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Equal Safety of JAK Inhibitors and TNF Inhibitors
JAMA has published a systematic review and meta-analysis of head-to-head studies showing there was no meaningful difference in safety events observed when taking either JAK inhibitor (JAKi) vs TNF antagonist (TNFi) therapies for the treatment of immune-mediated
STOP-RA: Hydroxychloroquine Fails in ACPA+ Arthralgia
Deane et al has published the results of the STOP-RA trial, demonstrating that 12 months of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) did not prevent the development of clinical RA at 36 months.
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RheumNow Podcast – Ro, Ro, Ro52 (9.12.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Are there benefits to diet or vegan diets? What's the effect of menopause on CTD? Ro52 makes a big entrance with all our ILD coverage this month.
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SMART study - Single vs. Split Dose Methotrexate in RA
Split dose weekly, oral methotrexate (MTX) was shown to be superior to single dose MTX in treating active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
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Hitting the Target: T2T Therapy in SLE
Treat-to-target strategies are not a new concept in rheumatology. It has shown to improve patient outcomes and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis and is now being increasingly adopted not only in SLE research https://t.co/PfnG0AeJsH
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RCT of 800 adults w/ Chronic LBP, acupuncture (AP) was compared usual care or AP +/- added maintenance found that acupuncture improved pain-related disability at 6 months and 12 months, with no statistically discernible benefit of additional maintenance sessions. https://t.co/suy09fGxxI
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
SMART study - Single vs. Split Dose Methotrexate in RA
Split dose weekly, oral methotrexate (MTX) was shown to be superior to single dose MTX in treating active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
https://t.co/JN5wPGNjao https://t.co/lizsrtVHwf
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
A framework for treatment stratified approach in CTD-ILD, by Dr Low Hsiu Ling
Based on
-ILD extent
-Risk of progression
-Biology: fibrosis/inflammation
-Safety
-Other manifestations
@RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/ma5KugzBHy
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
Drivers of costs associated with economic costs of RMDs in Asia Pacific
-Traditional medicine
-Loss of income much higher if worker as opposed to unpaid household labor so high impact of gender roles
-Impact of out of pocket health payments due to « catastrophic spendings » in https://t.co/sptwGE7J2V
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Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
💥 New week, new quiz.
Take 90 seconds. Prove you're the rheum news MVP.
📈 Track your accuracy
🏁 Race to the top of the leaderboard
🎯 Review what you missed
Take the RheumIQ quiz ➡️ https://t.co/CASRQjoYrB https://t.co/FCjkqud0y4
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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
STOP-RA results published in A&R. 144 at risk, CCP+ pts were enrolled to received HCQ vs PBO for 12 mos, w/ 24 mos F/U. Progression to RA seen in 30.4% on HCQ vs 32.9% on PBO (NS; P=0.52). Also IA, Jt Sxs, severity & adverse events were similar between groups.
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Flow cytometry on Peripheral blood can help patient stratification in RA
A cluster rich in TEMRA Terminally Differentiated Effector Memory T Cells is associated with response to treatment and therapeutic decision taking into account showed higher remission 39% vs. 24%
Next https://t.co/8ZZ2epf7LK
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
In #scleroderma pts with cardiac involvement, the presence of ventricular ectopy is assocd w/ ⬆️risk of mortality & SCD.
☝️these arrythmias present late so consider it in pts w/established dse who develop new-onset cardiac symptoms
@RheumNow #APLAR25 @rheumarhyme @marklagacmd https://t.co/MTDfxevqwb
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
Key takeaways of trabecular bone screening:
📌Complements but doesnt replace BMD/FRAX in fracture risk assessment
📌Dont exclude any lumbar spine unless w/significant change like laminectomy
📌Can use in monitoring untreated pts since TBS declines
@RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/bcN83IDDja
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
Sjogren's Disease Interstitial Lung Disease
Dr. Nancy Carteron, a rheumatologist in northern California, discusses interstitial lung disease in Sjogren's disease, as part of RheumNow's Rheum to Breathe: ILD campaign, presented throughout the month of September 2025. https://t.co/lA1vrBiar4
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Single center study of 47 RA-ILD pts (Dx Age 64.7 yrs; 30 mos F/U). Median 100 mos from RA Dx to RA-ILD. Nearly half (49%) recv Rx for RA-ILD; few w/ TCZ, nintedanib, pirfenidone. ~90% had RA-ILD stability/improve @ 6 & 12 mos. Progression assoc w/ tobacco use (P .025) @ 6 mos https://t.co/AK4zYgcxeK
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Italian Systemic sclerosis (SPRING-SIR) registry - 1157/1538 (75%) SSc pts were in menopause, 632 (50%) had pre-menop SSc onset, 130 (14.4%) had early menopause. Post-menop. had more CREST, centromere Abs, ILD & GI Sxs. Pre-menop. had more diffuse Dz & peripheral vasculopathy. https://t.co/Jz2v5CkH0Y
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
COLCHICORT Trial
The COLCHICORT trial in acute calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal arthritis patients showed that colchicine was inferior to prednisone treatment and that responses were also influenced by other factors.
https://t.co/CC2yVRXbD5 https://t.co/ebLa3FUbGR
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
What to give next?
Bone sequencing therapy provides a novel perspective in #osteoporosis treatment.
Several sequential approaches exist.
Better treatment plan = better patient outcomes
#APLAR25 @RheumNow @rheumarhyme https://t.co/XvwnT9ZCU2
Links:
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
This slide reflects the rheumatologist’s goals for treating #lupus
Prof. Mosca also highlights the fact that achieving targets is as important as maintaining these treatment targets.
@RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/u8fw3fThXI
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
