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HCQ Preserves Renal Function in Lupus Nephritis
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MedPage Today
Lupus nephritis patients on long-term therapy with hydroxychloroquine showed significantly less decline in renal function, compared with patients treated otherwise, a 10-year retrospective study indicated.
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Factors Affecting Biologic Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis
A San Francisco Rheumatoid Arthritis Panel cohort survey between 1999–2011, showed numerous sociodemographic, disease, and health characteristics that influenced the initiation of treatment with biologic agents for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
CKD & Osteoporosis Rx Revisited (7.25.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and FDA updates from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), as a potential biomarker -- computed as platelet count × neutrophil count/lymphocyte count. SII has been shown to be useful in RA, PsA, SpA, SLE and vasculitis, reflecting disease activity, drug responses & supplements ESR & CRP levels https://t.co/LuFaYbWiWN
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Review of risankizumab efficacy & safety included 545 psoriasis pts showing Mean PASI decreased from 14 to 0.5 at 208Wk. PASI100 achieved in 33% and 74% at 16Wk & 208Wk. Bio-naïve responded faster bio-experienced pts - only 5 pts D/C for adverse events https://t.co/VklLWpD0SF https://t.co/zZfuiFijd4
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MTX or TNFi use in elderly #RA pts w/in a year of Dx of melanoma was not associated with increased mortality. This included melanoma in situ (48%), localized (47%) and regional (5%) melanoma. Steroid use however was assoc w/ reduced survival. https://t.co/QOXfEf51S1 https://t.co/6BPtEV6sOU
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FDA is evaluating the safety of Vyvgart Hytrulo, ((efgartigimod) used to treat AChR Ab positive generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). But in clinical trials there are reports of "severe worsening of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP)” https://t.co/6GBwIJ4ig4
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Osteoporosis Drug May Lower Osteoarthritis Risk
A target trial emulation study using administrative claims suggests that romosozumab was associated with a lower risk of osteoarthritis than teriparatide among individuals with osteoporosis, particularly for knee osteoarthritis. https://t.co/fWWw2t2jzR
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PMR & GCA not assoc w/ increased mortality, Norway study of 274 isolated PMR (mean age 72 yrs) & 63 GCA (age 72 yrs) pts. After mean F/U 13.7 yrs 96% were deceased. Standardized mortality ratio was Not incr for PMR (0.97)or GCA (1.10), but men w/ PMR had , lower all-cause https://t.co/03lNpQiVYZ
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"Let the young know they will never find a more interesting, more instructive book than the patient himself." – Giorgio Baglivi
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Practical management of rheumatic immune-related adverse events with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Joint Bone Spine has published a full read review of the management of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in patients receiving Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for cancer. https://t.co/i3FMOCbyNg
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If severe refractory SLE is defined as SLEDAI-2K≥10 despite steroids & immunosuppressives; Cohort of 3,744 SLE - 14% (578) had srSLE. Median SLEDAI-2K = 12, & decreased to 6 at 6m & 12m> < 25% achieved LLDAS & only 1% attained GC-free remission @ 12 mos https://t.co/7tehA27gyT https://t.co/yef4wCpqNf
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Emapalumab Approved for MAS in Still’s
On June 27th, 2025, the FDA approved emapalumab for macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) in known or suspected Still’s disease (including both adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA)) with https://t.co/431PQlzBsV
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TNFi are relatively contraindicated in RA pts w/ #MS. Literature review suggests for pts w/ MS and RA, teriflunomide and anti-CD20 therapies are the most suitable, and Cladribine may also be considered https://t.co/gIVaJ7Kwn0 https://t.co/1ar0q2OnzB
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Fibrosis in IgG4-related disease due to the overexpression of early growth response-1 (EGR-1) by Epithelial cells that facilitates tissue fibrosis https://t.co/AEaoucfT13 https://t.co/7UVQpkj3cn https://t.co/PuCjh5LQc5
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NEJM images: 55-year-old man with metastatic squamous-cell lung cancer Hx& 6-wk Hx firm, painful swelling RToe1 & RDIP3 w/ ulceration. Xray showed lytic lesions due to acrometastases - rare bony metastases distal to elbow or knee, that may may mimic gout or osteomyelitis https://t.co/1Fh1Cp9dm9
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Have a rheumatology question or case for Dr.Cush? Record it here and we may feature it on an upcoming podcast
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Survival in #RA pts undergoing cervical spine surgery is not good! Retrospective study of 139 RA pts who underwent Cx surgery shows higher mortality risk if they are older, w low albumin levels, high-dose pred. and have subaxial subluxation. https://t.co/hKvgaas2gh https://t.co/ygtJjb4mVl
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Subclinical Synovitis Among Psoriasis Patients
A systematic review shows that imaging can be used to detect subclinical synovitis among patients with psoriasis and may identify individuals at risk for future psoriatic arthritis.
https://t.co/2603Aax8PP https://t.co/2XDtDg1QHh
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New CDC report confirms a record number of Measles cases in the USA, now at 1,319 (in 39 states), the highest since 1992. National cases are more than 4.5 times higher than the entirety of last year, which had an estimated 285 cases reported. https://t.co/KkqQu9C4cO https://t.co/bND6hPDUNA
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