All News
Axial Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis
Analysis of a Greek Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) cohort shows that nearly one quarter of patients have axial involvement, and among them, ∼30% have isolated spinal axPsA and nr-axSpA, respectively.
Mizoribine Effective in Lupus Nephritis
A randomized clinical trial has shown that oral mizoribine, a common immunosuppressant in Japan, was noninferior to intravenous cyclophosphamide (CTX) as induction therapy in patients with active lupus nephritis.
Read Article
World Changers (3.14.2025)
Dr Jack Cush and his podcast friends are out to change the world. Here is his weekly review of the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.
Read Article
Channeling Bias and Cancer Risk with Biologic or Targeted Synthetic DMARDs
A retrospective US administrative claims cohort study of RA patients on tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis), non-TNFi biologics, or Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) found a statistically significantly higher risk of incident cancer in patients receiving rituximab, abatacept, or JAKis (compared with TNFis).
Read Article
Increased Mortality In Arthritis Patients with COPD
A new study published in the January 2025 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal, finds that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease… https://t.co/6WCtfcrSaq https://t.co/ydVtBxqy37
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Congress Passes Fiscal Year 2025 Funding for Lupus Programs, including
- $10 million Natl Lupus Patient Registry at CDC
- $2 million Natl Lupus Training, Outreach, CTE Program
- $47.08 billion for the National Institutes of Health SLE prgs https://t.co/BCs3lGdrXK https://t.co/58PkKG9ay6
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Stelara Biosimilar Steqeyma Launches at 85% Discount https://t.co/2ZR7LMq1JT https://t.co/coHj1jh8JB
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Japanese study of hip replacements (THA) - #RA pts undergoing THA at higher risk for dislocation and reoperation. Retrosp database study of THA - matching 3,951 RA vs 11,853 OA. w/ RA incr risk of dislocation (OR 2.8) & reoperation (OR: 2.25). No diff infx, Fx, VTE, death… https://t.co/Mz8niRlFaa https://t.co/mgcXTnw5Al
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Is better earlier imaging needed for axial #PsA? to better visualize spinal ligamentous soft tissue Spinal entheseal soft tissue and contiguous ligamentous tissues are poorly visualized on MRI in early inflammatory back pain pts. https://t.co/4w4CamMT4I https://t.co/RQigMjMe9n
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a (Lone Star) tick-borne allergy to the galactose-α-1,3-galactose carbohydrate, found in mammalian meat/products; Sxs (hives, itching, swelling, and GI issues) present 2-8 hrs after meat & be life-threatening. Time to Dx has dropped considerably, w/… https://t.co/p1M9Qaf1jz https://t.co/jTJzq7YtVJ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Sobi announced it has submitted to FDA a supplemental (sBLA) for Gamifant (emapalumab-Izsg) for use in adult & kids w/ hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)/macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) in Still’s disease with an inadequate response glucocorticoids, or with recurrent… https://t.co/a3I1fzHLdl https://t.co/WTFAs5PLWF
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Can you distinguish which PsA? Persistent inflammatory (PIPsA) vs non-inflammatory PsA (NIPsA)? NIPsA has normal ESR/CRP, w/ obesity, biomechanical pain, OA, fibromyalgia, secondary post-inflam damage or central pain mechanisms. https://t.co/WwhdIkpJFJ https://t.co/6b5KHQRfKo
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
With GLP-1 agonists, is there a risk of aspiration during gen. anesthesia. Most advise against elective surgery/anesthesia unless the GLP-1 is held for 1-2 weeks. Based on MOA of delayed gastric emptying - 7/8 studies show Incr residual gastric contents in GLP-1, but none… https://t.co/BMeYVaBmIy https://t.co/DpTqKhb1Sg
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Are Combination Biologics Safe?
Real-life data from a French observational study suggests the overall risk of severe adverse events (SAE) with combotherapy does not seem to be increased (vs monotherapy), but certain combinations warrant caution.
https://t.co/zcmo9mTRoS https://t.co/Q1lB0LvymF
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Meta-analysis shows the combination therapy bDMARD with MTX in #PsA pts yields better bDMARDs drug survival, especially with TNFi. 20 observational studies, 30,634 PsA pts. Insufficient data for non-TNFi bDMARDs. But adding MTX to bDMARDs had better TNFi survival (HR=0.79… https://t.co/aU8j4d6pei https://t.co/Ft99jwzPB3
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
In 7 Major countries worldwide, Still’s Disease Treatment Markets were valued at USD 1.33 Billion in the year 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1.92 Billion by 2035. https://t.co/zjrd7RgHkj https://t.co/iqFp877wnN
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Available the first time: https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2025 On Demand!
On Demand gives you access to all lectures, Q & A panels, and STEP talks, and all speaker slides and handouts — all packed with insights you won’t find anywhere else.
Non-CME, practical, and finally here.… https://t.co/qZb8OKjPpw https://t.co/Exr8u6QkNc
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective review of 781#RA pts; 78 Dx w/ILD (77 subclinical, most UIP on HRCT). w/ mean 10 yrs F/U, death rate was 1.5 vs. 7.1 per 100PY (without v with ILD) SMR equal betw RA & gen pop. but 2x higher in RA w/ ILD. Mortality higher w/ ILD (HR~3), age and low BMI… https://t.co/Vj0acewmK8 https://t.co/N1wHTjMfTr
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Still's Dz Afro-Caribbean study of 58 pts (57% AOSD). Sex differed betw kids F 36% vs F71% in adults. Kids had signif more typical skin rashes (100 vs 29%), coronary artery dilation (16 vs 0%), & MAS (52 vs 9%). Adults signif more polyarthalgia (91 vs 32%) & lung dz (51 vs 4%).… https://t.co/AYKNazgio5 https://t.co/1yQgeMiwku
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Sobi announced it has submitted to FDA a supplemental (sBLA) for Gamifant (emapalumab-Izsg) for use in adult & kids w/ hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)/macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) in Still’s disease with an inadequate response glucocorticoids, or with recurrent… https://t.co/PLpcD5jzxH https://t.co/0LUe9bXaYS
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)