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Obesity, Surgery, and Optimizing Patient Care
Rheumatologic care involves multidisciplinary approaches and collaboration with specialties to treat complex, systemic diseases. While many Pods at RheumNow Live are disease specific, the Pod II focused on Advancing Practice on important and emerging areas affecting rheumatologic patients. This session focused on two major areas of need: obesity and peri-operative management.
Read ArticleANA Pollution (2.06.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and regulatory news from this past week on RheumNow.com
Read ArticleRheumNow Live Preview (1.30.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com - and the top 5 reasons to attend RheumNow Live 2026, which is one week away.
Read Article
RT @ericdeinMD
#RNL26 @RheumNow
Uzma Haque
GLP1 on pts with SLE and diabetes
Retrospective study - major improvements in
MACE HR 0.66
VTE HR 0.49
Renal progession HR 0.77
Mortality HR 0.26
A major tool for rheumatic care! https://t.co/qR3HKfsugZ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @Gibson_RheumPAC
Drug-induced SCLE remains an important mimic in biologic-treated patients. Compared with idiopathic SCLE, drug-induced disease is often more widespread and may resolve with antibody normalization after withdrawal.#RNL26 https://t.co/ICOzg3Tz4L
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Dr. Fleischman on lupus dz activity including SLEDAI, which you can use on practice. But not for practice are SLE-DAS, BILAG, BICLA, SRI-4, DORIS @RWCSmtg #RWCS26 https://t.co/7sOaE7SMht
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
REcently published SMILE study looked at the potential of HCQ (vs PBO) to prevent SLE in at risk people. Had to be ANA+ and 1-2 SLICC criteria at entry. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/s4Mzoec5ga
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Factors that may augment future development of SLE - includes Vitamin D levels, poor sleep, EBV reactivation & social determinants of health. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/2J1JBjeXKU
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDA has announced "Breakthrough Designation" for 3 drugs + 1 test being developed:
** Biogen: litifilimab (targets dendritic cells) for cutaneous lupus
** Novartis: Ianalumab (BAFF blockade) for Sjogrens
** J&J: Nipocaiimab (FcRn) for Sjogrens
** Encarta: pocket Lyme test https://t.co/RMKg14rejq
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDA sent a complete response letter to AstraZeneca on their application (BLA) for anifrolumabs (Saphnelo) subcutaneous use in SLE. Despite a positive TULIP-SC trial & EU approval of SC-anifrolumab, FDA & sponsor still have to work things out. CRL reasons are unknown https://t.co/3dNwEyolrj
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
NEXT STEPS: Karp and investigators are engaged in the MONA LISA study - Using smile Data and biospeciments – they intend to look for biomarkers that may better predict the future development of SLE Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/acZD1kmNhq
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The challenge may be that lupus has multiple endotypes with variable rates of progression/trajectories. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/BA4KRKebIv
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
SMILE enrollment hampered by COVID - yet failed to show a protective effect for HCQ in preventing SLE. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/GImHpycbgO
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
REcently published SMILE study looked at the potential of HCQ (vs PBO) to prevent SLE in at risk people. Had to be ANA+ and 1-2 SLICC criteria at entry. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/4FY0kOLdRT
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Factors that may augment future development of SLE - includes Vitamin D levels, poor sleep, EBV reactivation & social determinants of health. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/e3TKATcxXB
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Only a subset of incomplete lupus (ILE) will progress to SLE - betw 1 in 10 and 1 in 5. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/oo40Dumk4I
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW Showing that autoantibodies exist long before the onset of SLE @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/zPAYbSlIBS
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDA has announced "Breakthrough Designation" for 3 drugs + 1 test being developed:
** Biogen: litifilimab (targets dendritic cells) for cutaneous lupus
** Novartis: Ianalumab (BAFF blockade) for Sjogrens
** J&J: Nipocaiimab (FcRn) for Sjogrens
** Encarta: pocket Lyme test https://t.co/zODOTWyqP8
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Roche Canada announced that Health Canada has approved obinutuzumab (Gazyva) for the treatment of adult patients with active lupus nephritis who are receiving standard therapy. Following four initial doses in the first year, Gazyva can be administered twice yearly https://t.co/P4dCVkoPCH
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Remission? Single center study of 100 RA, 100 SLE pts assessed by SLEDAI-2K, SDAI, VAS. Remission/LDA found in 88% of 392 SLE visits & 91% of 389 RA visits(p=NS). Remission was more common in SLE vs RA (79% vs 69%; p= 0.0018). https://t.co/ZPRrYQMsCT
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)


