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Maui Potpourri (2.13.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the hot item takeaways from last week's RheumNow.Live 2026.
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Obesity, Surgery, and Optimizing Patient Care
Rheumatologic care involves multidisciplinary approaches and collaboration with specialties to treat complex, systemic diseases. While many Pods at RheumNow Live are disease specific, the Pod II focused on Advancing Practice on important and emerging areas affecting rheumatologic patients. This session focused on two major areas of need: obesity and peri-operative management.
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RT @richardPAconway
Who to screen for RA-ILD is a tricky one. It is not feasible to screen everyone. This is from ACR/Chest 2023 ILD guidelines and is based on identified risk factors. #RNL26 https://t.co/NtAWYCVclJ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @richardPAconway Disease activity is a strong risk factor for RA-ILD. Particularly for moderate/high disease activity but there appears to be a linear relationship (at least above a certain threshold) #RNL26 https://t.co/ot8ttdmu5G
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @richardPAconway
Lifetime risk of ILD by RA/sex/MUC5B status. We can see the synergistic effect. Also note RA>MUC5B in general. #RNL26 https://t.co/L5MOVVGIt3
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @richardPAconway
MUC5B is strong risk factor for RA-ILD. Specifically for UIP. Associated with both older-onset RA, and ILD earlier following RA presentation. #RNL26 https://t.co/qeLp1BqOEM
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @ericdeinmd
RA-ILD #RNL26
Jeff Sparks
MTX and ILD
- Rare MTX-induced pneumonitis. 7 cases in n=4786 (0.3% cases) vs <0.1 on PBO, rare diff from ILD
- No increase in incident ILD - meta-analysis of 7 studies show OR 0.49 https://t.co/k2XeAzBsYB
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @ericdeinmd
#RNL26 RA-ILD Jeff Sparks
ILD pooled prevalence 0.11
Sparks: "prevalence is high but not so high that we don't screen everyone," means lots of subclinical ILD
Subtypes:
UIP 50-60%, fibrotic
NSIP 30-40%, inflammatory
Less common: LIP, DIP, RB-ILD, DAD
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @Gibson_RheumPAC
Obesity doesn’t just increase risk of rheumatic diseases-it worsens outcomes.
Patients with obesity have higher disease activity, poorer biologic response, and 20–25% lower remission rates in inflammatory arthritis. #RNL26
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @richardPAconway
Dr Sparks shows risk factors for RA-ILD. Important for diagnosis (and screening?) Focus interventions on the modifiable ones! #RNL26 https://t.co/lE9Mkbq8oh
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @richardPAconway
UIP is predominant radiologic pattern in RA-ILD. Contrast with our other diseases. But by no means exclusive - up to 50% of RA-ILD have a more inflammatory pattern. Important treatment implications! #RNL26 https://t.co/HmW1mz429i
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @richardPAconway
Updated data on RA-ILD from Olmstead County. Cumulative incidence of 15.3% over 20 years! #RNL26 https://t.co/wVrTc3QM6Y
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @ericdeinmd
Mucosal Hypothesis RA #RNL26
Demoruelle
Mucosal origins of RA?
Key sites of immune-environment interaction initiate local inflamm, becomes systemic
Link of lung inflamm/immune dysregulation - ass w/ smoking, ILD
NETs in lung drive RA path?
Gut/oral microbes drive
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Advances in RA-ILD
Dr. Jeffrey Sparks gave a state of the art update on Advances in RA-ILD, many of which he and his group have played a big part in, on Saturday at RNL26.
https://t.co/xO7hBRKeqE https://t.co/rs1MS08Svl
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @ericdeinmd
Mucosal Hypothesis RA #RNL26
Demoruelle
ACPA can predate RA development
Nam et al: non-specific jt pain: 42% developed RA in 12 mos
Circiumaro et al: MSK complaints 38% devel RA in 36 mo
APIPPRA: 29% at 12 mo, 37% at 24 mo, StopRA 18% in 12 mo, 33% at 36 mo https://t.co/DxGhhFL1gO
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @richardPAconway
Dr Sparks. RA-ILD is common. Pooled prevalence of 11% from recent meta-analysis. Less common than SSc or IIM, but more frequent than we think! #RNL26 https://t.co/mJSmMakSBM
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @ericdeinMD
Mucosal Hypothesis RA #RNL26
Demoruelle
ACPA can predate RA development
Nam et al: non-specific jt pain: 42% developed RA in 12 mos
Circiumaro et al: MSK complaints 38% devel RA in 36 mo
APIPPRA: 29% at 12 mo, 37% at 24 mo, StopRA 18% in 12 mo, 33% at 36 mo https://t.co/JYiWmn0N0g
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @richardPAconway
Dr Sparks. RA-ILD is common. Pooled prevalence of 11% from recent meta-analysis. Less common than SSc or IIM, but more frequent than we think! #RNL26 https://t.co/TCsDfeQjZC
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @ericdeinmd
Mortality risk in RA #RNL26
Myasoedova
Most common mortality:
1.5-1.6x increase risk CVD
2-3x increase risk ILD
+ACPA increases risk in both https://t.co/Luwyy6UFg6
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RT @ericdeinmd
Mortality risk in RA #RNL26
Myasoedova
Premature deaths in up to 1/4 of pts
Decline in mortality in RA after year 2000
Full siblings of RA also high mortality (shared genetic or environ factors affect risk?)
Risks: Seropositivity, esp ACPA, CRP, extra-artic https://t.co/ytm6odmtgR
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
