Novel Rx
For 2022, let's look our top 10 list of advances, game-changers, worries and those better medical practices that evolved during 2021.

Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 years 3 months ago
IL-18, Iike IL-1, is a produced by activation of the inflammasome. IL-18 is a potential bioimarker for #AOSD, closely linked to Dz activity & could be a Tx target, either as IL-18 binding protein (Tadekinig alfa) or mAb against IL-18 (phase 1b) https://t.co/ex231f27rg https://t.co/tjsra4blBi

Adult-onset Still's presents an interesting and diagnostic challenge when encountered. Here are 5 tips to improve your diagnostic acumen for this febrile disorder.
This year at EULAR 2022, there were important and interesting topics in Axial Spondyloarthritis (AxSpA). These are my picks of abstracts from the conference.

Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 years 3 months ago
Video: Cancer after Biologic Use in Patients with a History of Prior Malignancy
https://t.co/jr37Ti7c9J https://t.co/iYCXzhXD44

The GRAPPA (Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis) treatment recommendations have been updated and the 2021 evidence-based guidance is rich in treatment recommendations based on the key disease "domains" - peripheral arthritis, axial disease, enthesitis, dactylitis, skin and nail psoriasis; with new PsA related domains uveitis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 years 3 months ago
Treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum is clinically empiric. Full read ref w/ Graded Rx Recommendations:
- 1st line: Steriods or Cyclosporin
- Consider biologics: TNFi, IL-1, IL-12/23, IL-17, IL-23
- Others: MTX, MMF, AZA, Dap, colchic, thalidomide, IVIG https://t.co/uMJyfFzsRB https://t.co/vw4VqbjZWh


Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 years 3 months ago
Lower Fx risk in PsA Rx w/ biologics? Review of 100 RCTs, 51,413 Pso & PsA pts; pts on bDMARDs had signif lower risk of major OP Fx (OR 0.34), hip Fx (OR 0.22) & OP non-vertebral Fx (OR 0.26). Fx risk not changed in RA, axSpA, SLE, IBD pts on biologics https://t.co/Acv1q1K5A9 https://t.co/dAaq2EsTDK


Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 years 3 months ago
#EULAR2022 has concluded but you can find all our coverage here https://t.co/s62OVJPQ86 https://t.co/QAvPQYCABj

Dr. Jack Cush does a 2-week review of RheumNow Tweets on news and journal citations worth noting, along with some opinions on Telehealth, manpower, monkeypox and the price of drugs.
Although Rheumatology currently ranks 2nd or 3rd in specialty use of telemedicine - the vast majority of rheums have given up on telehealth (<15%) https://t.co/iDNesBkOnN
Clear differences were apparent among the three major types of targeted medications for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a large European registry study.

Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 years 3 months ago
Small study 34 biologic-naive RA pts starting abatacept. Remission achieved 47.1% of early and 23.5% established RA. Remission @ 6 mos predicted by Baseline LOWER IL-6 levels ≤ 8.4 pg/ml, (66.7%) and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ cells ≥ 6% (83.3%) https://t.co/N93E9M4M15
The American College of Rheumatology applauds the Federal Trade Commission’s decision to investigate the business practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which continue to increase PBM profit margins while placing the burden of skyrocketing drug costs on America’s most vulnerable patients, including those living with chronic and severe rheumatic diseases.