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Immunomodulators in the Treatment of Autoimmune Hepatitis

EurekAlert!

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic, progressive inflammatory liver disease driven by autoimmune mechanisms, characterized by elevated serum aminotransferases, hypergammaglobulinemia, and interface hepatitis on histology.

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ICYMI: Channeling Bias and Cancer Risk with Biologic or Targeted Synthetic DMARDs

Jack Cush, MD

A retrospective US administrative claims cohort study of RA patients on tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis), non-TNFi biologics, or Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) found a statistically significantly higher risk of incident cancer in patients receiving rituximab, abatacept, or JAKis (compared with TNFis).

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ICYMI: TNF Inhibitor Drug-Induced Lupus

Jack Cush, MD

A study from the FDA's adverse event reporting system (FAERS or Medwatch) database identified cases of drug induced systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients receiving tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors - a paradoxical reaction to common antiinflammatory biologic agents.

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ICYMI: Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Becoming Milder?

Jack Cush, MD

A 24 year, prospective study analyzing very early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in three consecutive eras suggests that RA has evolved since 2005, demonstrating less seropositivity, inflammation, and erosions but is characterized by more comorbidity, smoking and corticosteroid use.

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ICYMI: Axial Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

Analysis of a Greek Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) cohort shows that nearly one quarter of patients have axial involvement, and among them, ∼30% have isolated spinal axPsA and nr-axSpA, respectively.

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PCR: Prevalence, Cost, & Risk (6.27.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

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

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SSB, > SSA, Abs are signif associated w/ abnormal DLCO (AUC 0.791) in Sjogrens syndrome, esp in assoc. w/ LIP- lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis. These findings more likely in quadruple positive Sjogrens w/ RF/ANA/SSA/SSB positivity. https://t.co/s6IyRzfXiN https://t.co/J3bMowsrUQ

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New download available on biomarkers https://t.co/rFeApBnHav https://t.co/vwjog6ILJU

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Study of a Chinese systemic JIA cohort using scRNA-seq and Bulk RNA-seq, found a potential biomarker w. UBE2D1 expression closely related to Dz activity levels, reflecting enhanced monocyte activity in sJIA patients. UBE2D1 may complement others S100A8/A9, IL-18, ferritin https://t.co/IDeEvitIrB
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NHANES study (1999–2018) of 38,272 participants looked at the neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NPAR), & elevated NPAR significantly assoc w/ an increased risk of RA (ORtertile3vs1 = 1.27), esp if NPAR > 13.6. NPAR superior to SI), SIRI, PLR, MLR, & NLR. https://t.co/asLc6ghz7w https://t.co/2dAhIvekGA

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NHANES study (2007 to 2020) of 19,904 participants (≥ 20 years), including 1,477 RA pts. Prevalence of kidney stones was higher in RA (17% vs. 8%, p < 0.001) (OR = 1.77) https://t.co/0NZKQdQWR8 https://t.co/BRZ1RTNh5W

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MRI-detected erosions in clinically suspect arthralgia pts do not portend future Xray erosive disease or progression. Study of 405 CSA pts; 47% had MRI erosions that incr odds of Xray erosion [OR 5.2] but 96% of MRI-detected erosion had no assoc. Xray erosion. https://t.co/PXkEC3LO6n
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Can you predict disease from serum biomarkers? Comparison of 5 controls, 36 individuals at risk, 74, RA, & 97 PsA pts finds RA w/ higher levels of sICAM-1, MMP1, MMP3, PP, c-Peptide, CRP SAA. Also CRP, SAA, GLP-1, GIP-1, Leptin, PP precede disease onset https://t.co/zqWxsbTSlC https://t.co/Kgv2ZAuzIR

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
MRI-detected erosions in clinically suspect arthralgia pts do not portend future Xray erosive disease or progression. Study of 405 CSA pts; 47% had MRI erosions that incr odds of Xray erosion [OR 5.2] but 96% of MRI-detected erosion had no assoc. Xray erosion. https://t.co/hvxJRv1r0R
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
1,494 Ehrlangen RA pts - machine learning used baseline variables to predict remission at 6 mos. Best/most predictive results w/ AdaBoost modelingdemonstrated strongest accuracy of 85.71% (based on DAS28, Age, VAS and swollen joints. https://t.co/h9UgUKUFo4

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Japanese cohort study compared 12 pts w/ Stills Dz or intravascular lymphoma. Stills pt had significantly higher ferritin and IL-18 levels and IVL pts had significantly higher sIL-2R levels. https://t.co/Ecd6vNJTc4 https://t.co/KdEcpDeskA

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In >228k CTD patients across France, ILD increased mortality risk across all CTDs. Proportion of incident CTD with ILD highest in IIM (37%). Up to 34% of CTD-ILD pts had progressive pulm fibrosis. Supports earlier ILD screening & vigilance in CTDs. @RheumNow #EULAR2025 #OP0033 https://t.co/nEiTWQEqsP
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HLA-B27 Testing in Practice A single center study shows HLA-B27 testing is often performed by both by rheumatologists and nonrheumatologists for a wide array of reasons and often along with other serologic tests. Optimal use of HLA-B27 testing has yet to be defined. https://t.co/oq7GNhzwZd
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
JAMA Clinical Challenge - 34-yoF with Forearm Pain and Stiffness. 1 yr of progressive skin tightening over forearms, tibia, LOM of fingers & elbows. Denied DM, Raynauds. Worse after tennis, better w/ steroids. Increased ANA, eosinophils, CRP, aldolase - your Dx? https://t.co/5VrE4OpZ4N
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Prospective KORAIL study of 138 RA pts w/ ILD on chest CT -60% had UIP ILD. After F/U of 2.9 yrs, 35% had RA-ILD progression. Baseline predictors of progression = UIP, ILD >10 %, DLCO %pred, CCP+, KL-6 levels, RA Dz activity. Useful to ID high-risk RA-ILD pts.

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

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