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Biologics in Pregnancy Patients With Autoimmune Disease

Jack Cush, MD

A large cohort, claims data study shows that among pregnant women receiving biologic therapies for autoimmune conditions, 72% continued their biologics pregnancy, more so among inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients than those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis (PsO) or psoriatic arthri

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Panacea of Prednisone & Cannabis (5.16.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and regulatory reports from this week on RheumNow.com.  Interesting trends and results with prednisone in lupus, cannabis in RA and opioid deaths too!

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Smoking & Autoantibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

Investigators from the Netherlands have published their findings that smoking is a risk factor in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), led by the induction of local autoimmune responses at mucosal sites (in the lungs) and exemplified by RA-specific autoantibodies. 

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Vitamin D Headlines (5.9.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and lupus highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com. Triple positivity, the gut and CRPS, and hope for better outcomes with Vitamin D therapy. 

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Emulation trials in SLE: Real or Fake?

Janet Pope, MD, MPH, FRCPC

Recently a landmark paper was published in A&R studying the results of an emulation trial on SGLT2i (sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors) showing benefit in SLE patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), for both renal protection and reducing cardiovascular events, using data from an American large insurance claim database. My colleagues and I were able to write an editorial on this paper and describe emulation trials.

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as a Harbinger of Rheumatoid Arthritis

MedPage Today

Rates of carpal tunnel syndrome were significantly greater in patients later diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a large, long-running observational study.

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Periprosthetic femoral Fx (PPFF): metanalysis of 36 studies found PPFF risk factors: Uncemented stems (OR 3.36), major teaching hosp (2.0), female (1.6), obesity (1.4), Hi comorbidity(1.4), RA (1.89), (1.67), revised THR (2.6). OA = protective (0.51) https://t.co/y2BpH8LUb6 https://t.co/hX2lcjI4Kg

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Smoking & Autoantibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis Investigators from the Netherlands have published their findings that smoking is a risk factor in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), led by the induction of local autoimmune responses at mucosal sites (in the lungs) and exemplified by https://t.co/SQa3PrRnOI
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
National Inpatient Sample retrospective study of #RA pts using cannabis (n 42,415). Cannabis assoc w/ lower mortality (0.98% vs 2.71%; OR 0.50), depression (OR 0.47), chronic pain (OR 0.45), anxiety (OR 0.55); but more use of opioids (OR: 1.10), nicotine (OR: 1.35), & alcohol https://t.co/87SnCHVxkN
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Study of 42 pts w/ long standing RA-LD undergoing Lung Transplant (LTx) betw 2004 -2020. Median survival was 5.3 yrs (1-yr survival 88%) - same survival as LTx in other CTD & non-CTD ILD LTx. Mortality was 43%, higher w/ UIP. RA/CTD is not a contraindication to LTx. https://t.co/C0dpThYcMT
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
More Women with Autoimmune Diseases Die from Cardiovascular Disease Women with the autoimmune diseases rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or systemic sclerosis may have a higher rate of death related to cardiovascular disease than men with the autoimmune diseases, according to new https://t.co/Px9ayANsFL
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RA nodules respond to JAKi. Small case series of 7 established/refractory moderate-to-severe#RA pts w/ rheumatoid nodules who were treated w/ JAKi (tofacitinib, upadacitinib)-- 5/7 had complete resolution & 1 reduced nodules size (w/in 3-12 mos) on JAKi therapy. https://t.co/oQWHMBVQEi
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
single-centre study of 469 consecutive RA pts - 15 had VTE (3%). Strongest risk factor of VTE was the history of previous VTE (OR 44.7), recent hospitalisation (OR 6.82), diabetes (OR 11.23), and JAKi (OR 5.54) (Other studies show inflammation incr VTE risk) https://t.co/JfaBtfvujU
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as a Harbinger of Rheumatoid Arthritis Rates of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) were significantly greater in patients later diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a large, long-running observational study. https://t.co/JiYvjhsKEp https://t.co/szmG5vrvcd

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Study of 42 pts w/ long standing RA-LD undergoing Lung Transplant (LTx) betw 2004 -2020. Median survival was 5.3 yrs (1-yr survival 88%) - same survival as LTx in other CTD & non-CTD ILD LTx. Mortality was 43%, higher w/ UIP. RA/CTD is not a contraindication to LTx. https://t.co/JcTug1wsTZ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RA nodules respond to JAKi. Small case series of 7 established/refractory moderate-to-severe#RA pts w/ rheumatoid nodules who were treated w/ JAKi (tofacitinib, upadacitinib)-- 5/7 had complete resolution & 1 reduced nodules size (w/in 3-12 mos) on JAKi therapy. https://t.co/YGK1EGiJiJ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
single-centre study of 469 consecutive RA pts - 15 had VTE (3%). Strongest risk factor of VTE was the history of previous VTE (OR 44.7), recent hospitalisation (OR 6.82), diabetes (OR 11.23), and JAKi (OR 5.54) (Other studies show inflammation incr VTE risk) https://t.co/pBJDhXOgut
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective Medicare Claims data study of RA pts w/ metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who recv Rx w/ immune checkpoint inhibitor; found that ICI- Rx RA had the same survival as non-RA pts, and sterid use was not associated with worse survival https://t.co/JLlCfrRwvN https://t.co/DNEM32yocL

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Triple positivity (anti-CarP Abs, RF, ACPA) assoc w/ increased Dz activity in RA. Single center, 138 RA pts. Triple pos. pts had signif more TJC (10 v 7.7), Pain (6.3 v 5.1), DAS28-CRP (4.7 vs. 4.0), ESR (33 v 23), ACPA (395 v 369), but lower RF (164 v 453). NO diff in Bone https://t.co/DexENW4W2T
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
DANBIO registry study of 720 RA pts w/ a prior solid cancer (breast, colon. lung, endometrial, melanoma, bladder) in remission who received any biologic DMARD, TNFi or RTX found no incr risk of CA recurrence w/ any bDMARD, TNFi, RTX. Specifically, no incr in breast CA recurrence https://t.co/YJw8qXz1yM
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
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