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Did Hydroxychloroquine Reduce COVID-19 Mortality?

Jack Cush, MD

A multicenter study investigated the association between hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) dosage and COVID-19 mortality among hospitalized patients from multiple medical centers in China. The analysis focused on dose effects of HCQ on mortality.

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lung.pulmonary.fibrosis.IPF

What you need to know about scleroderma-related lung fibrosis

Dinesh Khanna, MD, MSc

What do you need to know about scleroderma-related lung fibrosis as a practicing rheumatologist? Here are takeaways from these guidelines and my practice.

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JAK Janus

Equal Safety of JAK Inhibitors and TNF Inhibitors

Jack Cush, MD

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

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STOP-RA: Hydroxychloroquine Fails in ACPA+ Arthralgia

Jack Cush, MD

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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Target

Hitting the Target: T2T Therapy in SLE

Sheila Reyes, MD

Treat-to-target strategies are not a new concept in rheumatology. It has shown to improve patient outcomes and quality of life in RA and PsA, and is now being increasingly adopted not only in SLE research but also in clinical practice. This article reviews key highlights from Dr. Eric Morand’s plenary session lecture on Treat to Target in SLE: Current Evidence and Future Directions, presented during the recent APLAR 2025 Congress.

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August 29, 2025, FDA has terminated the Arthritis Advisory Committee, citing infrequent meetings & that the effort and expense of maintaining the committee “is no longer justified.” The committee last met on 5/6/21 to review avacopan - that was subsequently approved. REALLY? https://t.co/w3Z6TszeWZ

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
SARD-ILD and serious infection risk: The elephant in the room Interstitial lung disease (ILD) remains one of the largest unmet clinical needs across many systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). ILD is highly prevalent across systemic sclerosis, mixed connective tissue https://t.co/oxIteGfUTd
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
CDC 2025–26 Updates to Influenza Vaccination. - Most are trivalent inactivated (IIV3s) or vaccines (RIV3), few live virus(LAIV3) - FDA approved FluMist (LAIV3) for self-administration (ages 2-49) - If <18yrs, Flu vax should thimerosal free 2023/24 Flu vax prevented 7900 deaths, https://t.co/hjLBGKWNDr
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
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. https://t.co/HLLhwgcVrS https://t.co/MKpeXhVdoe

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
August 29, 2025, FDA has terminated the Arthritis Advisory Committee, citing infrequent meetings & that the effort and expense of maintaining the committee “is no longer justified.” The committee last met on 5/6/21 to review avacopan - that was subsequently approved. REALLY? https://t.co/w3Z6TszeWZ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Nitazenes — a class of highly potent synthetic opioids — are rapidly emerging as a major contributor to the overdose crisis; they are over 20 times more potent than fentanyl. Nitazenes are an illegal Schedule I drug that are rapidly spreading in the illicit drug market

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

There is no criteria for infection-induced Antiphospholipid syndr (APS). aPL & aCL abs have been reported w/ COVID, HCV, HIV, EBV, varicella-zoster, & CMV. infections may induce transient aPL positivity without over APS, but may precipitate APS or catastrophic APS (CAPS).

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

GCs have potent anti-inflammatory effects but it’s long term complications can be catastrophic. In SLE pts, it shows a 3-fold increased risk of organ damage for each addtl 1mg of Pred/day. 📌Aim for short duration of use with lowest effective dose @RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/UugrcX073Z

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sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
Target trial emulation looked at CV (MACE) events in 18,120 propensity score–matched adults with gout starting allopurinol who were given NSAIDs or colchicine for prophylaxis. MACE & CV death were signif. higher w/ NSAIDs vs Colchicine (HRs of 1.56 and 2.50), respectively. https://t.co/0T8slmPBng
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) reports that ear acupuncture applied during hip replacement surgery reduces pain and lessens opioid use over the weeks to follow. https://t.co/lOrwb1DzW5 https://t.co/6rkHNTwaAl

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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

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
‼️More reasons why we should avoid steroids in #lupus patients @RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/a5IeutJ5mi

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sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
Lessons Learned in Neuropsychiatric SLE Dr. Sheila Reyes, The Philippines, reports highlights from a session on neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, presented at the APLAR 2025 Congress in Fukuoka, Japan. https://t.co/Dh1GQnBhvg https://t.co/wX5FgpIq7C

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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)

AbbVie's US patent protection for Rinvoq (upadacitinib) will run till April 2037. SEC filing shows AbbVie has reached an agreement with generic manufacturers challenging Rinvoq patents. UPA is their 2nd leading product with nearly $3.75 billion worldwide sales in 1st 1/2 of

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

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