Big Fat FDA Pink Slip (9.19.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this week on RheumNow.com. Today we cover GLP-1 agonists, acupuncture, what JAKs won’t do & an FDA Pink Slip.
News
Did Hydroxychloroquine Reduce COVID-19 Mortality?
A multicenter study investigated the association between hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) dosage and COVID-19 mortality among hospitalized patients from multiple medical centers in China. The analysis focused on dose effects of HCQ on mortality.
GLP-1 Drugs Reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
MedPage Today
What you need to know about scleroderma-related lung fibrosis
What do you need to know about scleroderma-related lung fibrosis as a practicing rheumatologist? Here are takeaways from these guidelines and my practice.
GLP-1 drugs cost-effective for knee osteoarthritis and obesity
EurekAlert!
SARD-ILD: Significant diagnostic and treatment delays
Should we be screening all our patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD) for interstitial lung disease? I have been asking myself that question after the recent publication of American Thoracic Society Interstitial Lung Disease screening guidelines. The ATS guidelines, which were published in May, recommend universal CT chest screening for all asymptomatic patients with RA, systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, mixed connective tissue disease, and Sjögren’s disease.
SARD-ILD and serious infection risk: The elephant in the room
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) remains one of the largest unmet clinical needs across many systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). Clinicians are already keenly aware of the complexity of patients with SARD-ILD. The “elephant in the room” for all these issues: serious infection.
Equal Safety of JAK Inhibitors and TNF Inhibitors
JAMA has published a systematic review and meta-analysis of head-to-head studies showing there was no meaningful difference in safety events observed when taking either JAK inhibitor (JAKi) vs TNF antagonist (TNFi) therapies for the treatment of immune-mediated
When Myositis Hits the Lungs: What Every Rheumatologist Should Know About ILD
When idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) affect the lungs, the consequences can be serious. ILD is not only common in IIM, but also one of the leading causes of death, contributing to up to 80% of mortality in this patient group. For rheumatologists, two subsets stand out: anti-synthetase syndrome (ASyS) and anti-MDA-5 positive dermatomyositis (MDA5-DM). These patients present with distinct clinical clues, very different disease trajectories, and unique treatment challenges. Recognizing ILD early and acting decisively can make the difference between stabilizing a chronic course and facing a rapidly progressive, often fatal decline.
STOP-RA: Hydroxychloroquine Fails in ACPA+ Arthralgia
Deane et al has published the results of the STOP-RA trial, demonstrating that 12 months of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) did not prevent the development of clinical RA at 36 months.
Hitting the Target: T2T Therapy in SLE
Treat-to-target strategies are not a new concept in rheumatology. It has shown to improve patient outcomes and quality of life in RA and PsA, and is now being increasingly adopted not only in SLE research but also in clinical practice. This article reviews key highlights from Dr. Eric Morand’s plenary session lecture on Treat to Target in SLE: Current Evidence and Future Directions, presented during the recent APLAR 2025 Congress.
RheumNow Podcast – Ro, Ro, Ro52 (9.12.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Are there benefits to diet or vegan diets? What's the effect of menopause on CTD? Ro52 makes a big entrance with all our ILD coverage this month.
SMART study - Single vs. Split Dose Methotrexate in RA
Split dose weekly, oral methotrexate (MTX) was shown to be superior to single dose MTX in treating active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
How to assess ILD in your patients?
Have a high index of suspicion in your patients with connective tissue disease (especially systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myositis), and rheumatoid arthritis.