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Multimorbidity predicts flares in rheumatoid arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

A study from Olmstead county and the Mayo Clinic shows that multimorbidity  and social factors predict higher rheumatoid arthritis (RA) flares and lower remission rates.

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September to Remember (9.5.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow. This week - unemployment, diagnosing Sjogren's and a lot of ILD.

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ILD damage fibrosis path

Abatacept and Methotrexate may Lower Risk of Interstitial Lung Disease in RA

Jack Cush, MD

A post hoc, pooled analysis of of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trials shows those received abatacept had a lower rate of Interstitial lung disease (ILD).

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ACR Concerns on the Scientific Integrity at the CDC

ACR

On behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), we express deep concern over recent developments at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that appear to undermine the agency’s longstanding commitment to science-based public health policy.

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ILD Begins (8.29.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com. This week news on vaccines, safety of acetaminophen and more.

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Long-term Lab Monitoring in RA is Inefficient

Jack Cush, MD

Annals of Internal Medicine has published a retrospective study of long-term routine laboratory toxicity monitoring (lt-RLTM) in patients receiving disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy showing that most very abnormal laboratory finding occur early in therapy (first 6 months) or are anticipated or only after dose escalation.

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Methotrexate intolerance in rheumatoid arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

Methotrexate (MTX) is the most commonly used DMARD in rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, there is significant intolerance to this drug among adult RA patients - especially at doses above 15 mg per week. 

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ACR Concerns on the Scientific Integrity at the CDC On behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), we express deep concern over recent developments at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that appear to undermine the agency’s longstanding commitment to https://t.co/P2J7eZN07W
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Retrospective Korean study of #RA & ILD pts (n 151) - ILD duration & UIP pattern significantly affected prognosis. 62% were non-smokers, DAS28=4.9, UIP in 60%. @4 years, ILD progressed in 58%; mortality=21%. MTX did not affect progression or mortality. https://t.co/1XNcWsAuea https://t.co/QLod6uj2Dj

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Connective tissue disease associated with interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) market is estimated to be $5.9 Billion USD in 2024 and is projected to grow to 9.3 billion, driven by increase in autoimmune Dz, adoption of biologics, ongoing clinical anti-fibrotic trials https://t.co/UqshQgNOau
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ILD Begins (8.29.2025) Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from https://t.co/V10S4oVFsv. This week news on vaccines, safety of acetaminophen and more. https://t.co/YlOK3X4hkW https://t.co/9cgcDn0xab

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J&J announced it has halted its combination biologic study in difficult to treat RA. Phase 2a DAISY proof-of-concept studied the combo of nipocalimab and TNFi in refractory RA, but 12 wk results failed to evidence of efficacy. https://t.co/T4n4GNqtVC v https://t.co/eSAwrEIYHc

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Wait! FDA approved the Chikungunya Virus Vaccine 2 yrs ago, but just pulled the vaccine, Ixchiq, citing serious safety concerns (specifically CBER reports of >20 serious adverse events, including 21 hospitalizations, 3 deaths, w/ 1 fatality directly linked to vaccine-derived https://t.co/aaC38VX7rF
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Primary CNS angiitis - an uncommon vasculitis affecting brain, spinal cord, or leptomeninges, typically B/L, but here are 48 pts w/ unilateral PACNS. Dx is made by imaging, wall imaging (VWI), perfusion, spectroscopy. Histology shows small-to med vessel lymphocytic vasculitis https://t.co/xtD7wBT1J2
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While the live-attenuated vaccine, Ixchiq, was pulled for safety concerns, there is another chikungunya vax still on the marked - a virus-like particle vaccine, Vimkunya. Travelers or the elderly at higher risk of chikungunya exposure should consider getting vaccinated

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Celltrions tocilizumab biosimilar, tocilizumab-anoh (Avtozma, CT-P47), had similar efficacy when switching from reference tocilizumab (Actemra; Genentech) in a study of 444 RA patients x 52 wks. https://t.co/7aAyuUkZJ9 https://t.co/kJUrRkhstb

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Cardiovascular Sequelae in Adults After Kawasaki Disease A long-term cohort study of children diagnosed with Kawasaki disease (KD) shows evidence of future adult cardiovascular complications and hospitalizations. These severe cardiovascular events clustered during the young KD https://t.co/zbo64gAV1H
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AbbVie announces positive topline results from a 2nd Phase 3 UP-AA Trial evaluating Upadacitinib in Alopecia Areata (AA) - w/ 45% and 55% of severe AA pts rx w/ UPA 15 mg and 30 mg, achieving a SALT score ≤ 201 (80% or more scalp hair coverage) at week 24 https://t.co/8p1FvJx0s0
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Rapid rituximab infusions are safe & efficient. Metanalysis of 7 RCTs, 538 pts w/ autoimmune/rheumatic dz, showed infusions(RTX 1000 mg) of 90-120 min (w/ premedication) had low risk (3-15%) of mild (Grades 1, 2) infusion Rxns; only 6 Grade 3 Rxns https://t.co/uVKuhhc80F https://t.co/NIMMhgIRzH

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FDA has granted Soligenix "Orphan Drug Designation" to study dusquetide in the treatment of Behçet's dz, based on an 8 patient proof of concept Phase 2a trial. Not yet FDA approved, dusquetide is a short peptide innate defense regulator (IDR). Behcets affects 18K in USA and https://t.co/RzzVuQ6bAB
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