All News
Sequencing DNA to find new lupus treatments
d
EurekAlert!
Medical University of South Carolina geneticist Betty Tsao, Ph.D., will lead a five-year project to identify rare mutations associated with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, with more than $3.5 million in funding from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Tsao holds the Richard M. Silver Endowed Chair for Inflammation Research in the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology at MUSC.
Read Article
Associations in Rheumatology (10.3.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and important associations in rheumatology from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Read Article
Activity Trackers Can Predict RA Flares
d
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
ILD in Juvenile Dermatomyositis: Moving Toward Better Outcomes
Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is typically recognized for its striking skin rashes, vasculopathy, and muscle inflammation. Less visible, but equally significant, is lung involvement.
Read Article
Hip Osteoarthritis Treated with Exercise plus Weight Loss Diet
An exercise and diet intervention study showed that while exercise improved hip pain, adding a weight loss diet to exercise did not change hip pain but improve most secondary outcomes.
Read Article
Post hoc analysis of Gout (CARES) trial (rx w/ ULT) showed remission @ 1yr increased from 37% to 63% at yr 6. In 6 yrs, 59% achieved remission 1+ times. Remission was signif assoc w/ age, race, Hi Dz severity, comorbidities, and febuxostat treatment https://t.co/uTOkch8VW6 https://t.co/Ykc7JV6m7r
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
There is no consensus on flare definition in PSA. Review of 12 #PsA studies shows flare prevalence ranged 7% to 10%, w/ incidence was 22–23%. Over 12 mos, current patient-reported flare = 10%, physician-reported flare = 7% https://t.co/2LKlnaMSyv https://t.co/0TYXiZGsSc
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)
Retrospective study of 259 SSc pts underwent cardiac MRI looking for primary heart involvement (pHI) - detected in 37 14%). Predictors included troponin T (OR 14.1), CRP [OR 11.2), ILD [OR 6.3), and arrhythmias https://t.co/8KTINQ5loi https://t.co/60wQAPCUJv
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Small 38 pt. RCT found that 16-wks of Mediterranean diet signif improved psoriasis PASI scores. Intervention grp had better PASI change at week 16 (−3.4 vs 0), PASI 75, and reducted hemoglobin A1c. Diet as adjunctive Rx in PsO!! https://t.co/oJnaAA8LMm https://t.co/AXxI8FWQqU
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Impact cumulative MTX on liver fibrosis? 1314 #PsA pts (age 44), 28% on MTX. Total of 44 (3%) had baseline liver fibrosis & 12% developed it over med/ 5.6 yrs. Cumulative MTX Did NOT assoc w/ liver fibrosis (OR 0.99), but high BMI & DM did (Metabolic factors) https://t.co/OSVZHskjB4
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Challenges diagnosing lung disease and ILD in pediatric patients
Children with juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myositis (JIIM) are at risk of developing lung disease, notably interstitial lung disease (ILD).
https://t.co/SClva7aqKH https://t.co/hVX5zdju5V
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
2019 National Health Survey of 87,678, 21% had chronic back pain (cLBP). cLBP had more Multimorbidity 62.1%, worse activity limitation. depression, and cardiovascular disease https://t.co/LFdWr0s6tg https://t.co/R5cZSWySUK
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RheumNow is LIVE from #ACR25 Oct 24–29.
KOL perspective videos, clinical-trial highlights, daily recaps & live streaming—all in one feed. https://t.co/fD2K4zW9Z7
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective study of 137 pts w/ Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) w/ myositis Abs testing. 11% MSA+. & more like to have autoimmune Dz, +ANA, +RF. MSA negativity predicted by these 4: neg RF, ANA <1:320, no hypergammaglobulinemia, no Raynaud's - specificity 100%, sensitivity https://t.co/JAca1fpwZT
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
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)
Axial involvement in PsA (axPsA)? study of 581 PsA pts (mean 45 yrs) found 31% w/ SpA-SI joint (SIJ) abnormalities on MRI (MRI-axPsA). MRI-axPsA pts had BM edema(69%), erosions (68%), fat lesions (58%). ~45% w/ Xrays, 29% met Xray mNY criteria for AS (38% +MRI). +MRI assoc w/ https://t.co/MRbs8G3MWq
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Study of 246 axSpA (nraxSpA 82, r-axSpA 164) w/ Sxduration 26 yrs. axSpA had more comorbid Dz (^CCI) esp for uveitis (28 vs 1%), IBD (10 v 1%), PsO (10 v 3%)], CVD (7 v 3%), FM (12 v 3%). BUT NO DIFF between r-axSp & nraxSpA for comorbidities https://t.co/0ERLt083yq https://t.co/65x02ZFKTb
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
