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Multimorbidity predicts flares in rheumatoid arthritis
A study from Olmstead county and the Mayo Clinic shows that multimorbidity and social factors predict higher rheumatoid arthritis (RA) flares and lower remission rates.
September to Remember (9.5.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow. This week - unemployment, diagnosing Sjogren's and a lot of ILD.
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Combined Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Disease
RA-ILD is a major therapeutic evidence gap in treatment, affecting 8% of patients. It was often under-diagnosed, leading to more severe cases and inflated mortality rates. Despite advancements, RA-ILD, https://t.co/sSzMvDUMf5
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Retrospective Korean study of #RA & ILD pts (n 151) - ILD duration & UIP pattern significantly affected prognosis. 62% were non-smokers, DAS28=4.9, UIP in 60%. @4 years, ILD progressed in 58%; mortality=21%. MTX did not affect progression or mortality. https://t.co/1XNcWsAuea https://t.co/QLod6uj2Dj
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Elevated serum levels of interleukin-18 discriminate Still's disease from other autoinflammatory conditions. Sera from 53 mSAID, 220 guSAID, 49 controls show IL-18 signif increased in Still's Dz; free IL-18 levels were selectively higher in Still's disease. https://t.co/8IWXWZmWgE
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🌐 ILD Treatment Guidelines – LIVE Webinar
📅 Sept 9 | ⏰ 7PM EST
An expert panel reviews ACR & EULAR guidance and looks ahead at emerging therapies.
Speakers: Drs. Sindhu Johnson, Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold, Scott Matson & Jack Cush, Moderator
https://t.co/2F3sOjqHtr
#ILD https://t.co/KaVL1pUdCh
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Anti-MDA5 DM is assoc w/ rapidly progr ILD & mortality risk. 26 MD5+ DM pts (age 56.6 yrs; 7/26 male) Sxs: Gottrón’s (81%), ILD (73%), periungual erythema (69%), heliotrope (61%), V-sign (42%), arthritis (42%), weakness (38%), mechanic’s (35%), Raynaud’s (19%). 7/19 RP-ILD died https://t.co/WFwavo32rB
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Crepitus Does Not Predict Earlier/Worse OA
Young adults who experience grinding or clicking sounds in their knees post-surgery may be alarmed, but new research from La Trobe University suggests these sounds may not signal early-onset osteoarthritis.
https://t.co/bu8dgzcqdv https://t.co/CnSjv6cor9
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QD Clinic: Be Careful What You Look For
Dr. Bryant England, University of Nebraska, presents this QD Clinic, as part of RheumNow's Rheum to Breathe: ILD campaign, presented throughout the month of September 2025.
https://t.co/avxw86CGqu https://t.co/5SH3p05Rlf
Links:
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Higher Medical Costs with Corticosteroid Use
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) health insurance claims database study from Japan shows that RA patients initially treated with glucocorticoids (GCs) and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) experienced greater medical costs and https://t.co/ETWX9yH11w
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This week’s Grand Rounds featured Dr. John Cush, Executive Editor @RheumNow, with an outstanding talk on “Seronegative vs Seropositive RA,” spotlighting differences in disease course, alternative etiologies & treatment response.
HSS Physician-in-Chief HSS_PIC ( View Tweet)
Turkish study of Childhood-onset arthritis (n 1713; age 6.8 yrs). Most Dx: JIA 50% (most oligo), FMF 16% (recurrent oligo), vasculitis 14% (most IgA vasculitis; 94% oligo), reactive arthritis 9% (monarthritis) & acute rheumatic fever 5% (polyarticular& migratory), SLE 5% (oligo https://t.co/HkiPT0hsr7
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EULAR & European Respiratory Society have published clinical practice guidelines for ILD assoc w/ connective tissue diseases (SSc, RA, SjD, IIM, SLE, MCTD). 2 publications included Dz specific ILD management algorithms; use of Hi Res CT over Lung Bx; ILD risk factors
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Long term outcomes of secukinumab in Children & Adolescents w/ Psoriasis (n=84). 80% completed 4 yrs of Rx w/ either low dose [N 31] & high dose [N 36]) with sustained PASI 75/90/100 results at week 208 [SEC LD: 96%/89%/52%; SEC HD: 88%/82%/73%]. No deaths; No dose-dependent https://t.co/y059SJTxP1
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Study of 607 systemic sclerosis (SSc) pts finds Pulm arterial HTN (PAH) in 77 (12.7%). While early immunosuppression didnt reduce odds of PAH (OR 0.74, p=0.495), early mycophenolate was protective(OR 0.12; p=0.048). Only HCQ use signif. improved survival (HR 0.04; p= 0.004). https://t.co/54m8btiMLy
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A case–time-control study of French National Health Insurance database w/ 34 241pts Rx w/ IL-17(R)A inhibitor (2016-2021) (for PsO, PsA, AS, JIA) found no significant association betw IL-17(R)A inhibitors & MACEs over 6 months compared to TNFi Rx pts. https://t.co/fJuPFYKnSr https://t.co/Vscnsq0DTA
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Prospective study of 171 suspected Sjogrens (130 dx w/ SjD) pts compared Dx accuracy - Labial gland Bx best Dx efficacy (AUC 0.90), followed Ro/SSA (AUC 0.79), Omeract score (AUC 0.78). Salv gland US grade 3 strongly predicted +Bx (AUC 0.77) & correlated w/ salivary flow ~-0.5
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6 yr study of Dutch #SLE pts (n 221) - unemployment was high (54%) & increased over time. Employ
ed assoc w/ supervisor support, regular working hrs, skill discretion, decision authority. Unemployment most from SLE Sxs (63%) & assoc w/ older, less education, Dz Dur, organ
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EHR analysis of Alaska Tribal Health System finds the prevalence of Sjögren's disease at 199 per 100K adults (primary SjD 129; secondary 70 (RA,SLE)). The age-adjusted incidence 16.6 per 100K Pt-Yrs. Only 5% had salivary gland Bx & 3% met 2016 ACR/EULAR or 2012 ACR criteria https://t.co/4tMdWIGTEi
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Lung Cancer in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Interstitial Lung Disease A matched cohort study from the Veterans Health Administration shows that RA patients have a >50% increased risk of lung cancer, a 3-fold higher risk of lung cancer in RA-ILD. https://t.co/Gjn2M2CNAO https://t.co/F231nz57NY
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