All News
When Myositis Hits the Lungs: What Every Rheumatologist Should Know About ILD
When idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) affect the lungs, the consequences can be serious. ILD is not only common in IIM, but also one of the leading causes of death, contributing to up to 80% of mortality in this patient group. For rheumatologists, two subsets stand out: anti-synthetase syndrome (ASyS) and anti-MDA-5 positive dermatomyositis (MDA5-DM). These patients present with distinct clinical clues, very different disease trajectories, and unique treatment challenges. Recognizing ILD early and acting decisively can make the difference between stabilizing a chronic course and facing a rapidly progressive, often fatal decline.
Read Article
RheumNow Podcast – Ro, Ro, Ro52 (9.12.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Are there benefits to diet or vegan diets? What's the effect of menopause on CTD? Ro52 makes a big entrance with all our ILD coverage this month.
Read Article
How to assess ILD in your patients?
Have a high index of suspicion in your patients with connective tissue disease (especially systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myositis), and rheumatoid arthritis.
Read Article
Target trial emulation looked at CV (MACE) events in 18,120 propensity score–matched adults with gout starting allopurinol who were given NSAIDs or colchicine for prophylaxis. MACE & CV death were signif. higher w/ NSAIDs vs Colchicine (HRs of 1.56 and 2.50), respectively. https://t.co/0T8slmPBng
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
QD Clinic: Progressive RA-ILD Management
Dr. Richard Conway, a rheumatologist in Dublin, discusses a case about managing progressive rheumatoid arthritis-interstitial lung disease, as part of RheumNow's Rheum to Breathe: ILD campaign, presented throughout the month of September https://t.co/dLCXeXwl7w
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
How to treat CTD ILD?
A comparative slide summarizing ACR/BSR and EULAR treatment guidelines
Emphasis on combination of Immunosuppressant and Antifibrotics
@RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/gLSht6QKh5
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
A framework for treatment stratified approach in CTD-ILD, by Dr Low Hsiu Ling
Based on
-ILD extent
-Risk of progression
-Biology: fibrosis/inflammation
-Safety
-Other manifestations
@RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/ma5KugzBHy
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
Why shall we screen all patients with SSc for ILD?
Focusing screening strategy on patients « at risk » misses 25% of patients with ILD
ILD being the main cause of mortality in SSc
@RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/djzCTdZoVb
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
Peter Taylor on extra articular manifestations of RA
Keep an eye on RA patients’ glomerular function
RA patients have increased risk of CKD
Systematic review >1million pts
Risk Ratio 1.52
@RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/5iZwtmvwSR
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
🆕 Intro to ILD (Part I): the essentials
🫁 Definition & basics
🔬 Key pathology patterns
🧑⚕️ Clinical approach
📋 What rheums need to know
⬇️ Download & learn more: https://t.co/7RzpTDOjwa
Created by @MithuRheum | via @RheumNow for our Rheum to Breathe: ILD Campaign https://t.co/D9d97bqcD5
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
PAH diagnosis and management in the context of CTD ILD
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious complication of connective tissue disorders (CTD), affecting about 25% of PAH patients. CTD-PAH is the second most common cause after the idiopathic form. PAH involves high https://t.co/UgsdYWv02S
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
QD Clinic Video: RA and Bronchiectasis
Dr. Jeffrey Sparks, Boston, talks about rheumatoid arthritis and bronchiectasis as part of RheumNow's Rheum to Breathe: ILD campaign, presented throughout the month of September 2025.
https://t.co/Y2u3m4rFfj https://t.co/KgrIxXlQo4
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
TNR: Future Treatment of ILD
This Tuesday Night Rheumatology webinar reviewed ACR and EULAR guidelines on interstitial lung disease, with a focus on ‘where are we now and where are we going?’ in regards to treatment strategies and emerging therapies in ILD care. https://t.co/F1fJhWgR5O
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Antifibrotics - A New Class of Therapies in Rheumatology?
Rheumatologists typically manage systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) and associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) with immunosuppressants. However, evidence increasingly supports also the use of antifibrotic https://t.co/IobQagC0ZE
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
9 yr. study of anti-Ro52 & ILD pts -- 1,026 pts 15% Ro52+: interstitial pneumonia w/ autoimmune 48%, CTD-ILD 13%, idiopathic pulm fibrosis 10%, hypersens pneumonitis 6%, idiopathic ILD 24%. Ro52+ were younger w/ more autoimmune dz, +MSA Abs, ILD progression, death, & lung https://t.co/fuFfnaYIRd
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
In #scleroderma pts with cardiac involvement, the presence of ventricular ectopy is assocd w/ ⬆️risk of mortality & SCD.
☝️these arrythmias present late so consider it in pts w/established dse who develop new-onset cardiac symptoms
@RheumNow #APLAR25 @rheumarhyme @marklagacmd https://t.co/MTDfxevqwb
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
Japanese retrospective real world study shows antifibrotic use assoc w/ better survival in Pulm Fibrosis-ILD for 1st 3 yrs & improved survival in progressive pulm. fibrosis (PPF) “despite management” (PPF subset prev Rx non-antifibrotic therapy) https://t.co/caiIuhg7j8 https://t.co/N0ST73TMoR
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Sjogren's Disease Interstitial Lung Disease
Dr. Nancy Carteron, a rheumatologist in northern California, discusses interstitial lung disease in Sjogren's disease, as part of RheumNow's Rheum to Breathe: ILD campaign, presented throughout the month of September 2025. https://t.co/lA1vrBiar4
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Single center study of 47 RA-ILD pts (Dx Age 64.7 yrs; 30 mos F/U). Median 100 mos from RA Dx to RA-ILD. Nearly half (49%) recv Rx for RA-ILD; few w/ TCZ, nintedanib, pirfenidone. ~90% had RA-ILD stability/improve @ 6 & 12 mos. Progression assoc w/ tobacco use (P .025) @ 6 mos https://t.co/AK4zYgcxeK
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ERS/EULAR guidelines for CTD-related interstitial lung disease
The European Respiratory Society (ERS) and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) have released clinical practice guidelines for evaluating and managing connective tissue diseases (CTD) https://t.co/2mmxsor4ND
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
