All News
Treating Refractory Still's Disease
A full read systematic review article examined treatment options for difficult to manage systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or Still’s disease.
Managing Perioperative DMARDs with Arthroplasty
Postoperative complications with arthroplasty may be related to chronic inflammation and immunosuppressive therapy. Yet a recent retrospective study total ankle arthroplasty in end-stage RA patients shows that early postoperative wound complications are unaffected by the continued use of their preoperative medications including DMARDs.
Read Article
Vitamin D and Lupus Outcomes (11.21.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
Read Article
Pulse Steroids and Mycophenolate in Juvenile Dermatomyositis
JAMA Dermatology has published a pilot study demonstrating the safety and efficacy of intermittent intravenous methylprednisolone pulse (IVMP) therapy plus mycophenolate in 28 patients with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).
Read Article
Zantac is Back! Ranitidine has been off the market for 5yrs, withdrawn over concerns about N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) impurity affecting shelf-life. The FDA has approved reformulated ranitidine tablets - the drug has the same prior efficacy and safety label. https://t.co/j655eiCvgf
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective analysis of 2614 FM pts in the Italian Fibromyalgia Registry underscores the seasonal changes in FM pain, w/ signif. differences in FM assessment tools WPI p=0.042 & FASmod p=0.037); these changes were only seen in female patients, not males https://t.co/LqXnTgGIMB https://t.co/ihw1yJqKLC
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective study of 39 pts w/ MDA5 + DM-ILD Rx w baricitinib. 31 (79.5%) had improvement in Gottron’s, heliotrope, dyspnea, HRCT score, ferritin, LDH, steroid dose & 6 mo survival (87% vs. 70%, p = 0.047). https://t.co/8whN2I1hXh https://t.co/voSVzPQWUI
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
In 2024, 77 pts referred to Rheum for possible PMR were ultimately Dx w/ B19 viral infx. 96% had arthralgia & 7% had PMR-like features (5/5 w/ BL shoulder/neck. prolonged AM stiff, fever & Hi CRP/ESR - none had hip pain. 4/5 were male, w/ mean age of 55 yrs. None were RF/CCP+ https://t.co/lIX4gDLjqd
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Lupus Nephritis study of 136 pts followed 121 mos. Median time to wean GC to 7.5 mg/day, 5 mg/day & D/C was 9, 12 & 29 months post-Dx. Predictors of shorter time to D/C= Sustained CR/SLEDAI-2K≤4, membranous LN, & HCQ. Prolonged GC & renal flares increase damage accrual
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
New quadrivalent modRNA influenza vaccine is more efficacious than conventional inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine. Really interesting excited to see mRNA technology transforming therapies. https://t.co/ZM13ojQUCl
Alberta Hoi alberta_hoi ( View Tweet)
No risk of MACE seen w/ initiation of IL-17(R)A inhib. French study of 34 241 ipts Rx IL-17(R)Ai and 381 MACEs. MACE risk was not elevated (OR, 1.25 [95% CI, 0.75-2.08] vs TNF-α inhibitors. https://t.co/WcjgRhr8mj https://t.co/Gp54eLlXSI
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
APEX Study: Inhibition of structural damage progression with Guselkumab in PsA
Guselkumab, a human IL-23 inhibitor, was evaluated in patients with active PsA and shown to have both clinical and radiographic benefits at weeks 24 and 48.
https://t.co/iNEziysnVZ https://t.co/XgFGFfGf3b
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Target emulation trial of 12,145 Pts (87% female; age 80 yrs), shows that compared to teriparatide, Rx w/ romosozumab was assoc w/ significantly lower risk of osteoarthritis (RR 0.79); especially for knee OA (0.79). https://t.co/nEdENoNae7 https://t.co/JiyRd6ThXu
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Cochrane review & metanalysis of Colchicine & CV outcomes. 12 studies, 22,983 prt (11,524 on colchicine). Good evidence colchicine signif. reduces the risk of MI (RR 0.74), stroke (RR 0.67), but does not incr serious adverse events (RR 0.98), but causes GI AEs (RR 1.68) https://t.co/wqOtGLdxep
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Serious infections w/ adalimumab. Marketscan MarketScan claims study (1/17-12/20) of ADA Rx in Hidradenitis Supprativa (n 1650) or psoriasis(8699). Risk of SIE & hospitalization greater w/ HS (HR 1.53); esp for sepsis & GU infxn https://t.co/2qa7O2v6fm
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Lupus Nephritis study of 136 pts followed 121 mos. Median time to wean GC to 7.5 mg/day, 5 mg/day & D/C was 9, 12 & 29 months post-Dx. Predictors of shorter time to D/C= Sustained CR/SLEDAI-2K≤4, membranous LN, & HCQ. Prolonged GC & renal flares increase damage accrual
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Australian Vaccine study (2019 - 2021) - w/in 12 mos of b/tsDMARD initiation 73% (11,225/15,460) recv influenza vaccination. High-dose Flu vax used in 28% in 60–69 yo, but > 80% older than 70yo. Only 9.7% recv pneumococcal & 2.4% zoster Zostavax or Shingrix) vax w/in 6 months of https://t.co/xoGTWMUi1L
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metanalysis of 56 articles & 72,677 RA pts w/ a Dz duration of 9.7 yrs looked at biologic persistence. In csDMARD-IR, over 5 yrs TCZ (66%) & golimumab (62%) best. In bDMARD-IR, ABA (45%) & ETN (41%) best. Lower Rx survival predicted by steroids, hi Dz activity, & female https://t.co/tepL0A9Fwb
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Postmenopausal women on estrogen hormone therapy (HT) had a modest incr risk (HR 1.33; 1.32-1.35; P < .001). of a new autoimmune Dz over next 5-10 yrs (vs those not on HT) TriNetX study of 889,413 HT vs 2,6 mill (not HT) - 6.7% vs 5.3% developed autoimmune dz at 5 yrs. https://t.co/fsi32XIzLe
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Hospital Mortality in Dermatomyositis
A cohort study reveals that hospitalized patients with dermatomyositis have a higher in-hospital mortality rate in the presence of active rash, interstitial lung disease, and an elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio at admission. https://t.co/6WIFVJT9w7
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
