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Valves Gone Wild in SLE

Melissa Akselrad, MD

Lupus valvulitis is a rare cardiac manifestation of active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is defined by inflammation of one or more cardiac valves. It is often associated with Libman-Sacks endocarditis, which is characterized by the presence of sterile vegetations on the heart valves.

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2025 ACR Guideline for the Treatment of SLE

Jack Cush, MD

The ACR has released its 2025 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) treatment guidelines and consensus-based good practice statements, applicable to children and adults with SLE. 

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Panacea of Prednisone & Cannabis (5.16.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and regulatory reports from this week on RheumNow.com.  Interesting trends and results with prednisone in lupus, cannabis in RA and opioid deaths too!

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Assessing and Treating CV Risk Increases in Systemic Lupus

Maureen A. McMahon, MD

We’ve recognized the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in SLE for almost half a century since Urowitz et al. first described a bimodal pattern of mortality in lupus patients in 1976. Numerous subsequent studies have confirmed this, with estimates of increased risk ranging from 2-10-fold compared to the general population. Most striking is the risk in young patients; in their landmark study, Manzi et al. found that women with SLE in the 35–44-year age group had an almost 50-fold increased risk of myocardial infarction compared to age-matched women without SLE.

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Vitamin D Headlines (5.9.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and lupus highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com. Triple positivity, the gut and CRPS, and hope for better outcomes with Vitamin D therapy. 

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Emulation trials in SLE: Real or Fake?

Janet Pope, MD, MPH, FRCPC

Recently a landmark paper was published in A&R studying the results of an emulation trial on SGLT2i (sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors) showing benefit in SLE patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), for both renal protection and reducing cardiovascular events, using data from an American large insurance claim database. My colleagues and I were able to write an editorial on this paper and describe emulation trials.

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More Women with Autoimmune Diseases Die from Cardiovascular Disease

EurekAlert!

Women with the autoimmune diseases rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or systemic sclerosis may have a higher rate of death related to cardiovascular disease than men with the autoimmune diseases, according to new research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

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Impt predictors of #neuropsychiatric #SLE #LUPUS2025 @RheumNow No major predictors But if explanation of other conditions ex Past #cvA #ischemic events Doesn’t have to have ➡️Active systemic ##Lupus ➡️ ?ribosomalP +Abs described in #CNS lupus A real headache! https://t.co/iuWfB454EN

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Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
Do you routinely recommend SLE +Ro/La pregnant Pts to have routine screening for #congenital #heart #block #LUPUS2025 @RheumNow

Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)

Systematic review and meta-analysis confirms modest efficacy of infliximab for pulmonary sarcoidosis and promising but limited evidence for adalimumab, tofacitinib and efzofitimob in specific sarcoid manifestations. https://t.co/XaqSiAVQTa https://t.co/DTGbIiPT3a

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Systemic sclerosis is a vasular disorder! Microvascular dysfunction, Endotheliopathy, & reduced vascular reserve account for most findings. Good review w/ literature references in Arthritis Research & Therapy. https://t.co/ULfwBy7ECb https://t.co/QnpImUrA7q

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
MTX works in pulmonary Sarcoid! NEJM reports Open label RCT of 138 un-Rx pulm. Sarcoid pts w/ either MTX or placebo. After 24 wks MTX was noninferior to PBO w/ mean change in FVC (-6.7 vs -6.1). AE: more Wt gain, insomnia w/ pred & more Nausea fatigue LFTs w/ MTX https://t.co/8XMCM2DitR
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Assessing and Treating CV Risk Increases in Systemic Lupus For nearly 50 years, the heightened CVD risk in SLE patients has been acknowledged since Urowitz et al.'s 1976 study on lupus mortality. Research consistently shows SLE patients have a 2-10 times higher CVD risk than https://t.co/P1AdxHkiQi
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metanalysis of ANCA-associated vasculitis with interstitial lung disease (8 studies, 654 pts shows the following significan mortality risk factors: age (HR 1.06), ever smoker (HR 1.61), UIP pattern (HR 2.07), acute exacerbation (HR 2.73) & microscopic polyangiitis (HR 4.03). https://t.co/Rf6c2gidpK
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Arterial or venous thrombotic events (AVTEs) are common w/ new forms of monogenic vasculitis (DADA2 & VEXAS), resulting from pathogenetic mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction, immune complex deposition and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Reviewed here. https://t.co/Nw9wNYssg3 https://t.co/5V0yrctaFI

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Study of 42 pts w/ long standing RA-LD undergoing Lung Transplant (LTx) betw 2004 -2020. Median survival was 5.3 yrs (1-yr survival 88%) - same survival as LTx in other CTD & non-CTD ILD LTx. Mortality was 43%, higher w/ UIP. RA/CTD is not a contraindication to LTx. https://t.co/C0dpThYcMT
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
More Women with Autoimmune Diseases Die from Cardiovascular Disease Women with the autoimmune diseases rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or systemic sclerosis may have a higher rate of death related to cardiovascular disease than men with the autoimmune diseases, according to new https://t.co/Px9ayANsFL
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metanalysis of ANCA-associated vasculitis with interstitial lung disease (8 studies, 654 pts shows the following significan mortality risk factors: age (HR 1.06), ever smoker (HR 1.61), UIP pattern (HR 2.07), acute exacerbation (HR 2.73) & microscopic polyangiitis (HR 4.03). https://t.co/z4zfDq9Wf9
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Arterial or venous thrombotic events (AVTEs) are common w/ new forms of monogenic vasculitis (DADA2 & VEXAS), resulting from pathogenetic mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction, immune complex deposition and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Reviewed here. https://t.co/Nw9wNYssg3 https://t.co/1PoPWPWNec

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Study of 42 pts w/ long standing RA-LD undergoing Lung Transplant (LTx) betw 2004 -2020. Median survival was 5.3 yrs (1-yr survival 88%) - same survival as LTx in other CTD & non-CTD ILD LTx. Mortality was 43%, higher w/ UIP. RA/CTD is not a contraindication to LTx. https://t.co/JcTug1wsTZ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
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