. https://t.co/4vveTR8UK8
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Danish hospital 574 newly diagnosed RA pt, 75% recv glucocorticoids (GC) in 1st yr (55% 1st visit) -- mean dose was 9.3 mg/day, with 46% recv oral tablets & 47% IA steriods injections. 20% had an infection in 1st Yr (RR 1.13; 0.77 to 1.67). Doses declined after 1st visit, but not https://t.co/JcerD61m0t
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
MTX: SC vs Oral? Metanalysis of 9 RCTs, 974 RA pts. Compared w/ oral, SC MTX signif. incr odds of ACR20 (RR=1.15), ACR50 (RR=1.14) & reduced GI adverse events (RR=0.58), diarrhea (RR=0.42): BUT no difference in ACR70, DAS28-ESR, bioavailability AUC, or other AE https://t.co/tQeQz7H7do
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Dietary Interventions in PsA
Dr. Peter Nash reports on several abstracts at the 2026 EULAR meeting in London, including: OP069; OP070 and POS0050.
https://t.co/VLldzkbFU3 https://t.co/5w5wstPawk
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
How many CAR-T’s do we need to test drive?
There were 93 abstracts with CAR-T in title at #EULAR2026! Additionally, there was an excellent review (WIN) by Dr. Hector Chinoy. We know lots but have more questions.
https://t.co/FvnqmKSMT4 https://t.co/Qosum9s1UX
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
True or False: RA-associated ILD is considered one of the few RA outcomes that has not improved in the biologic era. See if you got it right in this week's RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/Fnzn4UPu0n https://t.co/L7lAA6lwMp
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
CAR-T Topic Panel: EULAR 2026
Join Drs. Jack Cush, Alfred Kim, Janet Pope, and Yuz Yusof for a focused conversation on the latest in CAR-T, from emerging data and treatment strategies to real-world challenges in diagnosis and management.
https://t.co/cEOgxNYOXP https://t.co/EUpY9CLL6A
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Single center study of 102 pts starting JAK inhibitor (72% >50yrs; 77% RA) shows only 27.5% received at least one RZV vaccination dose (Shingrix) & only 3 recv RZV within 30 daysof a JAK inhibitor. ????? (I vaccinate everyone going on a JAKi w/ Shingrix - don't you?) https://t.co/j2jrBIiuOo
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
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From the Blog
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RheumNow EULAR 2026 Rheumatology Round Up
EULAR 2026 RA Topic Panel
CAR-T Topic Panel EULAR 2026
EULAR 2026 PsA Update What's Changing in P
Therapeutic Updates
Psoriatic arthritis and overweight or obesity
Sponsored by Lilly Medical Affairs
Dr. Merola presenting the results from TOGETHER‑PsA, a phase 3b trial evaluating the concomitant use of an IL‑17A antagonist and an incretin receptor agonist in adults with psoriatic arthritis and overweight or obesity.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
