All News

GCA temporal artery

Update on Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis

Jack Cush, MD

JAMA has published a clinical update of recent studies on GCA. While PET/CT scanning are novel means of demonstrating activity, they have not changed the diagnostic approach to GCA or PMR and although there are no new proven treatment strategies for PMR beyond glucocorticoids, the FDA has approved tocilizumab as a first-line glucocorticoid-sparing agent. 

Read Article
RF.jpg

Selective Biologic Responses in Seropositive RA

Jack Cush, MD

The Journal of Rheuatology reports a pooled analysis of patients from 16 observational RA registries that examined the association between seropositivity (RF or ACPA) with biologic DMARDs responses; they showed better clinical responses when seropositive RA patients receive abatacept (ABA) o

Read Article
podcast logo

RheumNow Podcast – The Bad News That’s Fit to Print (8.21.20)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow: filgotinib rejection, delays in diagnosis, metformin benefits COVID, Abx and IBD, and UPA beats MTX.

Read Article
injection.sites_.isr_.needle.jpg

Canakinumab Tapering in Still's Disease

Jack Cush, MD

You can reduce - but not stop - canakinumab therapy in patients who are in complete clinical remission in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Read Article
sperm.fertilization.preg_.jpg

Filgotinib Decision Delayed by FDA

Jack Cush, MD

On August 18th, Gilead and Galapagos received a complete response letter from the FDA, which will delay consideration of filgotinib for the treatment of moderate-to-severe RA.

Read Article
Responses to switching TNFi in SpA go down w/ the 2nd TNFi. 1st TNFi @ 3 mos ASAS CII 51%; 2nd TNFi 41%; BASDAI @6 mo, 1st 46%, 2nd TNFi 33%. Compared to primary failure, pts w/ 2nd failure (OR 7.3 ) or toxicity (OR 9.1) had better ASDAS-I https://t.co/jMCUfBtxmY https://t.co/PBkQNOwVRQ

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Telemedicine: What's Changed and What Needs to be Addressed? An update on legislative changes, uncertainties, and the care gap post COVID https://t.co/HRAsEP7IL6 https://t.co/X6PL0W4tI7

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Gilead/Galapagos gets a setback for filgotinib, its JAK1 inhib, that was poised to be the next approved RA drug by FDA. Instead the FDA issued a complete response letter; citing concerns over sperm studies (MANTA, MANTA-RAy) & 200 mg dose. Delay till 2021? https://t.co/H0rLjOMXq8 https://t.co/vb4FDUUVoS

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RheumNow Podcast - The Bad News That's Fit to Print (8.21.20) Dr Jack Cush reviews this week highlights filgotinib rejection, delays in Diagnosis, metformin benefits COVID, Abx and IBD, and UPA beats MTX https://t.co/1oZtU14VOB https://t.co/rcWlbYVKYn

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The FDA approves Novartis'anti-CD20 mAb, Kesimpta (ofatumumab) for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). https://t.co/2DgA4Modds

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

ATS Abstract: n=616 survey contrasts rheums (57%) & pulmonologists (43%) beliefs on RA associated ILD. Both preferred to use steroids, MMF, RTX for RA-ILD, but Rheums tend avoid ADA & LEF. Rheums (17%) & Pulms (24%) think MTX a risk factor https://t.co/W5gbu84FBv

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

To date, the FDA has currently authorized 218 tests under EUAs; these include 176 molecular tests, 39 antibody tests, and 3 antigen tests.

U.S. FDA US_FDA ( View Tweet)

@RheumNow its time we stopped “seroneg RA” which are many diseases, like ANCA pos Vasculitis we should have ACPA pos RA and others - how many viral arthritides in our country “doing great” on SZP, PLAQ, or low dose MTX and reluctant to stop? #RA #Seronegative

Peter Nash drpnash ( View Tweet)

Mayo clinic: Theres a delay in diagnosing Seronegative RA - 1st joint swelling to diagnosis of RA was 187 days for seroneg vs 11 days for seropositive patients (P<.001). Seronegative RA less likely to achieve remission (28% vs 50% at 5 years) (P=.007) https://t.co/Hgewjmt1CL

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Study of 2 Canadian centers finds amongst 2095 patients taking biologics for #Psoriasis, 23 (1.1%) stopped their biologic for "COVID-19 related concerns". 5/23 restarted biologic for PSO flares. This included TNFi, inhibitors of IL17, IL12/23, IL23 https://t.co/gjSX4P0LMK

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Study from 3 NYC lupus clinics compares flare rates in older SLE stopping HCQ (n 26) vs continuing HCQ (N 32) with no difference in lupus flare rates (19 vs 16%). Reasons for stopping HCQ: retinal toxicity 42%, pt preference 35%, adverse effects 15% https://t.co/7cVZbfJK68

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Filgotinib Decision Delayed by FDA. Instead of being the next approved RA drug, the FDA issued a complete response letter; citing concerns over sperm studies and the risk/benefit behind the 200 mg dose. Delay till 2021? 2022? https://t.co/6MHiGtOxCM

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Antibiotic use is associated with a higher rate of IBD (aOR 1.88; 1·79–1·98) based on a prospective case-control study from the Karolinska that compared 23,982 new IBD pts w/ 117,827 matched controls followed over 10 years. https://t.co/FbCVU5GEFo

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Forward study of 18,754 RA patients who experienced 1,801 CVD events and found CVD risk reduction with TNFi (HR 0.82 [95% CI 0.72-0.94]) and abatacept (HR 0.50 [95% CI 0.30-0.83]) compared to csDMARDs over & above MTX alone (use vs. non-use: HR 0.82) https://t.co/YVfKWjkvxU

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Single center prospective study of 50 severe SLE pts (age 31 - 28 yrs) Rx with either mycophenolate or IV CTX. Ovarian dysfunction was short lived and subclinical w/ CTX. No premature ovarian failure seen w/ CTX. No ovarian dysfunction w/ MMF. https://t.co/qvc3i6TNB1

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

×