Reefer Madness (12.12.2025) Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and regulatory reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.  B cell drugs in SLE and ITP, biomarkers in GCA & PSS and great videos by APPs.

1. Roche announced that the European Commission has approved obinutuzumab (Gazyvaro in EU/UK & Gazyva in US) in combination with mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of adult patients with active Class III or IV, with or without concomitant Class V, lupus nephritis. https://buff.ly/HnkZKLg
2. PSS & Biomarkers: Dutch international scleroderma trial of 21 pts showed that cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and collagen type IV alpha 1 (COL4A1) significantly correlated with modified Rodnan skin score; COMP were associated with mRSS change (r = 0.013) https://buff.ly/a3EHdz0
3. Taiwanese retrospective study (2001-2022) of 2,383 PsA pts Rx w/ 1+ DMARDs. Comparing 1,190 bDMARDs vs 1,193 cDMARD Rx pts, bDMARDs assoc. w/ signif lower risk of MACE (HR 0.65), all-cause mortality (0.44), CV mortality (0.54), but more infx related Hosp (1.45) https://buff.ly/qlivZBW
4. B Cell Targeting in Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura The New England Journal of Medicine has published a phase III clinical trial showing that a B cell targeting monoclonal antibody, ianalumab, was effective in more than half of the patients with primary immune https://t.co/VN0KjE478B
5. 2018 NHANES population survey of 28,040 individuals, 4168 (14.32%) identified with sleep disorders, and 1589 (4.28%) had #RA. Thus, sleep disorders were significantly associated with increased odds of RA (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.46–2.13, P < 0.001). https://t.co/9O2MsLvwVe
6. Cochrane review of nurse-led care (NLC) in RA, included 14 articles & 3369 RA pts. NLC proves highly effective in managing RA patients, surpassing usual care and equating to rheumatologist-led care in dz activity and some secondary (self efficacy, pain, QOL) outcomes https://t.co/gd9vbcOR8P
7. China cross-sectional cohort study of 10658 gout pts, showed betw 2003-22, gout onset age signif declined (42 to 38.9 yrs) w/ 6% incr in ≤19 and 9.6% ince in 20–29 yrs. Younger onset also assoc w/ gout severity(tophi, flares, Kstones) & more HTN, DM, less dyslipidemia https://t.co/XczvWr0xZl
8. Dr Tuhina Neogi writes its time for a new understanding of OA; its not just wear n tear. Based on preclinical and clinical evidence, OA is a systemic, whole-body disease and that this should change future research and treatment of #OA. https://t.co/HQWI14WSXg
9. Phase 1 trial of IL-6 targeting immunotherapy (PPV-06) in 24 pts w/ inflammatory knee osteoarthritis (KOA) demonstrates safety, Abs that neutralize IL-6, decreasing CRP values and improved clinical outcomes, determined by changes in KOOS scores https://t.co/urZupN62Kw https://t.co/sru1SnsOig
10. Simple, low-cost strategy to Dx/Prognose GCA using CBC components NLR & PLR. 119 GCA vs 131 non-GCA pts - All CBC biomarkers signif assoc w/ ESR & CRP, but ESR/CRP did not predict mortality over time; YET mortality signif predicted by PLR, NLR, MLR (P value <  0.044) https://t.co/96Q7jDAiWt
11. Medical Cannabis for Pain Management
12. I Can't Believe it's Not Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis?! – Daric Mueller PA-C
13. Metabolic Bone Pearls -    Elizabeth Kirchner, DNP
14. Cross-sectional study of 79 743 US primary care practices compared those with and without NPs. NP practices were more likely to be located in lower incomes and lower educational communities. NPs predominated in areas with highest need but lowest supply of PCPs. https://t.co/tSi1OnoSlA
15. The 1st Nurse Practitioner program was launched in 1965 (@ Univ Colorado), since then the profession has grown to >461,000 licensed NPs nationwide (up from 385,000 in 2023). ~1 billion patient visits are delivered by NP’s every single year https://buff.ly/aNntk8o
16. Cases & Guidelines: Tuesday Night Rheumatology Panelists discuss their approaches to a range of difficult cases in multiple areas, including RA, PsA and PMR. Panelists: Audrey Gibson, PA-C; Benjamin A. Smith, PA-C; Emma Bavage, ANP; Jack Cush, MD https://buff.ly/FShLVd5
17. RheumNow Live 2026 is coming February 7th and 8th to Dallas, Texas - and registration is now open! This year’s program covers vasculitis, autoimmune disease, PsA, RA outcomes, spondyloarthritis, and much more. Reserve your spot today at https://t.co/o78Pc8LPsQ