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RepurpSS-II: Hydroxychloroquine plus Leflunomide in Sjögren's
A small, pilot, phase 2b trial has shown that the combination of leflunomide and hydroxychloroquine (LEF+HCQ) was effective and safe in treating patients with active Sjögren's disease.
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Trends and Innovations in Lupus Nephritis Clinical Trials
Xu et al. from Shanghai University have written an analysis of global lupus nephritis (LN) clinical trials and call for innovation.
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Quiz Talk (5.22.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush talks of birthdays, Quizzes and journal articles this week on the podcast.
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Hydroxychloroquine: 5 mg/kg/day Is Only the Starting Point
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is one of the most important drugs in rheumatology, especially for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It reduces flares, organ damage, cardiovascular events, and pregnancy complications, and it improves survival.
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30 yr Retrospective study of 1216 SLE hospitalizations in Barcelona - SLE flares & infections were most frequent. Hosp for infections signif. increased & in last 5yrs, exceeded Dz flares (34% vs. 26%). Younger pts had more flare hosp; older more infx hosp. Over time infx have https://t.co/TkUiXaoL1R
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The safe/right choice is H. Zoster. You never fully eradicate invasive fungal or NTM infections. HBV is too risky to again use TNFi again. After H.zoster is Rx,there is evidence its safe to restart TNFi without risk of recurrence. Vagal N. Stim is the mechanistically same as
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Case-control study of 349 autoimmune (ARD) pts (SLE, RA, SSc) & serum assays for anti-neutrophil extracellular trap (aNET)Abs. aNET in 37% SLE assoc w/ APS (OR 3.4) & arterial thrombosis (OR 5.5). aNET in 40% RA assoc w/ ACPA+ (p=0.049) https://t.co/QwvmLAVmg7 https://t.co/VJ7JV5fcZE
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RHEUM Survey: After treating which infection can you safely resume anti-TNF therapy?
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) have been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of lupus, as their primary product, type I interferon (IFN-I), drive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). A recent comprehensive review synthesizes the https://t.co/VaE295a2Ep
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
True or False: In a Japanese study of refractory neuropsychiatric SLE, rituximab led to significant improvement in the majority of patients treated. See if you got it right at https://t.co/3F1h89Qrtw https://t.co/vx0ILsZ3WF
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RHEUM Survey: After treating which infection can you safely resume anti-TNF therapy?
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDA has approved benralizumab (Fasenra) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients w/ hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES); based on the NATRON Phase III trial https://t.co/7se6qLsQoP https://t.co/64wC94hTTq
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Fatigue in SLE
An NIH lupus cohort study looked at fatigue in SLE and found associations with organ damage, obesity, but does not correlate with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.
https://t.co/63JVDUwu88 https://t.co/3dPOThMbMD
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Does RTX work in CNS lupus? Japanese experience in 17 refractory NP-SLE pts Rx w/ RTX - 16/17 had significant improve. & 1 partial improvement -- none had NP-SLE relapse. Two died during COVID> https://t.co/GpCgpSxn37 https://t.co/PMz05MHBhj
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Press release of early study of IMVT-1402 (human mAb targeting FcRn) Open-label Rx in 170 active, refractory RA showed ACR 20/50/70 of 73%/54%/36% at wk 16. Next, Responders will do a blinded withdrawl - blinded results to follow. https://t.co/Mzmb3PPvMF https://t.co/oZ99l9VJQU
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Kissei Pharmaceuticals announced 20 deaths related to receiving avacopan (Tavneos), a vasculitis drug sold by the firm in Japan. Drug was released in June 2022, since its been given to ~8,500 pts. Avacopan safety is being reviewed by FDA with Amgen. https://t.co/ri0nROCL5U https://t.co/jbksrWMFwI
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Israel study 264,858 pregnancies- 1st trimester NSAID exposure had no risk of congenital malformations (MCM). 8% exposed vs unexposed: overall MCM 8.2% v 7%; aRR 0.99). MCMs not incr = MSK, CV, CNS, cleft palate, GI, GU, nonsignif MSM aRR from 0.77- 1.05 https://t.co/ytYhBFl44o https://t.co/1fq4D1KykM
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
In this week's RheumIQ quiz: An RA patient has a current or new cancer. With which cancer should you avoid/stop the use of a TNF inhibitor? See if you got it right at https://t.co/DTabBEfjj9 https://t.co/tVYUEjAPy3
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDA has approved benralizumab (Fasenra) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients w/ hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES); based on the NATRON Phase III trial https://t.co/qqPsjhUClP https://t.co/lCZNoTh9fv
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ANCA-Assoc. Vasculitis has great Rx optionis, BUT still no reliable biomaker to predict relapse or renal outcomes, this includes IL-6. But there is hope for CD163 in the future. https://t.co/lFyfTPj5vG https://t.co/wLfOPz76JC
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
