Rheumatology Supply and Demand (2009 - 2024)

Save

A retrospective review of US rheumatology manpower and training between 2009 and 2024 shows that US rheumatology training has become competitive with an increasing surplus of applicants compared to available training positions, which have also increased over time.

ACR Applauds Bipartisan Support for Prior Authorization Reform Bill

Save

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today commended the more than 295 bipartisan, bicameral cosponsors of The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, which, if enacted, would reform the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage plans.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels and Lupus Outcomes

Save

Lupus patients entering a prospective cohort study with low vitamin D levels faced doubled all-cause mortality risk and tripled risk for major cardiovascular events during follow-up averaging 6 years, researchers said.

Treating During Pregnancy (11.14.2025)

Save

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

Can EMR Treatment Suggestions Improve Decision Making?

Save

In a new study involving 402 U.S.-based primary care physicians, researchers from Northwestern University and the University of Sydney identified a “sweet spot” in clinical decision-making. By presenting just the right number of treatment alternatives in the electronic health record (EHR) system, physicians were more likely to choose a high-quality alternative rather than defaulting to the status quo.

Hospital Mortality in Dermatomyositis

Save

A cohort study shows that hospitalized patients with dermatomyositis have higher in-hospital mortality in the presence of active rash, interstitial lung disease, and elevated neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio at admission.

More on Methotrexate and ILD Risk

Save

IL-1 Inhibition in CPPD

Save

Controlled clinical trials in patients with calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease (CPPD) are scant. Now a metanalysis provides evidence that anakinra, an interleukin-1 inhibitor, is a promising alternative for patients with acute CPPD flares.

DAHLIAS study - Nipocalimab in Sjögren's Disease

Save

Nipocalimab, a neonatal Fc receptor blocker that reduces circulating IgG and autoantibodies, was shown to be effective in a phase 2 trial in patients with severe Sjögren's disease.

Genetic Risks and Severe Cutaneous Reactions to Allopurinol

Save

A matched cohort study shows that HLA-B*58:01 and HLA-A*34:02 are strongly associated with allopurinol-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), these alleles were absent in more than one-third of those affected, suggesting these are strong but incomplete indicators of SCAR risk. 

New ACR 2025 Guidelines for Non-Renal Lupus

Save

Written by Lisa Sammaritano, MD, of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, and a committee of nearly 50 other experts, the new guideline also stipulates that corticosteroids are OK for gaining symptom control in newly diagnosed patients and when flares erupt, but the duration should be kept as short as possible.

The Interview (11.7.2025)

Save

I've done thousands of interviews; mostly for medical school admissions or medical and research employment.  They’re all the same. I'm looking for the “right one” and the interviewee is somewhere between apprehension, uncertainty and hope.  From all this experience I’ve developed my own perspective on interviews and interviewing that has been amended in the digital/virtual era.