ILD Begins (8.29.2025) Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com. This week news on vaccines, safety of acetaminophen and more.

1. RA has lower risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Korean claims compared 41K RA pts 1:5 vs 204K non-RA. RA had signif. decreased risk for CRC (HR 0.89), main in seroneg RA (HR 0.79) but not seropos RA (HR 0.93). Inverse assoc mainly w/ rectal CA (HR 0.63) & women (HR 0.80). https://buff.ly/sJME6LC
2. Physical Therapy Underprescribed Just one patient in six was referred for physical therapy (PT) within 15 days of being treated for knee pain at one major U.S. health system, researchers found, despite nearly universal consensus that PT should be recommended in most https://t.co/WM4NA6p2Pg
3. MUC5 mutations not in SSc-ILD. Study of 2363 SSc-ILD, 3526 SSc w/o ILD & 15076 controls. They found no assoc w/ MUC5B promoter variant & SSc-ILD. (Suggesting ILD pathogenic mechanisms differ between RA and SSc) https://t.co/bBq52X0Mwq
4. Wait! FDA approved the Chikungunya Virus Vaccine 2 yrs ago, but just pulled the vaccine, Ixchiq, citing serious safety concerns (specifically CBER reports of >20 serious adverse events, including 21 hospitalizations, 3 deaths, w/ 1 fatality directly linked to vaccine-derived https://t.co/k5wBtsGVIs   While the live-attenuated vaccine, Ixchiq, was pulled for safety concerns, there is another chikungunya vax still on the marked - a virus-like particle vaccine, Vimkunya. Travelers or the elderly at higher risk of chikungunya exposure should consider getting vaccinated
5. Celltrions tocilizumab biosimilar, tocilizumab-anoh (Avtozma, CT-P47), had similar efficacy when switching from reference tocilizumab (Actemra; Genentech) in a study of 444 RA patients x 52 wks. Available as SC or IV drug. https://t.co/7aAyuUkZJ9
6. Recombinant zoster vaccine effective in #SLE without flare. Retrospective Medicare & commercial claims data on pts given 2 RZV doses, matched 1:4 to unVAX. 3592 pts F/u ~1.5 yrs. Vax effectiveness 70% in Medicare; 54% commercial. SLE flare rates HR 0.91& 0.94. https://t.co/bcEwtzFDvy
7. Metanalysis shows patients w/ psoriasis have signif. higher risk (2-2.5 fold) of metabolic syndrome compared to the general population, RA or spondylitis patients. Comparing PsO to PsA there is no difference (PsA also has a high riskof MetS). https://t.co/gO3IomfP53
8. Primary CNS angiitis - an uncommon vasculitis affecting brain, spinal cord, or leptomeninges, typically B/L, but here are 48 pts w/ unilateral PACNS. Dx is made by imaging, wall imaging (VWI), perfusion, spectroscopy. Histology shows small-to med vessel lymphocytic vasculitis https://t.co/ji0oaGfdJf
9. Study of 90 Still's Dz pts w/ lung disease from AIDA network - mean age 36 yr; 36% male (13% from pediatrics). Lung findings: pleuritis 72%, parenchymal 34%, ARDS 9.5% & pulm HTN 2.3%. Parenchymal involvement assoc w/ sore throat, pericarditis, higher systemic score, but not IL-1/6 inhib use  https://t.co/4YIx2BwADe
10. Long-term Lab Monitoring in RA is Inefficient  
11. Antibiotics are not linked to Autoimmune disease in kids 
12. Prenatal acetaminophen linked to increased autism and ADHD 
13. Methotrexate intolerance in rheumatoid arthritis