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Pre-ACR25 (10.24.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and info reports the day before ACR 2025
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SGLT-2 inhibitors and the prevention of autoimmune rheumatic disease
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have benefits beyond glycemic control, including cardioprotective and nephroprotective effects, with modest weight loss.
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Bad Actor Cofactor (10.17.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports, discusses pediatric reports, pregnancy data, diet and nutrition and more.
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GLP-1 RA meds: we are just starting to see their impact in rheumatoid arthritis. We know metabolic, CV risk in RA, but what to do?
RA pts in TriNetX, obese non-diabetic
GLP-1 RA reduced 1y CV events & also all-cause mortality
Soon will be near-standard
#ACR25 ABST0445 @RheumNow https://t.co/4ptAHdmf9q
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
#ACR25 Abstr#0773 Anti-MDA5 ab is assoc. with progressive DM-ILD. But MDA5 expression is also upregulated in IPF. Any new biomarker which can link these ILD?
Measuring reactivity to MDA5 (aa 201-300) epitope peptide may help identify poor ILD prognostics (with/out DM) @RheumNow https://t.co/rziwihKfIr
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet)
What is the #frequency of #CTD #ILD in #USA?
Data from #Marketscan >9K & #Optum ~20k CTD-ILD Pts
56-65 yrs, 3/4 F
?under ascertained #RA-ILD - low % but #SSc-ILD approx 16% clinically relevant
Same as Ont, Canada #SSc-ILD %
Not rare
#ACR25 @RheumNow @ACRheum
Abst#0154 https://t.co/imfSyOtYpC
Links:
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
SGLT-2 inhibitors and the prevention of autoimmune rheumatic disease
SGLT-2 inhibitors offer benefits beyond glycemic control, such as cardioprotective and nephroprotective effects, and modest weight loss. A recent study also suggests they may have immunomodulatory effects and https://t.co/grsgHFQic5
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
💊 SGLT2i vs GLP-1 in Lupus Nephritis
TriNetX evaluating the impact of GLP-1 agonists vs SGLT-2 inhibitors on outcomes of lupus nephritis
📊 GLP-1 use linked to better renal & CV outcomes in LN including:
⬇️ CKD progression
⬇️ Mortality
⬇️ Acute MI
@RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/v4LgKFDt68
Akhil Sood MD, MS AkhilSoodMD ( View Tweet)
Upadacitinib in GCA doesn't just affect IL-6, it alters IFNg, known to be important in vascular change in GCA.
If UPA in GCA has some cardiovascular concerns extrapolated from RA, it also has some plausible cardiovascular benefits too that TCZ may not
#ACR25 ABST0751 @RheumNow https://t.co/rMetLPP9z6
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
A closer look in skin toxicity of GCs in RMDs
GC Toxicity Index, LONG TOX prospective cohort
Frequent:
-Easy bruising 35%
-Atrophy 22%
-Hirsutism 17%
-Acneiform rash 15%
-Erosion/Tear 12%
GC-related Neuropsychiatric toxicity highly associated with/ skin, something to look out https://t.co/NfxG8JkxSP
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
Retrospective study by Dr. Goudot et al. - pts w/D2T PsA had dactylitis, fibromylagia & ischemic cardiomyopathy
In multivariate analysis, FM & ischemic CM found to be RFs for D2T PsA
☝️Consider other dx if D2T PsA
#ACR25 @RheumNow ABS0566 https://t.co/FOXv6LbysZ
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
ILD found in 30% of Sjögren’s pts w/ HRCT.
A new nomogram-based tool (AUC 0.8) predicts ILD risk using age, ESR, C3, hypergammaglobulinemia & anti-La/SSB.
Goal: guide HRCT referrals & catch ILD earlier.
@RheumNow #ACR25 Abstract #0510 https://t.co/FvAprq8eol
Jiha Lee JihaRheum ( View Tweet)
Statins and SLE: To add or not to add? 💊
Abstract #0599: In an emulated target trial of patients with SLE, statin users vs non-users had significantly⬇️ risk of all-cause death in both ITT & per-protocol analyses.
- No significant differences in MACE or ESKD.
@RheumNow #ACR25
Akhil Sood MD, MS AkhilSoodMD ( View Tweet)
This retrospective cohort analysis by Dr. Lihi Eder et al showed that among patients with PsA, those w/ high dse activity & high 3VAS scores were assoc w/⬆️ risk of atrial tachyarrythmias.
Main message: PsA conveys ⬆️CV risk; inflamm control is key!
#ACR25 @RheumNow Abs0522 https://t.co/7sRM7K4V1c
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
A new marker for stratification of ILD in dermatomyositis: Anti MDA5 antibodies!
Japanese study
MDA5 (201-300) positivity associated w/
Lower 6-month progression-free survival (43% vs. 74%)
Lower 5-year survival rates (34% vs. 66%)
Validation in other populations awaited https://t.co/IBiYyATer4
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
How does cMRI change over time in cardiac EGPA?
Cheng et al. retrospectively reviewed:
- 11 EGPA pt with LGE on initial cMRI
Despite treatment:
- 10/11 persistent LGE on 2nd cMRI
- 4/4 on 3rd
- 2/2 on 4th
Unclear use as a monitor of tx response
@RheumNow #ACR25
Brian Jaros, MD Dr_Brian_MD ( View Tweet)
SGLT-2 inhibitors and the prevention of autoimmune rheumatic disease
SGLT-2 inhibitors offer benefits beyond glycemic control, such as cardioprotective and nephroprotective effects, and modest weight loss. A recent study also suggests they may have immunomodulatory effects and https://t.co/O4Pi8GyT32
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Single center study ANCA-assoc. vasculitis. From 78 pts had poor outcomes (16 ESKD, 15 deaths). Elevated BUN was a risk factor (adj HR 1.07). Risk factors for ESKD were baseline BUN & WBC. Risks for death included CV Dz (HR 8.7), NLR (1.04) &anti-PLt Rx (HR 6.8) https://t.co/QQrDmja0zo
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
SAIL-RA: Finding ILD in Early RA
Cohort study of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients finds that interstitial lung disease (ILD) begins early in the course of RA, with certain factors enhancing this risk.
https://t.co/nI0YuYd3YS https://t.co/YR3Gg1kr59
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective study of 423 seropositiv RA pts (SPRA) finds 21% with baseline ILD; over 10 yrs 31% had ILD. High monocyte counts signif higher in RA-ILD; whereas RF, CCP did not predict. Age & ILD predicted mortality - not monocytes, RF or CCP https://t.co/8H4wqZI3WQ https://t.co/dK9iHwj3cz
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
