All News
Early vs Delayed Belimumab in Lupus
An economic evaluation of early vs delayed use of the Blys inhibitor, belimumab (BEL), in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has shown both cost effectiveness and clinical utility of early BEL initiation in active lupus patients.
Read Article
Referral Rules to Live By (2.20.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. Highlights include referral rules, combination biiologics in psoriasis and don't use JAK inhibitors in pregnancy.
Read Article
Diagnosing and Managing GCA and Takayasu’s Arteritis
Giant-cell arteritis and Takayasu’s arteritis are both large-vessel vasculitides, but each brings its own diagnostic and management challenges. Many of the difficulties overlap because they are rare, heterogeneous, and lack perfect diagnostic tests or specific biomarkers.
Read Article
Referrals - Orthopedics or Rheumatology?
“Orthopedics or rheumatology, who should I see?" A question, often asked with urgency, posed by those who genuinely don’t know who to see for a musculoskeletal (MSK) complaint. Inquiring patients, family, or other physicians may be one forum for such a request. Another occurs in the hospital and clinic when referrals for MSK issues can go in either direction. How would you guide such requests? And what would your answers be based on?
Read Article
Paradoxical Reactions, Target Selection & the Future of Imaging in Psoriatic Care
At RheumNow Live, Dr. Joseph Merola presented a compelling discussion on paradoxical immune reactions in psoriatic disease. He began with a case of a 60-year-old woman with mild psoriasis who, https://t.co/AVIOO42vfP
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
GLP-1s are known to improved knee OA. Using a mouse OA model w/ obesity, semaglutide yielded less pain, osteophytes & had strong chondroprotective effects, fia a wt loss-independent way. Changing from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation resulted in cartilage restoration. https://t.co/YySGDHX9KO
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Prevention in Lupus and Therapeutic Evolution in Sjögren’s explores the proactive approach in autoimmune diseases, moving from theory to empirical evaluation. Recent discussions on incomplete lupus and the SMILE trial, along with advancements in Sjögren’s treatments, underscore https://t.co/KY9nHnpkxk
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
What's New in Spondyloarthritis
Dr. Arthur Kavanaugh and Dr. Eric Ruderman gave an update on what's new in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) at the 2026 Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium (RWCS) in Maui, Hawaii.
https://t.co/X9MfrZLNBq https://t.co/VS04Ra5RZK
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
J Rheum full read editorial on What HLA-B27 Can—and Cannot—Tell Us!. HLA-B27 also holds prognostic and theragnostic value, given its association with greater structural damage, higher inflammatory burden, and better response to tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 17 inhib. https://t.co/3xNDtePEzn
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @gibson_rheumPAC
Given rising resistance, effective first-line regimens and adequate duration (14 days) are critical. PPI-based quadruple regimens remain highly effective when patients can adhere.
#RNL26 https://t.co/bxqMbPFegt
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @RichardPAConway
ACR/Chest and EULAR/ERS guidelines for RA-ILD presented by Dr Sparks. I'm posting the one I use ;) #RNL26 https://t.co/fwTjB2bIqg
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The vasculitis session at #RNL26 was a fantastic update on inflamed blood vessels, large and small, by two experts in the field.
https://t.co/KuVei8jiFu https://t.co/47cI4WSSkU
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @richardPAConway
Data from Scott Matson's group showing that immunosuppressing RA-ILD (agnostic to agent) results in stabilisation of the previous downward trajectory of pulmonary function tests. #RNL26 https://t.co/TMNeCsPDep
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @RichardPAConway
UIP pattern RA-ILD is where the big problem is. We are less good at treating this. Perhaps the newer agents such as nerandomilast will change this? #RNL26 https://t.co/lzKFulaomD
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
New studies posted this week in Arthritis & Rheumatology:
Adalimumab ± MTX as first-line therapy for childhood-onset chronic uveitis
https://t.co/L4QiZZBBG7
Bisphosphonates & PPI/H2RA coprescriptions in polymyalgia rheumatica
https://t.co/62Pqt5Ab58
Phase 3b SOLSTICE trial: https://t.co/MsK4XC3eNh
Links:
American College of Rheumatology ACRheum ( View Tweet)
You gotta be kidding me
@mims
gift link
https://t.co/wf9kLhSu8a https://t.co/jB3ZYyB549
Links:
Eric Topol EricTopol ( View Tweet)
Population survey of 21 000 US adults, 62.3% reported recent use of any OTC or prescription meds. Past-7-day prevalence of any OTC medication was equal to RX med use (46%) and increased use with age among both male and female individuals. https://t.co/xeWBQ0DnlB https://t.co/c8lqXOmAaT
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Early: BITE compassionate use CD19×CD3 T cell engager blinatumomab in 5 antisynthetase myositis & BCMA×CD3 teclistamab in 5 scleroderma pts, all Tx refractory. Both showed rapid clinical, serologic, histologic benefits, with cytokine release syndr as AE of concern https://t.co/CTppiWim0a
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Together PSO Trial - Combination Ixekizumab and Tirzepatide
Today Lilly announced top line results of the TOGETHER-PsO open-label, Phase 3b trial demonstrating the significant benefits of concomitant ixekizumab (IXE: an IL-17A inhibitor) and tirzepatide (TIR: GLP-1agonist) over https://t.co/YWCjN2NyGM
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Can I Use JAK Inhibitors During Pregnancy?
Short answer: Not yet.
https://t.co/E9yrWR5zTG https://t.co/NLy6OibkYH
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
