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EMR Messaging Woes (4.11.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory approvals from this past week on RheumNow.com
Read ArticleShould Lupus Nephritis Receive PJP Prophylaxis?
A current review article suggests that the need for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) prophylaxis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis will need to be individualized based on therapies and risk factors.
Read Article
Prof Ian Giles will be covering a range of topics at this year's Rheumapreg Conference such as how immunologic changes and placental dysfunction cause adverse outcomes in rheumatic disease pregnancies.
View the full prgramme and learn more: https://t.co/tjiycjKJ8i https://t.co/FugHvtm8fY
BSR RheumatologyUK ( View Tweet)

In our latest episode, @deodhara takes us behind the scenes of his research on IV secukinumab in #AxSpA. Discover key findings from the INVIGORATE-1 study, how it’s shaping treatment options, & what’s next in AxSpA research. LISTEN NOW → https://t.co/2IBixQSdpO @ACR_Journals https://t.co/HzcJw0pzWI
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American College of Rheumatology ACRheum ( View Tweet)

43 days to the Lupus Congress 2025 in Toronto 🦋...see you soon!
Abstract Sessions, Poster Tour Presentations, Plenary Sessions, Scientific Sessions, Debate Sessions, Patient Sessions, Fishbowl Discussion, and GALA DINNER on May 23!!!
@LupusCongress https://t.co/MaWjyofnIz
Zahi Touma, MD, PhD ZahiTouma ( View Tweet)

Bimekizumab efficacy and safety in patients with psoriatic arthritis who had skin and nail psoriasis at baseline: Up to 2-year results from two phase 3 studies
Sponsored by UCB
https://t.co/461bFRZwjw
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Sjogrens is a hot area in drug development: “Sjogren’s Syndrome Pipeline Insight 2025” report provides comprehensive insights about 20+ companies and 22+ pipeline drugs, including:
nipocalimab
VAY736 (ianalumab)
HZN-1116
AMG 329
R-2487 https://t.co/sVbyPLi2Um https://t.co/IlvthM7qyG
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Patient info on Sweets Syndrome: acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis
https://t.co/0q93q2NVc9 https://t.co/cE3LA8LaRQ
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

RA Prevention through Deep Immunophenotyping
Researchers at the University of Colorado have identified pathogenic immune phenotypes in at-risk populations for RA. They have found the expansion of specific T cell subtypes, in the at-risk group, and postulate this could lead to https://t.co/AEo0GOr7Kn
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Metanalysis showed no increased risk of serious infx (SIE) w/ JAK inhibitors use in pts w/ immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases -- 32 RCTs, 11,917 pts found SIE in 0.62% on JAKi vs 0.51% controls. Meta-analysis found no significant increase in risk of serious infection https://t.co/ugH72nk8bZ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

KORAIL (Korean RA-ILD) prospective cohort study of CT and biomarkers showed 35% ILD progressed over 3 yrs. Higher baseline KL-6 (HR 1.37) & hSP-D (1.51) levels assoc w/ progression. Increasing KL-6 at 1 yr showed the greatest progression (∆KL-6: HR 2.0) https://t.co/efowyCp1qu https://t.co/JVd7sRKzVF
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

EPIC EHR data assessed pre- & post-COVID. Pt messaging increased w/ pandemic & remained elevated, w/ no change in pt phone calls. MD EHR time/wk increased for all MDs, post COVID-19: (PCP +6.5%), subspecialists (+9.9%), surgeons (+5.2%). https://t.co/nJZw0Ftjqi https://t.co/ty942TGblu
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Korean insurance claims study (2008–2021) 183,212 psoriasis & PsA pts, found Biologic Rx assoc w/ lower risk of new-onset & recurrent MACEs vs phototherapy (adj HR, 0.45 & 0.34). Nonbiologic systemic Rx lowered MACE risk (v photoRx) only in pts w/ prior Hx MACE (0.79) https://t.co/1RC8bMSZJ3
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Does DMARD Rx affect neurocognitive function in older pts? bDMARDs targeting TNF-α & IL-6 may mitigate neuroinflammation & preserve cognitive function. But, cognitive impact of csDMARDs (MTX) is complex, w/ conflicting reports on its role in vascular dementia. https://t.co/u3kSKHRvpI
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Shanghai hospital retrospective cohort study of 249 pts w/ post-Unilat TKA & lat knee pain. 144 Rx w/ IA steroids vs 105 Rx w/ PO meds. Infection rate w/in 6 mos post-TKA found no signif difference (2.1% vs 2.9%); Injx pts had signif better pain relief, QOL & knee function (KSS) https://t.co/ULVO6KU7pn
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Systemic sclerosis pts in the PRESS & STRIKE cohorts - High type I interferon (IFN) scores in diffuse SSc pts correlated w/ high disease activity & worse 12-month prognosis and overall survival. https://t.co/pdPjoVfQNH https://t.co/RB7li2ZIxX
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

MMWR: While PRE-overdose opioid prescribing is a risk marker for fatal overdose from opioids alone, stimulants alone, or both; PRE-overdose stimulant prescribing might not be a risk marker for fatal overdose attributable to stimulants. https://t.co/ReVbpligeT https://t.co/PnjeqaCySX
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Diagnostically, Xrays are effective & sufficient at Diagnosing chronic low back pain; X-rays predicted MRI results in approximately 75% of the cases for common low back pain problems suggesting they may be a preferred initial imaging study for this condition. https://t.co/PYzd1zXIRz
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Inebilizumab, an anti-CD19+ (B cell)mAb was tested in myasthenia gravis in phase 3, 238 pt trial and shows to signif. improv function and reduce disease severity in acetylcholine recpt Ab+ or muscle-specific kinase Ab+ myasthenia gravis pts. https://t.co/vBBjf8AUug https://t.co/cUbK4PJEvf
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

EMA's EudraVigilance (safety) database study of 10,319 MTX reports (age: 62 yrs, 73% F). Adverse rxns (ADR): 365 kidney & 1,082 liver related. MTX renal ADRs were older, w/ comeds (NSAIDs, Tylenol, metamizole, steroids). More deaths w/ renal ADRs than liver(21% vs 6%); mostly w/ https://t.co/tQ9PSOTtyx
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)