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Moving Targets in Lupus and Lupus Trials
Clinical trial data quality is a moving target. Lupus is also a moving target. Can we address the moving target of lupus pathology with the moving targets of quality clinical trials and scientific treatment selection?
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Steroids in Lupus Nephritis: No Free Lunch
Today I'm here to talk with you about steroids in lupus nephritis. The impetus for this is the 2024 ACR guideline for the management of lupus nephritis.
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Biologics in Pregnancy Patients With Autoimmune Disease
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)
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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MTX works in pulmonary Sarcoid! NEJM reports Open label RCT of 138 un-Rx pulm. Sarcoid pts w/ either MTX or placebo. After 24 wks MTX was noninferior to PBO w/ mean change in FVC (-6.7 vs -6.1). AE: more Wt gain, insomnia w/ pred & more Nausea fatigue LFTs w/ MTX https://t.co/8XMCM2DitR
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Assessing and Treating CV Risk Increases in Systemic Lupus
For nearly 50 years, the heightened CVD risk in SLE patients has been acknowledged since Urowitz et al.'s 1976 study on lupus mortality. Research consistently shows SLE patients have a 2-10 times higher CVD risk than https://t.co/P1AdxHkiQi
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Emulation trials in SLE: Real or Fake?
Recently a landmark paper was published in A&R studying the results of an emulation trial. My colleagues and I were able to write an editorial on this paper and describe emulation trials.
https://t.co/0ulYG5xz0J https://t.co/y2jo2SSH83
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Comparing EULAR (2025) and ACR (2020) Guidelines on Safety of Lupus Medications in Pregnancy Attendees at the 2025 RheumaPreg meeting were excited to discuss the newly released EULAR recommendations for use of antirheumatic drugs in reproduction, pregnancy, and lactation. https://t.co/csd0FE08ZO
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New Steroid Rules in Lupus? Let’s Talk.
Dr. Michelle Petri breaks down the latest strategies to minimize steroid exposure while managing disease activity in lupus patients.
đź’ˇ Smarter steroid use = better outcomes.
👉 Watch now on RheumNow:
https://t.co/vbjrXAlixz
#Lupus https://t.co/TN5EkZhbef
Links:
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FDA approved the chikungunya virus vaccine (Ixchiq) in 11/23, but recently announced caution and pause use while it investigates Postmarketing Safety Reports of 17 SAE (cardiac & neurologic) & 2 deaths. 6 SAE in the USA, elderly w/ chronic med conditions. ~80K doses of Ixchiq https://t.co/RED8Xab0Ir
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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
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FDA approved the chikungunya virus vaccine (Ixchiq) in 11/23, but recently announced caution and pause use while it investigates Postmarketing Safety Reports of 17 SAE (cardiac & neurologic) & 2 deaths. 6 SAE in the USA, elderly w/ chronic med conditions. ~80K doses of Ixchiq https://t.co/XadqMEmSuD
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SLE trends: pulse methylprednisolone followed by low dose steroids is rec by various guidelines. Risk factors for SLE flare after GC withdrawal: high Dz activity, active serology, younger age, shorter remission duration, faster tapering strategy, shorter duration/cessation of https://t.co/g6LaTijOpA
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Retrospective cohort study 112 biopsy-proven Lupus nephritis pts (65% class IV; F/U 8.3 yrs). (64.3%), alone or in combination. Renal damage incr betw 5 & 10 yrs F/U. 13.4% progressed to renal function impairment, and 11.6% to ESRD. Early Dx & Rx of LN, esp w/ highproteinuria, https://t.co/N1BL9Bri3M
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Refractory Renal SLE
How to manage class III/IV lupus glomerulonephritis when you run out of options, by Dr. Jack Cush.
https://t.co/syOVCEozfA https://t.co/UOY8MkZeX2
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CDC: U.S. Overdose Deaths Decrease Almost 27% in 2024, dropping from 110,037 deaths (2023) to ~80,391(2024). Despite these improvements, overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44. https://t.co/UXTaOPf3P7 https://t.co/1NQUfoZ1eK
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QD Clinic - Refractory Renal SLE
How to manage class III/IV lupus glomerulonephritis when you run out of options
Features Dr. Jack Cush.
https://t.co/8CQm8GZ213 https://t.co/lJKvcpIq60
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QOL survey of on 5222 lupus pts (94% F; 56% both CLE/SLE; 40% w/ SLE. QOL concerns on social activities (60%), mental health (38%). CLE had increased therapeutic hesitancy and less likely to believe in the efficacy of biologics than SLE or both. https://t.co/BOUXUSmmcM https://t.co/62Z1aFsbbv
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#2 most downloaded paper in 2024 on Journal of Clinical Medicine was “IgA Vasculitis (Henoch–Schönlein Purpura): An Update on Treatment” - Steroids are 1st line Rx, esp in adults w/ severe IgAV; other Rx include calcineurin inhibitors, MMF, RTX , https://t.co/F5jogxkoGr
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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
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