Dr. Jack Cush reviews the FDA approvals and news reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. This week we discuss playing the numbers in rheumatology, playing the long game with stem cell transplants, and a=the Positive spin on seronegative RA.
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Lancet Rheumatology has published a large cohort analysis with a genome-first approach using whole exome sequencing to find 1 in 4026 prevalence (159/640092) of monogenic disorders, half with inflammatory features.
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On this week's podcast, Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news: Steroids are easy to start and hard to stop; hold the MTX but not the biologic or JAK, weighing in on avacopan, and age-old messages for old-age patients.
Tocilizumab is effective in glucocorticoid-resistant adult-onset Still’s dz. 40 AOSD pts rx w/ TCZ (4-8 mg/kg q4wks). @12 mos clin remission 55%, 6 mos CID 62%, signif drops in CRP, ESR, ferritin & daily pred decr 91% (50 to 4.4 mg; p<0.001). TCZ retention 65%; MAS 7.5% & https://t.co/jtAxrz6ETd
Menopause Hormone Therapy Tied to Small Autoimmune Disease Risk
Estrogen-only menopausal hormone therapy was associated with a slightly higher incidence of autoimmune disease compared with estrogen-progestogen therapy, a retrospective cohort study suggested. https://t.co/kV4Y7tvpC8
Menopause Hormone Therapy Tied to Small Autoimmune Disease Risk
Estrogen-only menopausal hormone therapy was associated with a slightly higher incidence of autoimmune disease compared with estrogen-progestogen therapy, a retrospective cohort study suggested. https://t.co/g6BvYuBzVj
Monogenic Inflammatory Disorders Go Unrecognized
Lancet Rheumatology published a large cohort analysis using a genome-first approach with whole-exome sequencing, finding a prevalence of 1 in 4026 (159/640092) for monogenic disorders, half with inflammatory features. Only one https://t.co/bItqMXIoUH
Should You Use Low Dose Naltrexone?
A recent review of 105 studies and 15 randomized controlled trials of LDN found that, across a range of disorders (chronic pain, autoimmune and neuroimmune disorders, gastrointestinal disease, dermatological conditions, post-infectious https://t.co/sC7kteQVMZ
Should You Use Low Dose Naltrexone?
A recent review of 105 studies and 15 randomized controlled trials of LDN found that, across a range of disorders (chronic pain, autoimmune and neuroimmune disorders, gastrointestinal disease, dermatological conditions, post-infectious https://t.co/lmjJoGlFAZ
Study of 64 Stills related #MAS pts (55 sJIA; 9 AOSD). All Rx GCs; 75% anakinra, 52% ciclosporin. Complete remission in 7, partial Rem in 64%; GCs tapered in 78% in median 40d. MAS recurred in 31%; 11% died; 1-year survival probability 93.75% https://t.co/HxhhpRsSMO https://t.co/WtJeFx0SGR
Study of 64 Stills related #MAS pts (55 sJIA; 9 AOSD). All Rx GCs; 75% anakinra, 52% ciclosporin. Complete remission in 7, partial Rem in 64%; GCs tapered in 78% in median 40d. MAS recurred in 31%; 11% died; 1-year survival probability 93.75% https://t.co/HxhhpRsSMO https://t.co/IQHLRlULcP
Serum Abs against IL-1 recept antagonist (aIL-1Ra) were studied in 46 adult-onset Still’s Dz (AOSD not on anakinra) pts & found signif. higher in AOSD vs controls (p=0.003); but levels did not differ between active vs inactive AOSD https://t.co/w6KvLyv1j8 https://t.co/IuQ1SHLDF8
52 VEXAS pts Rx w/ IL‐1i, IL‐6i, or JAKi therapy judged as compl Resp (CR), partial (PR), Failure (TF). @ 6mos: 3/19 IL‐6i had CR, 4/19 PR, 7/19 TF. JAKi had 2/17 CR, 3/17 PR, 6/17 TF. No CR w/ IL‐1i or TNFαi, only 1/5 IL‐1i patients experienced PR. Only IL‐6i & JAKi had https://t.co/wqogmfeAru
Retrospective review of 33 referred pts w/ Recurrent fever w/ MSK & skin Sxs, assessed by NGS. NLRP1 had FMF-like Dz; NLRP recurrent fevers w/ mucocutaneous; NLRP12 periodic fevers w/ MP/EN rash; NLRC4 episodic systemic inflammation GI Sxs & atypical skin rash https://t.co/Ll2V0Uzfio
Retrospective review of 33 referred pts w/ Recurrent fever w/ MSK & skin Sxs, assessed by NGS. NLRP1 had FMF-like Dz; NLRP recurrent fevers w/ mucocutaneous; NLRP12 periodic fevers w/ MP/EN rash; NLRC4 episodic systemic inflammation GI Sxs & atypical skin rash https://t.co/IWafJVFoaJ
Congratulations to Professor Christopher Goodnow, BVSc, MBBS, PhD (from UNSW Sydney) as he is the recipient of the German Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize for 2027 base on his work in autoimmunity! https://t.co/uvfYfXTrh3 https://t.co/FgyOzTI8lb
Sobi Receives US FDA Fast Track Designation for pacritinib in VEXAS Syndrome. Pacritinib (Vonjo) is a kinase inhibitor (JAK2, FLT3) that is approved to treat adults with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis https://t.co/V7duJPyJpG https://t.co/Dn5DgeaX7N
Sobi Receives US FDA Fast Track Designation for pacritinib in VEXAS Syndrome. Pacritinib (Vonjo) is a kinase inhibitor (JAK2, FLT3) that is approved to treat adults with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis https://t.co/V7duJPyJpG https://t.co/N9rg30EA4W
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🔥 Still’s Disease Awareness Day 2026
🐉 I Won’t Be Still: Making Still’s Disease Visible
Show us a moment from your life with Still’s Disease. 📸 Share a photo/video + what “I Won’t Be Still” means to you.
For 47 hours, let’s make Still’s visible.
#MyStills #StillsDay https://t.co/B7VNmlIOQj
Mithu Maheswaranathan, MD
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🆕 #AutoInflammatory / Periodic Fever Syndromes
In Memory of Dr. Dan Kastner🕊️
So grateful Dr. Kastner agreed to review this graphic >1 year ago, providing thoughtful input and suggestions to improve the final version 🙏
New Board Review Series for Rheum OnePagers 📟
#RheumX https://t.co/zx8dX2yHkA


