All News
No Increased Malignancy Risk with Ixekizumab
A pooled analysis of 25 randomized clinical trials affirms the safety of ixekizumab (IXE) when used to treat patients with psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).
Read ArticleOverview of the VEXAS Syndrome
A current systematic review in Rheumatology addresses the clinical features seen in the VEXAS syndrome.
Read ArticleCancer Survival Outcomes in Autoimmune Skin Disease Patients
Patients with autoimmune skin diseases (ASDs) with cancer had significantly better cancer survival outcomes than those without ASD, suggesting coexistant autoimmune or inflammatory disease does not adversely affect a cancer prognosis.
Read ArticleReducing Progression of Psoriasis to Psoriatic Arthritis
MedPage Today
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor therapy was effective in reducing the likelihood that psoriasis would progress to psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a retrospective study indicated.
Read Article
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)is a structural cause of dysphagia due to anterior cervical osteophytes. Retrospective study 208 dysphagia pts w/ head/neck CT. DISH was Dx in 39%; predicted by low serum albumin, COPD, & chronic pain https://t.co/zrn4dnCtLc https://t.co/svE6khmUEm
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
EUSTAR Study of 893 SSc-ILD pts - 94 (10.5%) died (mean F/U 39 mos). Predictors of mortality: FVC deterioration >10% w/in 12 mos (HR 3.81) & >10% FVC decline or mRSS worsening (HR 2.82); but not changes in DLCO, mRSS or digital ulcer burden alone. https://t.co/28wSQc1dUS https://t.co/dourQ6WGDq
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Early DMARD Initiation Benefits in Psoriatic Arthritis
Mease et al has published the results of a cohort study showing early initiation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) resulted in better outcomes compared to late https://t.co/EdbnpBmnPe
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Despite 2024 HHS proposal to reschedule CANNABIS to Schedule III, it remains Schedule I -having "no accepted medical use" and "high abuse potential".There's lots of use (legal in 24 states, DC, decriminalized in 7 states), but no evidence, research or guidelines. https://t.co/KumpvMHdhC
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Immunomodulators in the Treatment of Autoimmune Hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic, progressive inflammatory liver disease driven by autoimmune mechanisms, characterized by elevated serum aminotransferases, hypergammaglobulinemia, and interface hepatitis on https://t.co/KgzjNvrZ7v
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Is the term polymyositis obsolete?.. now being replaced by dermatomyositis, necrotizing myopathy, inclusion body myositis, antisynthetase syndrome & overlap myositis. Full read overview of inflammatory myositis & new treatments from Joint Bone & Spine https://t.co/X46sptp1Ax https://t.co/QqyMv6fkVS
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
1 yr study of falls studied in 100 RA & 80 PsA pts. 33% of RA & 46% of PsA reported falls, w/ a higher frequency in PsA Pts (p=0.02). Falls associated w/ disease duration and HAQ score. As falls are assoc w/ high morbidity & mortality risk, pts should be questioned about FALLS https://t.co/tP7zmGCZcw
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Referral of 304 suspected autoinflammatory Dz (SAID) to a UK national centre for primarily adult SAID in 2022, 121 (39.5%) were diagnosed with SAID, w/ half of these having monogenic Dz. Median Dx delay was 2 to 6 yrs, worse in late-onset SAID. https://t.co/x8VOFyjuVA https://t.co/3R2HdYUlSg
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
MRI-detected erosions in clinically suspect arthralgia pts do not portend future Xray erosive disease or progression. Study of 405 CSA pts; 47% had MRI erosions that incr odds of Xray erosion [OR 5.2] but 96% of MRI-detected erosion had no assoc. Xray erosion. https://t.co/hvxJRv1r0R
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Case–control study RA pts > 65yrs in US. SEER (cancer) database (2014–2019). Overall cancer risk not associated with use of JAKi (adjOR 1.04), TNFi (0.98) or other bDMARDs (0.98). But, JAKi use was assoc w/ incr risk of lung CA (OR 1.40), esp in Males (2.12) & >2 yrs JAKi. Lower https://t.co/u2psafyN1I
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Don't Stop the DMARDS!!
Retrospective study of 91 JIA pts (all types; 36% oligo, 27%poly) all Rx w/ cycles of DMARD therapy. Consistently two-thirds relapsed and flared. Only one-third of JIA patients were able to remain off DMARDs. https://t.co/ifqnMKfhAe https://t.co/bEqAxzRoq6
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Biologic experienced ankylosing spondylitis patient show better retention on TNF compared to IL-17 inhibitors. 148 AS pts (F/U 31 mos), IL-17i drug survival trended better but only signif after 3yrs. More D/C w/ higher BASDAI (HR: 1.3) & ^# prior biologics (HR 1.62) https://t.co/5HXGsV4xol
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Granzyme expression is upregulated in RA, esp early RA. Blood & synovium from early arthritis & TNFi nonresponders (R4RA RCT) gene expression five granzymes, perforin, & serglycin determined by bulk RNA-sequencing data. GZM A, B, H, K, M, PRF-1, SRGN was higher in lymphoid https://t.co/v1rdFZHuuh
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Genicular nerve block (GNB) is effective intervention for Knee OA. Metanalysis of 6 RCTs & 420 KOA pts. GNB significantly reduced pain & improved function (p<0.003), w/ significant relief as early as 2wks and function by 12 weeks. https://t.co/NMtiQPICpw https://t.co/gVJ0TyuY01
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
BMJ - UK population study of 1.5 million adults finds pts w/ autoimmune dz have twice the risk of affective disorders (depression, bipolar dz, anxiety) significantly higher (p<0.001) (28.8% vs 17.9% in gen. population. Signif regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, income, Fam Hx, https://t.co/dsJxkvD4Nu
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
JAMA Patient Education Page on what is Interstitial Lung Disease https://t.co/BDbV6I53NH https://t.co/1OtTiJHkdt
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)


