All News

pill,pain,med,hand

Tramadol not effective at chronic pain

EurekAlert!

The strong opioid painkiller, tramadol, is not that effective at easing chronic pain for which it’s widely prescribed, finds a pooled data analysis of the available research, published online in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine.

Read Article
Stop%20Biologics%20green.png

Optimizing DMARD Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

A phase IV trial from Spain demonstrates that optimization of therapy by lessening biological DMARDs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be feasible, with a low risk of flare.

Read Article
RA Hands Difficult deformity

Not all difficult-to-treat RA will have rapid radiographic progression

Jack Cush, MD

A study of radiographic outcomes in difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T RA) and poly-refractory RA (pr-RA) show a subset in whom damage is rapid and in need of more aggressive therapy.

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

Associations in Rheumatology (10.3.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and important associations in rheumatology from the past week on RheumNow.com.

Read Article
smartwatch wearable

Activity Trackers Can Predict RA Flares

MedPage Today

People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who experienced disease flares often showed changes in heart rate and physical activity captured by popular wearable devices 4 weeks before they became clinically apparent, a small study indicated.

Read Article
lung image

Lung Involvement in Pre-RA

Kristen Demoruelle, MD

When I see patients with RA-associated ILD, I’m often asked: “Are the lungs and joints really connected?” The answer is yes, and the connection extends further back than some may realize. While RA is defined by inflammation of the joints, extra-articular complications of the lung are well recognized. ILD has often been viewed as a complication of longstanding RA, but it can also appear before joint disease in a subset of patients.

Read Article
RheumNow Podcast square

How Does Your Garden Grow (9.26.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from RheumNow.com. Pool therapy, Fibrosis, NSIE's and what's best for knee OA. 

Read Article
pills.bottle.hand__0.jpg

Polypharmacy Impairs Rheumatoid Arthritis Outcomes

Jack Cush, MD

A French early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) study has shown that polypharmacy (PP) was associated with significant lower treatment responses and more serious adverse events (SAEs). 

Read Article
Optimizing DMARD Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis A phase IV trial from Spain demonstrates that optimization of therapy by lessening biological DMARDs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be feasible, with a low risk of flare. https://t.co/37O3mAulGy https://t.co/y7OkkzRZUg

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Ethnic Minority Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium registry study of 1315 RA pts (Dz duration 10yrs) incl 29% Blacks found Blacks in less remission(~2-fold by DAS28), more mod-hi dz activity, & frequently met active disease eligibility for RCTs. https://t.co/SfkVUB1GBz https://t.co/OwvmALHPFA

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
German survey of 124 AOSD pts - Dz duration 7 yrs (Dx delay 2 yrs), 2/3 on biologics, 84% responding, 81% inactive by CRP. MDs report 35% of pts Sx-free. More Patients report Persistent Sxs LBP (39.5%), fatigue/weakness (39%), & joint inflammation (27%). https://t.co/2FGUPrhB8H
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
UK remission rates for early RA have been stablebut there are variations. DAS study of 13 752 RA, 35% in remission - but 28% (London) to 40% (East England). Delays in referral since COVID-19. Less remission w/ youth, female, Black, hi DAS28, delayed DMARDs. longer Sxs duration https://t.co/57QlnEqBci
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Lung Involvement in Pre-RA When I see patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD), I’m often asked: “Are the lungs and joints really connected?” The answer is yes, and the connection extends further back than some may realize. https://t.co/7Yl0flhJ3p
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Detection, Monitoring & Management of Autoimmune ILD The American Journal of Managed Care has reviewed the approach to patients with ILD; a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in those with SARDs, including RA, SSc, and IIM. https://t.co/xtRfLNyZA6 https://t.co/S9JFlMd9CN

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RA at risk for pneumonia & hospitalisation. Pop/ study (41187 RA vs 205935 matched controls). w/ 4yrs F/U, RA had signif. more pneumonia (adj HR 1.73) & hospitaliz (aHR 2.26); higher w/ seropositives (aHR 1.86 & 2.52) & bDMARDs (1.73), but not tsDMARDs (0.93) https://t.co/XJE1FqVqCn
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Polypharmacy Impairs Rheumatoid Arthritis Outcomes A French early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) study has shown that polypharmacy (PP) was associated with significantly lower treatment responses and more serious adverse events (SAEs). https://t.co/QAJYzHEaFv https://t.co/vUeBsLCYNE

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
TREG EULAR 2025 Review of Rheumatoid Arthritis & Vasculitis abstracts https://t.co/3GdLOYssjU via @YouTube

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Data from 2019 National Health Survey on 87,678 ppl -- 21.6% had chronic back pain. Chronic LBP assoc w/ multimorbidity in 62% (esp. CV dz, arthritis, & depression) https://t.co/LFdWr0s6tg https://t.co/Enj162VYJl

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Our final webinar in this month's Rheum to Breathe: ILD campaign brings together ILD experts to discuss best practices in diagnosis, screening, and monitoring, covering: tools, labs, and imaging; timing and frequency of screening; ILD screening in RA; and, referral strategies. https://t.co/Culzv9bSD4
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Screening for RA-ILD: metanalysis of 9 studies, 1380 RA pts - RA-ILD prevalence ranged from 6.7-42.7%; 18.9% via HRCT. None examined risk factors. Male sex & smoking were ~12% higher in RA-ILD & RA disease onset age was 7 years higher in RA-ILD pts. DAS didnt https://t.co/qA2oitwQg5
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
How well do you know this week's rheumatology news?
Take the rheumIQ quiz
Take the RheumIQ Quiz

×