Antibiotics are not linked to Autoimmune disease in kids
EurekAlert!
The global incidence of autoimmune diseases among children has increased over the past few decades.
Teaching You How to Think… (8.15.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and press clippings from the past week on RheumNow. Positive results in a Sjogren's trial, to PT or not to PT, and aphorisms to live by.
The Patient Journey with Rheumatic Disease
Oton and colleagues have reviewed the "patient journey" - from symptoms to specialty referral in those diagnosed with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).
A New RA Approval (8.1.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and a new treatment for RA from the FDA.
Practical management of rheumatic immune-related adverse events with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Joint Bone Spine has published a full read review of the management of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in patients receiving Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for cancer.
NHANES, Numbers, & Risk (7.18.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com along with interesting case questions from "Ask Cush Anything".
1 in 5 Patients are Unaware of their Arthritis Diagnosis
Current CDC numbers suggest that arthritis (any type) affects an estimated 67.1 million (27.9% ) adults in the USA. Interestingly, 1 in 5 do not know their arthritis subtype (21.6%, 14.4 million).
ICYMI: Clinical and Therapeutic Challenges in Connective Tissue Disease and ILD
This article was originally published June 12, 2025, and is being shared again this week as part of our In Case You Missed It series. Enjoy!
Clinical and Therapeutic Challenges in Connective Tissue Disease and ILD
Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) represent a challenging intersection of systemic autoimmunity and progressive respiratory impairment.
MTX Fails Knee OA (6.6.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com
Diagnosing Neuropsychiatric SLE (5.23.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com - including views on the vagus nerve, NPSLE and CAR-T mania.
Hydroxychloroquine for Everyone
Nearly 25 years ago, while lecturing on best therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I loudly stated that hydroxychloroquine was “useless” and, deservedly, I was “boo-ed” off stage.
Social
#ACR25 Abstr#641 Phase 1/2 CASTLE Basket Trial fully recruited N=24 (10 SLE, 9 SSc, 5 IIM). Short-term data of autologous CD19-CAR T
Zorpocabtagene-autoleucel/MB19.1:
- 22/24 high degree efficacy
- no relapse
- no high grade CRS/ICANS
*Need larger Phase prior approval @RheumNow https://t.co/sp1nieeCvl
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet )
1 month 2 weeks ago
Abstract 0806
Compared to belimumab, Anifrolumab associated with:
↑ infection risk b (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.05–1.88)
↑ herpes zoster (HR 3.94) & COVID-19 (HR 1.66)
No diff in mortality or hospital use
📈 3-yr infection: 38.3% vs 21.3%
@RheumNow #ACR25
Akhil Sood MD, MS @AkhilSoodMD ( View Tweet )
1 month 2 weeks ago
Abstract 0196: Too many referrals, too few slots? A hybrid RN + MD referral cut wait times for patients with SLE by 26%
Median time to appointment 69 days --> 51 days
Next steps: streamline high-risk triage, reduce manual chart review
@RheumNow #ACR25
Akhil Sood MD, MS @AkhilSoodMD ( View Tweet )
1 month 2 weeks ago
Organ Specific Recommendations-ACR guidelines for Management of SLE by Dr Lisa Sammaritano. @RheumNow #ACR2025 https://t.co/ilKWG8CQbe
Dr M Nazibur Rahman, MD (Rheumatology) @NaziburM ( View Tweet )
1 month 2 weeks ago
Plenary session at #ACR25!
#0772 When should we biopsy in SLE?
In pts with uPCR 0.25-0.49 g/g + LN predictors, 69% already had LN (many Class III/V). Low C3/C4 were most important factors.
0.5 g/g cutoff may delay diagnosis and treatment. Time to rethink thresholds? @RheumNow
Mrinalini Dey @DrMiniDey ( View Tweet )
1 month 2 weeks ago
Osteonecrosis: suspect with trauma, high-dose steroids, alcoholism, renal failure, transplantation, SLE, thrombotic states (e.g., sickle cell anemia, hemoglobinopathies), radiation injury, pancreatitis, gout, pregnancy, hyperlipidemia, & caisson disease (decompression sickness) https://t.co/y6iYd5fWZ2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 month 3 weeks ago
TREG EULAR 2025 - Review of SLE & Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (AIRD) https://t.co/8Em6Dp0oL5 via @YouTube
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 months 1 week ago
Report of 54 Sjögren dz pts w/ cutaneous vasculitis (CV); most had cryoglobulinemic vasculitis & hypergammaglob.vasculitis. Sjogrens w/ CV had higher risk of lymphoma. Type II cryoglob. vasculitis incr risk of mortality/lymphoma, renal dz, peripheral nerve involvement https://t.co/Yd1iu9ZJX0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 months 1 week ago
QD Clinic: ILD with Positive SSA and Rash
Dr. Elena Joerns, Rochester, Minnesota discusses a case of ILD with positive SSA and rash, as part of RheumNow's Rheum to Breathe: ILD campaign, presented throughout the month of September 2025.
https://t.co/Yuz8CuIN5H https://t.co/3M9emsIXVf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 months 2 weeks ago
Should we be "scoring" comorbidity to predict outcomes? SLE metanalysis looked at Charlson Comorbidity index (CCI). 3 RCTs, 1175 SLE pts show higher CCI scores predicts increased all-cause mortality (OR 3.92(95% CI: 2.74–5.60) https://t.co/LXfsGo9iJq https://t.co/eK31lnFrJk
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 months 2 weeks ago
