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Optimizing Hydroxychloroquine Blood Levels in Lupus

Jack Cush, MD

A large observational cohort study suggests that monitoring hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) blood levels is effective in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with a target therapeutic range (for HCQ level monitoring) of 750-1150 ng/ml.

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Reefer Madness (12.12.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and regulatory reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.  B cell drugs in SLE and ITP, biomarkers in GCA & PSS and great videos by APPs.

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B Cell Targeting in Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

EurekAlert!

The New England Journal of Medicine  has published a phase III clinical trial showing that a B cell targeting monoclonal antibody, ianalumab, was effective in more than half of the patients with primary immune thromboc

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Evaluation of Rheumatic Complaints

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Cush provides a systematic approach to evaluating musculoskeletal and rheumatic complaints in clinical practice.

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Turkey Tryptophan (11.28.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and reports from this past week on RheumNow.com, including reports on FDA resurrections, FM seasonal worsening, and do you fight switch or swap biologics in PsA TNFi nonresponders?

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Vitamin D and Lupus Outcomes (11.21.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.

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A New Disease Activity Score for Antiphospholipid Syndrome?

EurekAlert!

APS is a systemic autoimmune disorder. It is characterised by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies and a broad spectrum of clinical features, causing obstetric as well as thrombotic, microvascular and non-thrombotic (TMN) symptoms.

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Pulse Steroids and Mycophenolate in Juvenile Dermatomyositis

Jack Cush, MD

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).

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Reefer Madness (12.12.2025) Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and regulatory reports from this past week on RheumNow. B cell drugs in SLE and ITP, biomarkers in GCA & PSS and great videos by APPs. https://t.co/SKEYlhTfLz https://t.co/mBX4GIQxKe

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Roche announced that the European Commission has approved obinutuzumab (Gazyvaro in EU/UK & Gazyva in US) in combination with mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of adult patients with active Class III or IV, with or without concomitant Class V, lupus nephritis. https://t.co/usUidNVMNY
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
QD Clinics - Mission: APP Partners in Care Week 1 QD300: Flare or Beware (featuring Lindsay Tom, PA-C and Phong Nguyen, MD) QD301: CAR-T Cell Therapy for Lupus (featuring Philip Mease, MD and Cayla Alexander, DNP) QD302: Unweanable PMR (featuring Jack Cush, MD, and Leilani Law, https://t.co/Ow2KMAzwGK
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The countdown is on! ⏱️ Drs. Jack Cush & Artie Kavanaugh are previewing what’s coming to RheumNow Live 2026 in Dallas (Feb 7–8) – and you don’t want FOMO on this one. ✅ Register now at https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 🔥Early bird pricing ends December 15 – Get the inside scoop on https://t.co/K6kxX2oDtu

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
I agree that multiple assessments are needed to Dx NP-SLE; but my order of preference (for Dx yield) is: A) Hx c/w cerebritis; B) imaging to r/o other causes; C) CSF IgG index w/ Q albumin

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

QD Clinic: CAR-T Cell Therapy for Lupus Philip Mease, MD and Cayla Alexander, DNP, ARNP, Seattle, Washington, discuss the case of a patient with lupus who underwent CAR-T cell therapy for her disease. This QD clinic is presented as part of RheumNow's "Mission: APP Partners in https://t.co/WXWOLupWna
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Vitamin D and Lupus Outcomes (11.21.2025) Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow. https://t.co/M2e4kMi5H7 https://t.co/wEcAjWJSk7

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels and Lupus Outcomes Lupus patients entering a prospective cohort study with low vitamin D levels faced doubled all-cause mortality risk and tripled risk for major cardiovascular events during follow-up averaging 6 years, researchers said. https://t.co/CYwVy7ls7y
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)

Myelodysplastic & chr myelomonocytic leukemia pts rarely get lupus. Review of 19 w/ SLE & 5 w/ CLE; these were older (65 yrs), more male (15M/9F), w/ less renal [10%] & articular [36%] Dz w/ less dsDNA [32%]. Thought to be clonal inflammatory, & not autoinflammatory, process. https://t.co/EAvkJm6GQs
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels and Lupus Outcomes Lupus patients entering a prospective cohort study with low vitamin D levels faced doubled all-cause mortality risk and tripled risk for major cardiovascular events during follow-up averaging 6 years, researchers said. https://t.co/4nhACulIw0
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)

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