Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 2 months ago
Review of Emerging Treatments for Vitiligo an immune mediated dz that affects QOL & has psychosocial impact. JAKi only ruxolitinib is FDA-approved, but Tofa & Bari show promise. Emerging therapies include simvastatin, afamelanotide, and metformin https://t.co/Rp2yYx6SyZ https://t.co/pBo1IDe8pQ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 2 months ago
Save the date! RheumNow will be at EULAR '25 June 11-14. https://t.co/J0dq4PWf6q
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 2 months ago
CMAJ reminds us that w/ parvovirus B19 infection, Arthropathy seen in ~60% of adolescents & adults, but the classic “slapped cheek rash” is uncommon. Symmetric, polyarticular inflamm arthralgias/itis affects PIPs, MCPS mostly. Sxs resolve w/in 3 wks. ~20% can last mos-yrs https://t.co/2SuL5igcnz
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 2 months ago
Systematic review of JAK inhibitor use in systemic sclerosis - 18 articles/87 SSc pts (80%F; ages 13–78 yrs). JAKi (83% tofa) mostly used for ILD & Skin Dz (45%) or GI+Skin Dz (39%). 87.5% improved, w/ 6% relapsed. Adverse events in 50% (20% infx). We need RCTs! This could be a https://t.co/VXFuHGpDjB
Target emulation trial shows adding methotrexate (MTX) to adalimumab (ADA) does not augment the effectiveness and persistence of adalimumab alone in treating plaque psoriasis in adults.
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 2 months ago
Blau syndrome -a rare autoinflammatory Dz w/ triad of granulomatous dermatitis, arthritis, & uveitis (may cause blindness); from a NOD2 gain-of-function mutations. Onset age 2-4 yrs. Early biologics (esp TNFi) may prevent joint complications; but metanalysis shows no preferred https://t.co/IIJbJ7x2WB
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 2 months ago
IL-40 is elevated in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Study of serum (90 SSc vs controls/HCs), Skin Bx (5 SSc v 5 HCs). IL-40 signific. upregulated in the skin & correl. w/ ESSG (r = 0.37), GI dz; also w/ serum IL-8, TGF-β1. IL-40 functionally linked to activated B cells, PMNs, T https://t.co/2sIgMYK7xo
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 2 months ago
Environmental and Geographic Risks for SLE
Dr. Karen Costenbader, a rheumatologist at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, discusses environmental and geographic risks for systemic lupus.
https://t.co/UDMgB8f0WZ https://t.co/ec5S5wGr9C
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 2 months ago
Single-centre retrospec study of 39 Juvenile Dermatomyositis pts Rx w/ JAKi. Partial/complete Clin inactive Dz achieved in 32/39 w/in 6 months w/ steroid reduction and W/D of other DMARDs. Only TIF1γ) Ab (+) was assoc w/ nonresponse to JAKi (P < 0.001). 5 w/ H. Zoster
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 2 months ago
Psychological Bulletin has published that invalidating (gaslighting) pts Sxs can have harmful consequences. Includes pts dx w/ Ehlers-Danlos, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS, Gulf War, IBS, long Covid, multiple chemical sensitivity, SLE, and vulvodynia.
Lancet Rheumatology has published a UK study showing a significant increased in the number of expectant mothers beginning their pregnancies with autoimmune conditions.The MuM-PreDiCT project run by the University of Birmingham, analyzed the electronic healthcare records from CPRD (2000-2021). This included 185 208 pregnancies in 100 655 women diagnosed with autoimmune disease.
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 2 months ago
SLE Treatment Landscape: Abundance or Overload?
Imagine a world where the multiple drugs in Phase 2 and 3 trials actually get approved, and we get access to them? I know you may be thinking that I am overly optimistic, but there are so many drugs in development in lupus that we https://t.co/1SsSMqfZWz
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 2 months ago
Moneyball Rheumatology (5.30.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the book/movie, "Moneyball" and a suggests moneyball strategy is needed to find next level responses for our patients.
https://t.co/c79y9UNTcQ https://t.co/at7mDderOP
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 2 months ago
Sacroiliitis is a rare adverse reaction of isotretinoin. Review of 67 pts finds median age 21 yrs, onset median 2.5 mos (0-24) post isotretinoin. Sxs: LBP 70%) & hip pain 45%. Dx by MRI (73%) w BME. Full recovery 81% isoretinoin D/C & NSAIDs (< 10% biologics)
We'll be blunt: methotrexate flopped in a randomized placebo-controlled trial among patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.
Contrary to results from a previous trial in hand OA, the old-line disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) failed to bring any improvement relative to placebo in either pain or an objective measure of joint inflammation after a year of treatment, according to Changhai Ding, PhD, MD, of Southern Medical

