All News

lab%20-rheumatoid-factor-testing.jpg

Pitfalls of autoimmune serologic testing

Jack Cush, MD

Misuse of laboratory testing may lead to misdiagnoses and mismanagement; this is particulary prevalent when clinicians consider the use of the diagnostic use of  serological autoimmune markers. 

Read Article
uricacid.jpg

Worldwide Trends in Hyperuricemia

Jack Cush, MD

A Lancet Rheumatology systematic review shows the prevalence of hyperuricaemia has risen markedly over the past two decades in both men and women, owing to population growth, aging, and increasing age-specific rates

Read Article
Screen%20Shot%202018-11-01%20at%2010.14.03%20AM_0.png

Rheumatic Immune-related Adverse Effects with Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

Jack Cush, MD

A retrospective study of patients who developed rheumatic immune-related adverse events (R-irAEs) after receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) at two oncology centers in Spain suggests that early recognition can lead to effective management that allows continuation of cancer therapy. 

Read Article
Gout pills injection

Managing Gout in CKD Patients

Jack Cush, MD

A current review article addressed the management of gout patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).  This full read review addresses the epidemiology, challenges, treatment decisions and outcomes. 

Read Article
antibody (Keep)

NEJM: Obinutuzumab in Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Jack Cush, MD

A phase 3 trial of obinutuzumab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, showed potent B-cell depletion and clinical efficacy active systemic lupus erythematosus without evidence of nephritis.

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

UBER Rheumatology Ride (3.6.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this week on RheumNow.com

Read Article
Stiffness,hand,MCP,joint,pain

Open-access Arthralgia Clinics

Jack Cush, MD

The early diagnosis in inflammatory arthritis (IA), particularly rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hinges on efficient referral and screening of arthralgia patients.

Read Article
Gout.T2T.jpg

Treat-to-Target and Cardiovascular Benefits in Gout

Jack Cush, MD

A new user cohort study of 109 504 gout patients, achieving a serum urate level less than 6 mg/dL, was associated with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular events.

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

SATISFACTION (2.27.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.

Read Article
Pitfalls of autoimmune serologic testing Misuse of laboratory testing may lead to misdiagnoses and mismanagement; this is particulary prevalent when clinicians consider the use of the diagnostic use of serological autoimmune markers. https://t.co/VKosO3bVL2 https://t.co/4FTvTcrGJa

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Cross-sectional study of 180 PMR pts compared dz activity by PMR-AS to Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII = Plts × PMNs/Lymphs) using CBC.48% had mod-hi dz (PMR-AS >=7). SII had moderate correlation with PMR-AS (r = 0.47), possibly useful in monitoring PMR https://t.co/vG1alSdVRU
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metanalysis of calcineurin inhib. in RA - 11 RCTs, 1793 RA pts. Cyclosporin (CSA( (RR 1.6 & Tacrolimus (TAC (RR 2.1) signif improved ACR20 responses. CSA was dose dependent, less so w/ TAC. Both require serum Creat. monitoring consistent increase in s-Cr https://t.co/OxNGYbupnt https://t.co/F08vDCMYtr

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
AI model was superior in diagnosing Acromegaly from dorsal hand photographs - w. sensitivity 0.89, specificity 0.91, PPV 0.88, NPV 0.93, F1-score of 0.89, AUC 0.96, outperforming specialists, Study of 716 pts (317 acromegaly; 399 controls) & 11480 images, from 15 Japanese https://t.co/8RM4wf8vGi
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Update on FDA complete response letter to AZ regarding BLA hold for anifrolumab (Saphnelo) for SC use in SLE. CRL originally issued 10/10/25, but announced 2/3/26. FDA CRL cites critical data quality w/ key analyses in SC-TULIP study. A BLA decision expected in 1st half of 2026 https://t.co/zuwtsdL6I9
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
US Epidemiologic survey data from NHANES gout prevalence is incr. in RA pts vs controls (10.3% vs. 4.8%, P < 0.001), increasing trend over time. RA is as an independent risk factor for gout (OR: 2.67), strongest in SNRA. Evidence for the converse may not be as strong. https://t.co/hhRT9NCzVG
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metanalysis of 8 articles, 2655 gout pts shows that ELEVATED neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR; SMD: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.48–1.03) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR; SMD: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.24–0.79) showed significant value in predicting acute gout attacks https://t.co/RaArPdoc2s https://t.co/Qi2WDSPlde

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
US Epidemiologic survey data from NHANES gout prevalence is incr. in RA pts vs controls (10.3% vs. 4.8%, P < 0.001), increasing trend over time. RA is as an independent risk factor for gout (OR: 2.67), strongest in SNRA. Evidence for the converse may not be as strong. https://t.co/VzDcJ2hTKw
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA)in systemic sclerosis? Retro study of 165 SSc pts (20% diffuse, 33% ILD, 7% PAH); 51% centromere AB+; 29% topoisomerase I+, 12% RNA polymerase III+)-- 22% AMA-positive: assoc w/ GI vascular dz(OR 13.3), gastric antral vascular ectasia (OR 8) & https://t.co/FRhn9qIfOW
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
UK Retrospective analysis of 2 RA cohorts, 2,701 pts (F/U 6 yrs) = 101 (3.7%) Dx with ILD. (12 @ baseline, 46 w/ F/U, 43 @ death). ILD Dx signif. assoc w/ onset age (aOR 1.03), seropositivity (aOR 2.58), ever smoking (aOR 1.7). https://t.co/Zvkb1Wjpa4 https://t.co/YMkWDc3rMr

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Case-control study of 72 estab. & 56 early RA pts the diagnostic performance of 14-3-3η testing showed AUC ≥0.85 for early & estab.RA. Early RA, -CCP had better specificity (96.4%) and a positive likelihood ratio (21.2%), while 14-3-3η had higher sensitivity (88.1%) https://t.co/jaUux9quy6
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
How well do you know this week's rheumatology news?
Take the rheumIQ quiz
Take the RheumIQ Quiz

×