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Rheum Scholarship (8.21.2026)
Dr. Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com; talking about lumbar belts, scholarships and misdiagnosis.
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Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA confers a 50–100% excess risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared with the general population, with adjusted hazard/odds ratios ranging from 1.3–2.2 across large cohort studies (Vojinovic, Askling, Antovic; Rheumatology, 2026).
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Joint Pain Prevalence is not Declining
A current report from the national NHIS survey shows that over half of US adults diagnosed with arthritis reported moderate to severe joint pain.
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Doubting RS3PE (8.14.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles this week where RheumNow featured info on cancer, deadly viruses, AI rules, poetry and good moons rising.
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2026 BSR Pain Guideline: What Rheumatologists Need to Know
The British Society for Rheumatology has issued its first guideline dedicated solely to pain in inflammatory arthritis (IA)—covering RA, PsA, axial SpA and JIA.
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Evaluating Inflammatory Joint Pain in Older Adults
Lee, Levinson, and Makris have published an approach to evaluating inflammatory joint pain in older adults in JAMA Internal Medicine. While intended to be a practical guide for primary care clinicians, the tenets and clues ring true for all.
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VA study of 4108 RA-ILD (2006-21). PRED use was 65-77%, A& 1st line Rx (MMF, AZA, RTX, CTX) incr after ILD, use was low (1.2-12%). MTX decr (47 to 30%), but LEF, TNFi, ABA incr. Predictors of ILD Rx: FVC, CCP+, ILD Dx after 2012. https://t.co/GT3Vwo11w1 https://t.co/KFDKsjkN0k
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
In rheumatoid arthritis, which RA-specific factor is the strongest modifiable driver of venous thromboembolism risk?
Test your knowledge in this week's RheumIQ at https://t.co/TBlB4pmnKa. https://t.co/L69CPXWqfl
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA confers a 50–100% excess risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared with the general population, with adjusted hazard/odds ratios ranging from 1.3–2.2 across large cohort studies (Vojinovic, Askling, Antovic; https://t.co/IsS6vqo6vU
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Joint Pain Prevalence is not Declining
A current report from the national NHIS survey shows that over half of US adults diagnosed with arthritis reported moderate to severe joint pain.
https://t.co/zq7pGaZO72 https://t.co/kvco72v5IZ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Doubting RS3PE (8.14.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles this week where RheumNow featured info on cancer, deadly viruses, AI rules, poetry and good moons rising.
https://t.co/gmcrjb5bDu https://t.co/LiLl7XcZQS
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Multiple chronic conditions (MCCs; AKA multimorbidity) is highly prevalent in AIRDs; complicates Rx & increases adverse outcomes & all-cause mortality. MMCs 86% in RA, 81.5% in SLE, w/ a notable patterns of cardiopulmonary and mental health disorders https://t.co/AOWCsEodXR https://t.co/NyAR0TUQkE
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
French study of 90 RA F pts w/ 100 pregnancies (steroids 46% & biologics 39% were used). Vs 359 controls, RA had signif. more preterm birth (PTB;OR 2.08) & small for gestational age. SGA assoc w/ nulliparity (adj OR 4.38), PTB assoc w/ maternal age (aOR 1.14) & GC ≥10 mg/d (aOR https://t.co/StCJW2rsZI
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
US TriNetX EHR study of of seropositive RA: 31,932 without ILD; 115 RA-ILD on antifibrotic Rx & 1885 RA-ILD not Rx w/ antifibrotics. MTX was used more in RA w/o ILD (52%) vs RA-ILD (12%) on antifibrotics. RA-ILD was assoc w/ heterogeneous antifibrotic use. https://t.co/eBJBXbnQLN
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
2026 BSR Pain Guideline: What Rheumatologists Need to Know
The British Society for Rheumatology has issued its first guideline dedicated solely to pain in inflammatory arthritis (IA)—covering RA, PsA, axial SpA and JIA.
https://t.co/3Jtneox8Rh https://t.co/06ccLhjhMh
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
NHANES survey (2005-2018) studied prevalence of arthritis in adults w/ depression (PHQ-9 ≥10), From 15157 depressed pts, RA was most prevalent & increased 7.8 to 17.7%; OA unchanged 11.7 to 10.7% & PsA declined 7.2 to 1.7%. Depression assoc w/ higher risk for RA (OR 1.40) & PsA https://t.co/fcROEvsHDT
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
MoonLake announced positive phase 3 data from its IZAR-1 RCT using its dual A/F IL-17 inhibitor sonelokimab, showing significant responses at week 16: 66% ACR20, 42% ACR50, 41% minimal disease activity (MDA), & 61% PASI90 at week 16. a 2nd IZAR-2 PsA RCT is in progress https://t.co/eX0cxekRKG
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
UK Clinical Practice Research Database study RA pts 3134 on glucocorticoids (vs not 4142 matched controls). were identified. GC use assoc w/ signif risk of SSRI initiation risk - recent GC (adj OR 1.53) & past GC (aOR 1.40). GC effect or confounding dz activity? Think depression! https://t.co/WZLkQWlURC
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Air Pollution Increases RA Activity and Flares
Koreans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) showed increased disease activity and higher flare rates when exposed to relatively high levels of small atmospheric particulate matter, researchers reported.
https://t.co/9dZkTzivRz https://t.co/Reic3P5U6r
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Korean study of 1070 #RA pts. assessed for Dz activity & monthly pollution exposure (SO2, NO2, ozone, CO, PM10, PM2.5). Among 6 pollutants, PM2.5 signif incr risk of flare (adj OR 1.11) & DAS28-CRP, CDAI, TJC, SJC; more so w/ in women & nonsmokers & w/ prolonged PM2.5 exposure https://t.co/HgtWMz9LMs
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
