All News
Targeting Obesity in Rheumatic Disease Patients
Sattar et al. has published an informative overview of the effect of obesity on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). They estimate that nearly 70% of RMD patients are overweight or obese.
Read Article
ERA, APPs, & Alpha GAL (3.21.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. Listen in for 2 new case questions - Ask Cush Anything.
Read Article
Axial Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis
Analysis of a Greek Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) cohort shows that nearly one quarter of patients have axial involvement, and among them, ∼30% have isolated spinal axPsA and nr-axSpA, respectively.
World Changers (3.14.2025)
Dr Jack Cush and his podcast friends are out to change the world. Here is his weekly review of the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.
Read Article
2024 Rheumatology Year in Review
2024 was a year of surprising new growth in technology, with the expansion of new therapeutic options for many patients and clinicians. While these many advances offer new hope, they are countered by disappointments and gapping unmet needs in rheumatology. Below is my top 10 list (in no particular order) of 2024 developments and desires that may change rheumatologic practices.
Read Article
Are Combination Biologics Safe?
Although package inserts commonly warn against combining the use of biologic or targeted therapies, there is growing interest in such combination therapy for patients with problematic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID).
PAFLAR Guidelines for Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
The Pediatric African League against Rheumatism (PAFLAR) initiative has published its guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA).
https://t.co/4MbU8ZDLZf https://t.co/o3Oym9ff0f
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Axial Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis
Analysis of a Greek Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) cohort shows that nearly one quarter of patients have axial involvement, and among them, ∼30% have isolated spinal axPsA and nr-axSpA, respectively.
https://t.co/MmRMlEp7zR https://t.co/ZAbfpIWwRM
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Study of 26 Enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) pts (mean Dx age 12 yrs; 77% male; 58% B27+). These were later assessed as adults (20yrs age, <35yrs). Most were in remission/LDAS, but ~20% had synovitis or enthesitis, 73% SI Dz, 15% hip & 8% spinal damage https://t.co/FFEhyA5I6A https://t.co/hE65GNcFpY
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Japanese study of hip replacements (THA) - #RA pts undergoing THA at higher risk for dislocation and reoperation. Retrosp database study of THA - matching 3,951 RA vs 11,853 OA. w/ RA incr risk of dislocation (OR 2.8) & reoperation (OR: 2.25). No diff infx, Fx, VTE, death… https://t.co/Mz8niRlFaa https://t.co/mgcXTnw5Al
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Is better earlier imaging needed for axial #PsA? to better visualize spinal ligamentous soft tissue Spinal entheseal soft tissue and contiguous ligamentous tissues are poorly visualized on MRI in early inflammatory back pain pts. https://t.co/4w4CamMT4I https://t.co/RQigMjMe9n
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Can you distinguish which PsA? Persistent inflammatory (PIPsA) vs non-inflammatory PsA (NIPsA)? NIPsA has normal ESR/CRP, w/ obesity, biomechanical pain, OA, fibromyalgia, secondary post-inflam damage or central pain mechanisms. https://t.co/WwhdIkpJFJ https://t.co/6b5KHQRfKo
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Meta-analysis shows the combination therapy bDMARD with MTX in #PsA pts yields better bDMARDs drug survival, especially with TNFi. 20 observational studies, 30,634 PsA pts. Insufficient data for non-TNFi bDMARDs. But adding MTX to bDMARDs had better TNFi survival (HR=0.79… https://t.co/aU8j4d6pei https://t.co/Ft99jwzPB3
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Available the first time: https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2025 On Demand!
On Demand gives you access to all lectures, Q & A panels, and STEP talks, and all speaker slides and handouts — all packed with insights you won’t find anywhere else.
Non-CME, practical, and finally here.… https://t.co/qZb8OKjPpw https://t.co/Exr8u6QkNc
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Can you distinguish which PsA? Persistent inflammatory (PIPsA) vs non-inflammatory PsA (NIPsA)? NIPsA has normal ESR/CRP, w/ obesity, biomechanical pain, OA, fibromyalgia, secondary post-inflam damage or central pain mechanisms. https://t.co/9SRmpNfXCF https://t.co/wsH6poUO1m
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Study of sarcopenia in 138 young adults with inflammatory arthritis (IA) found sarcopenia in ~47% of IA- Signif different between JIA, SpA, & RA. W/ multivariable analysis, predictors of sarcopenia included BMI (OR 0.84), BMD (OR 0.01), vit D (OR 0.96) & HAQ (OR 14.5)… https://t.co/JHKwF8icj1 https://t.co/ph3pVIYuXx
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Late Breaking abstract from 2025 Amer. Acad. Dermatology (AAD) on the Phase 3 ICONIC-LEAD study showed J&J's oral IL-23 inhibitor (icotrokinra) was superior to deucravacitinib in skin clearance (65% vs 8%) & PASI90 (50% v 4%) at Wk 15 in 684 moderate-to-severe plaque PsO pts… https://t.co/GYK604kJ9u https://t.co/Ao1BpL1Qxt
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Meta-analysis shows the combination therapy bDMARD with MTX in #PsA pts yields better bDMARDs drug survival, especially with TNFi. 20 observational studies, 30,634 PsA pts. Insufficient data for non-TNFi bDMARDs. But adding MTX to bDMARDs had better TNFi survival (HR=0.79… https://t.co/3Y2cOzt3TQ https://t.co/6f8yiwMqAa
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
BMS announced new data from Phase 3 POETYK PsA-2 trial - Sotyktu (deucravacitinib)vs apremilast vs PBO in PsA w/ higher ACR20 vs PBO at Week 16 (54% vs 39%). AEs led to discontinuation in 1.3% (PBO), 2.2% (Deuc) and 10.5% (apremilast). https://t.co/NAa2JigkZN https://t.co/mvaQXfjShd
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metanalysis of 376 studies, 347 468 pts w/ chronic pain (mean 51yrs; 70%F) finds ~40% had clinically significant depression and anxiety (more common in Women, younger people, pts w nociplastic pain). Depression common in FM (54%) & OA/RA (~28%). https://t.co/s1tcgC3y7k https://t.co/NCxkOA82jD
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
