Influential Rheumatoid Factors (5.8.2026) Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com

1. Supposedly there's a shortage of Infectious Dz specialists & Fellowship applic are down. Survey of 380 Int. Med residents (41 prgs) shows ID interest signif assoc w/ exposure to ID in Yr 1 & 2, outpt clinics, ID- research. https://buff.ly/r37Vs7m
2. More Comorbidity in Difficult-to-Treat RA A systematic review demonstrated that smoking, obesity, fibromyalgia, and depression are significantly associated with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T-RA). https://t.co/guMm6mqJGr
3. HLA-B27 in PsA: assoc w/ earlier onset, axial Dz, enthesitis, systemic inflammation. Study of 333 CASPAR PsA pts - 12% HLA-B27 positive--earlier onset (43 v 49), axial (46 v 24%), enthesitis (33 v 18%). FIB-4 scores (p = 0.034), a marker of hepatic fibrosis. No signif differences in sex, dactylitis, uveitis, Rx responses, omorbidities, D2T-PsA https://t.co/ALP6AnygSf
4. Among 1074 #PsA tested annually, RF positivity was found in 16.1% overall (5.1% RF+ at baseline). RF+ reduced odds of MDA (OR 0.53) w/ incr risk of bDMARD discontinuation (OR 2.65) https://t.co/AmG6hkWABW https://t.co/MYhkfxAh0r
5. Rheumatoid Factor as a Potential Marker of Cardiometabolic and Hepatic Risk. RF has been assoc w/ ASHD, MI, CAD, ischemic stroke, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome -- all mediated via downstream inflammation. https://t.co/gQvqMJmyPw https://t.co/TmoodnuJTe
6. Taiwan, real-world study 267 RA new DMARD starts w/ tofacitinib (145) or TNFi (122). Post adjustments; no significant difference in Efficacy, AEs, Serious AE (20 v 21%), MACE (0 v 0.8%), CA (2% vs 0.8%), deaths (1.4% vs 3.3), SIE (13% vs 8.2%) or H zoster (12% v 3%) https://t.co/XLsdfKyeGx
7. Switch or Cycle - Upadacitinib vs Adalimumab in Refractory RA After the first tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) failure, patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) responded by switching to upadacitinib, compared to cycling to a second TNFi, adalimumab. https://t.co/Cml3Z7ZyQP
8. RCT 120 mod-severe hip OA (KL 2-4) pts Rx w/ THA +rehab or exercise. @12 mos. THA had signif. better pain, function & HRQoL vs exercise program alone (WOMAC total -30.9 vs -3.7). (38% of exercise/conservative grp needed THA) https://t.co/6vvRAr6isf
9. Knee pain: JAMA review - 5% PCP visits knee pain - Knee OA ~654 million worldwide - Patellofemoral pain (25%): <40 yrs & physically active; ant pain on squat (91% sensitive and 50% specific) - Meniscal tears in 12% adults (McMurray 61% sensitive; 84% specific; Joint line tender 83% sensitive; 83% specific) https://t.co/2fdpl464mb
10. Presented at AACE Annual Meeting, FREEDOM Real-World Study looked atypical femoral Fxs & found a low AFF risk - 24 AFFs w/ denosumab (0.89/1KPY) vs 397 AFFs w/ bisphosphonates (0.82/1KPY) but no active comparators & excluded pts w/ comorbidities. https://t.co/vRwkfHSXxh
11. EULAR Recommendations for Physical Activity in Arthritis
12. DERM on RheumNow PODCAST (April 2026) The Derm on RheumNow podcast is a collection of Citations and Content curated for dermatologists – addressing Psoriasis, PsA, CLE, vasculitis, HS, other CTD skin disorders. dermatology drugs, biologics, JAKs - their use, efficacy and side https://t.co/SlCGA364gj
13. 4/30/26 US Dept of Education finalized is rule on Grad loans "Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE)" that will markedly cut Federal Grad loans for nurses, nurse practitioner (NP) and physician associate (PA) training. https://t.co/kdm0ZLZfnL
14. American Nurses Assoc. response to Dept of Education’s Final Rule on Graduate Loans for nurses: "..profoundly dismayed by DoE exclusion of nursing from....“professional degree” programs... this ignores the voices of over 245,000 nurses and nurse advocates https://t.co/WEYdiO9x4n
15. Nurses - the calm through chaos   Its Nurses Week