All News

virus,injection,COVID,vaccine

Two Week Methotrexate Hold with COVID-19 Vaccination

Jack Cush, MD

A cohort study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients evaluated immunogenicity of COVID vaccination with and without holding methotrexate (MTX) for and 2-weeks and showed better immunogenicity, but more RA flares with the second MTX withdrawal. 

Read Article
woman,doctor,stress,burnout,headache,HA

Burnout Threatens the Rheumatology Workforce Conundrum

Jack Cush, MD

There is a shortage of rheumatologists in Canada and the recent 2020 Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) Workforce and Wellness study shows that the shortage may be compounded by rheumatologist burnout, especially among young and female physicians. 

Read Article
lab-36522_640.png

CC Genotype and Thiopurine Toxicity

Jack Cush, MD

Annals of Internal Medicine reports that thiopurine toxcicity risk is associated with the "CC" genotype and that azathioprine discontinuation was associated with hematopoietic toxicity and lower thiopurine doses. 

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

Two Week Twitter (6.17.2022)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush does a 2-week review of RheumNow Tweets on news and journal citations worth noting, along with some opinions on Telehealth, manpower, monkeypox and the price of drugs.

Read Article
Biologic.choice.MD_.jpeg (keep)

Not All RA Drug Classes Are Created Equal

MedPage Today

Clear differences were apparent among the three major types of targeted medications for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a large European registry study.

Read Article
JAK Janus

JAK/STAT pathway in pyoderma gangrenosum: a new therapeutic highway?

Aurelie Najm, MD, PhD

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is rare, but often associated with different forms of arthritis, in particular rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases. 

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

EULAR 2022 Top 10 Abstracts (6.10.2022)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the top abstracts from EULAR 2022  As chosen by me with the  aid of the RheumNow EULAR faculty.

Read Article
Metanalysis of 7 studies shows that oral anticoagulants need not be discontinued for joint injections or aspiration. Only pts w/ hemorrhage after 5427 procedures, over 32-yrs. INR values of 3 bleeding cases was 1.9, 2.3, and 3.4. https://t.co/pCxDqzXGHQ https://t.co/ExZkXSliFo

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Modest Benefits of Diet on Arthritis A EULAR taskforce reviewed the literature on the effects of diet and lifestyle behaviors in RMDs, and found little evidence suggesting dietary factors can substantially affect the outcomes in people with RMDs. https://t.co/D31l7dlq9v https://t.co/Kt80Yp74ro

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Japanese claims data study looked at hospitalizable infections (SIE) in RA pts based on age: young (16-64 y), old (65-74y), very old (>75y) and showed age related increase in SIE - 3.2, 5.0, and 10.1 SIE/100PY, respectively. (#s unaffected by biologic use)https://t.co/deaGy3g0Ai https://t.co/2A5mB8n4FK

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Military biobank of serial serum samples was used to identify biomarkers of imminent RA (vs reactive arthritis or healthy controls). Soluble programmed cell death receptor-1 (sPD-1) best predicted seropos. RA w/in 6mos of Dx. Specif >89%; sensitivity 48% https://t.co/djOGhLeCIi https://t.co/DzKqwteQku

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
#EULAR2022 has concluded but you can find all our coverage here https://t.co/s62OVJPQ86 https://t.co/QAvPQYCABj

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Balance and falls studied in 228 #RA pts (24-85 yrs) followed x 1yr; 20% had at least one fall; risks included Age (OR 1.04), HAQ (OR 1.62), low FICSIT-4 score (OR 2.38) & 1-leg standing (OR  2.14). 1-leg stand is a good screening tool https://t.co/u9v8unC0gA https://t.co/oD0sgFxiQm

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Small study 34 biologic-naive RA pts starting abatacept. Remission achieved 47.1% of early and 23.5% established RA. Remission @ 6 mos predicted by Baseline LOWER IL-6 levels ≤ 8.4 pg/ml, (66.7%) and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ cells ≥ 6% (83.3%) https://t.co/N93E9M4M15

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

There are 494K PCPs in the USA, While up to 1/3 will "refill" DMARDs, only 6-9% are confident or knowledgeable in "initiating" DMARD therapy in #RA. GIGANTIC NEED FOR PCP education in MSK & Rheum Dz https://t.co/VjgWWDt3nX https://t.co/dTRXxsrzG5

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Study of interferon (IFN) gene signature (IGS) finds IGS elevated in half of early RA pts; high IGS portends higher DAS28, fewer EULAR good resp & higher IFN-α; the latter assoc w/ epigentic changes, more lymphoctye activation. IFN-α as a biomarker? https://t.co/BHC98OR30A https://t.co/SRE7KVaoha

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
GLORIA Study Pred vs PBO in >65yrs RA x 2 years. 451 Pts & DAS28 4.5. 79% on DMARDs (14% biologics) Upside: Lower DAS28 -0.37 & less Xray progression -1.7 Sharp units Downside: 24% more AE (mild infxns), signif.small lowering of lumbar BMD -1% You Decide https://t.co/RRq0WcFsXz https://t.co/xLxjPPSMhh

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
CV risk factors not equal when considering magnitude of risk What can we learn from Oral Surveillance? The Oral Surveillance trial has almost become a household word for rheumatologists. https://t.co/LHZTVZh4AK https://t.co/2SlxrG7UpQ

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Can we stop RA before it happens? Rheumatologists have long hoped and wondered whether the right type of early intervention could prevent RA occurring in at-risk individuals. https://t.co/vU4tRr7UJh https://t.co/cikU9pwaiT

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Watch: RA Potpourri on Day One EULAR 2022: Not An Ugly Duckling https://t.co/Lp25lP6ZZY https://t.co/wd5GCbaCLR

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
How well do you know this week's rheumatology news?
Take the rheumIQ quiz
Take the RheumIQ Quiz

×