All News

colitis.jpg

Early GI Involvement Predictive of Scleroderma Outcomes

Jack Cush, MD

Rheumatology has published a cohort study showing that earlyGI symptoms and overall symptom burden predict both GI progression and mortality in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

Infectious Rheumatology (5.15.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush discusses his favorite journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

Top Four and More (4.10.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com this week - including his top four favorite subjects.

Read Article
calcinosis.JPG

Predictors of Calcinosis Cutis in Systemic Sclerosis

Jack Cush, MD

Calcinosis cutis (CaC) is a common and disabling non-lethal manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study used SSc patients from the EUSTAR database to clinically characterize patients and identify risk factors for CaC development.

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

Rheumatology Pitfalls (3.20.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

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

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

SATISFACTION (2.27.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

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

Read Article
Morphea,crop

DMARD Responses in Localized Scleroderma

Jack Cush, MD

JAMA Dermatology has published the results of a juvenile localized scleroderma (JLS) trial showing that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and methotrexate (MTX) are equally effective in treating JLS, noting low flare rates and possibly better tolerability with MMF.

Read Article
guidelines.recommendations.jpg

Best of 2025: ERS/EULAR guidelines for CTD-related interstitial lung disease

Jack Cush, MD

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) have published clinical practice guidelines for the evaluation and management of connective tissue diseases (CTD) associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) in two simultaneous publications in the European Respiratory Journal and Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

Read Article
FDA,approved,stamp,blue

Nerandomilast FDA Approved for Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis

Jack Cush, MD

The FDA has approved nerandomilast (Jascayd), a PDE4b inhibitor, to treat adults with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Nerandomilast was approved to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IFP) in October 2025.  

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

Telling You Where to Go (12.19.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com. Who would've thunk - a PsA FMF connection? Labs to diagnose SSc-ILD? IgA-RF may be important or RZV may not work in JAK inhibitor treated patients?

Read Article
Retrospective Intl SSc study of MD & PT telangiectasia counts (TC) (0, 1–6, 7–15 or > 15) of face, forearms & hands. High TC correlated w/ PAH (AUC 0.824–0.875) & digital ulcers. Moderate agreement betw MD & Pt for face & forearms TC (kappa 0.648 & 0.605, p< 0.001) https://t.co/k7tVeJFeCi
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Adverse drug events (ADEs) studied in autoimmune rheum Dz (ARDs). In 10,578 ARD pts 30% had 1+ ADE, highest in SSc (36%). Polypharmacy (57.3% minor, 39.4% major) contrib to increasing ADEs. ADEs were more from Sx Rx (antacids, Tylenol, psychotropics) than DMARDs. https://t.co/BOAfU1DyIN
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective Intl SSc study of MD & PT telangiectasia counts (TC) (0, 1–6, 7–15 or > 15) of face, forearms & hands. High TC correlated w/ PAH (AUC 0.824–0.875) & digital ulcers. Moderate agreement betw MD & Pt for face & forearms TC (kappa 0.648 & 0.605, p< 0.001) https://t.co/jtHgVABFiA
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Predictors of Calcinosis Cutis in Systemic Sclerosis Calcinosis cutis (CaC) is a common and disabling non-lethal manifestation in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study used SSc patients from the EUSTAR database to clinically characterize patients and identify risk factors for https://t.co/uXbcCa04Lv
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Itch is common in Scleroderma (SSc) and not related to Dz duration. Study of 2173 Pts (~20K itch assessments), 87 F; mean age 55 yrs; 40% w/ diffuse SSc. Itch (moderate 4/10) seen in ~35% at all times https://t.co/QnT8d0xA5Z https://t.co/yEgB6ImDTi

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA)in systemic sclerosis? Retro study of 165 SSc pts (20% diffuse, 33% ILD, 7% PAH); 51% centromere AB+; 29% topoisomerase I+, 12% RNA polymerase III+)-- 22% AMA-positive: assoc w/ GI vascular dz(OR 13.3), gastric antral vascular ectasia (OR 8) & https://t.co/FRhn9qIfOW
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Systematic Review of Targeted Rx for Systemic Sclerosis: from 32 RCTs & 2036 pts Rx w/ 23 targeted agents. Guselkumab had greatest effect on mRSS, followed by tofacitinib, inebilizumab, & baricitinib. For FVC, B-cell Rx (belimumab, RTX) had highest efficacy https://t.co/cXTQ2TWyHZ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Nice simple overview of SCLERITIS. https://t.co/ndnfi6nZuA https://t.co/bzkOgupk7C

Links:

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)
Shortened Leukocyte telomere length (PBL-TL) is assoc w/ systemic sclerosis–ILD. Study of PBL-TL in 244 SSc vs 314 controls, found signif shorter PBL-TL in SSC. Short PBL-TL was assoc w/ ILD & Pulm HTN, more lung related hospitalizations, but not w/ Raynauds, skin or vascular dz

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

How well do you know this week's rheumatology news?
Take the rheumIQ quiz
Take the RheumIQ Quiz

×