Early RA Referral Clinics Work!
An outcomes study from the Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic (EAC) has shown substantially less diagnostic delay and better long-term outcomes when patients are referred to EAC compared to usual referrals.
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JAMA: Review of Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis
This JAMA narrative review is a follow-up to their 2018 publication, informed by 123 articles (46 RCTs, 28 cohort studies, 11 systematic reviews/meta-analyses, 15 guidelines) covering epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and https://t.co/6Fiu9iLF5I
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
TriNetX retrospective EHR study showed VTE in #RA not incr by taking JAKi. Pts undergoing THA/TKA Rx w/ JAKi (n 284) vs TNFi (n 288). VTE- 17 JAKi (6%) vs 11 TNFi (3.8%)- nonsignif incr (RR 1.57) https://t.co/OM5ipieQtr https://t.co/ng8b9EkWmT
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Obesity isn’t just a comorbidity—it can influence inflammation, disease activity, and treatment response.
Join our second Tuesday Night Rheumatology webinar this month as leading experts explore the biology of fat and its impact on rheumatic disease.
Register: https://t.co/OIQUZqANEP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
QD Clinic: Weight Loss Changed the Course of RA
Dr. Bella Mehta, New York, presents this case which highlights that obesity may be a target for disease modification in rheumatoid arthritis, as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign, presented in September 2026. https://t.co/KNNS0cHmA4
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The 1980s quietly rewired rheumatology.
Methotrexate became the anchor DMARD.
APS emerged as a distinct clinical syndrome.
SLE classification was standardized.
Cytokine biology began pointing toward the biologic era.
A decade that moved rheumatology from symptom control toward https://t.co/9NUXorQDTG
Aravind Palraj @Rheumat_Aravind( View Tweet )
A Day of Infamy (9.11.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on Rheumnow.com - including obesity, disappointing durability with GLP-1 drugs, AI diagnoses and worries about CV risk in ANCA-associated vasculitis. And take this week's RheumIQ quiz
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JAMA: Review of Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis
Smolen, Kerschbaumer, Aletaha, and Robinson have published a comprehensive review article of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in JAMA, noting significant changes to our understanding and treatment guidelines.
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High BMI decreases the odds for MDA in PsA, esp w/ TNFi Rx (but not Inflx, IL-17i, IL-12/23i, IL-23i, JAKi). Longitudinal PsA cohort 1291 pts (mean BMI 29); Higher BMI independently assoc w/ signif. lower odds for MDA (OR 0.97), also female, age, smoking, FM & Xray damage. https://t.co/zAJ8Pmk1HY
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Cohort analysis shows autoimmune rheum Dz (AIRD) pts who recv COVID vax w/ boosters & updates were 41%, 71%, and 69% less likely to have COVID-related hospitalization (vs no Vax). If only initial vaccine series (without booster/updated vaccine), risk reduction was 5.6%. (n= https://t.co/NdEKKWdOAy
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Swedish study of 1097 #RA pts looked at modifiable healthy lifestyle habits (HLHs: EtOH use, smoking, physical activity). At Baseline, 56% had three HLHs , unchanged (58%) at Yr 3. Nonsmoking incr 77-83%, healthy alcohol from 85%-97%. but healthy PA decr 84-71%. Lifestyle modif. https://t.co/cDyQwiN6Ae
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
NEJM images: Jaccoud’s arthropathy is a chronic, deforming;from laxity of the ligaments & tendons (not damage to bone & cartilage). Deformities are reducible & no erosions on Xray. Jaccoud’s mimics RA, but most seen w/ SLE. https://t.co/99WDNcpT5c https://t.co/EdiGW1dDWY
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
QD Clinic: RA, IBD and Frank's sign
Daric Mueller, PA-C, St. Clair Shores, MI, presents a case called, "Rheumatoid Arthritis, IBD and Frank's Sign", as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign presented in September 2026.
https://t.co/XMD0b35fiu https://t.co/9WUdZKAR0w
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
“ABCDE” Approach to Difficult-to-Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
The proposed approach to D2T-RA is based on the EULAR definition (having failed 2 or more b/tsDMARDs). It is estimated that up to 20% of RA patients meet this D2T-RA definition and can be plagued by active or https://t.co/o39IREvjI4
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Treating Obesity is Disease-Modifying (9.4.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com. New drugs approved, new drugs halted and some drugs out of control. Ready to test your knowlege? Take this week's quiz!
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NEJM images: Jaccoud’s arthropathy is a chronic, deforming;from laxity of the ligaments & tendons (not damage to bone & cartilage). Deformities are reducible & no erosions on Xray. Jaccoud’s mimics RA, but most seen w/ SLE. https://t.co/99WDNcpT5c https://t.co/77zAjpQh9A
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
BMI Affects JAK Inhibitor Responses in Rheumatoid Arthritis
A meta-analysis of Janus kinase (JAKi) inhibitors clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has shown higher BMI was associated with poorer responses and a reduced treatment benefit with JAK inhibitors in RA patients.
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VA (VARA) registry study of 2723 RA pts showed frailty was independently associated with increased cancer incidence. Age-adjusted CA incidence rates (per 1,000PYs) were 12.3 (robust), 15.5 (pre-frail), and 19.9 (frail). CA mortality rates were 7.8, 10.6, & 9.8/1,000PYs https://t.co/Ex52R56oT1
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
“ABCDE” Approach to Difficult-to-Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
The proposed approach to difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis is based on the EULAR definition (having failed 2 or more b/tsDMARDs). The authors provide guidance in the form of an easy acronym, A B C D E, which covers both diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.
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Sleep and Obesity: A Bidirectional Relationship
In July 2026, JAMA concisely reviewed the bidirectional relationship between sleep health and obesity. Obesity affects roughly 40% of US adults and sleep problems affect nearly one-third. This review outlines the biological mechanisms and clinical interventions relevant to weight management.
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Rheums! Do you have a Rheumatology question or case for Dr. Cush? Record it here, and we may feature it on an upcoming podcast. Tell us your name and where you practice rheumatology.
https://t.co/LZ59KW8HdA https://t.co/DwHdvpTYax
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Resolved HBV infx (HBsAg-neg/anti-HBc+) retrospective study of HBc seroclearance in 230 pts Rx w/ anti-CD20 mAb. anti-HBc seroclearance seen in 16.5% (assoc w/ Younger age, less CD20 Rx, MMF Rx). HBV reactivation seen 5/230 (2.2%), including two w/ HBc seroclearance. HBc https://t.co/T0gfxftOgu
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Phase 1/2 COMPARE trial of CD19 CAR-T Rx in 6 ACPA+ RA pts w/ severe refractory Dz; after lymphodepletion, given mivocabtagene autoleucel (miv-cel), followed < 52wks. All had CRS, No ICANSs or serious AEs. All had CD19 cell depletion & Decr in AutoAbs. Efficacy: 3/6 had ACR70 & https://t.co/28dWMGWbKB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Aortic inflammation (Aortopathies) occurs in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) including Takayasus, #GCA, SLE, RA, AS, SSc, relapsing polychondritis, Cogan’s syndr, Behçet’s, & IgG4-related disease). Dx imaging options: CTA, MRI, & PET/CT. Underlying path may be granulomatous, https://t.co/paUlV4kdwJ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
NME: New Molecular Entities (8.28.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com. Take this week's RheumIQ and test your knowledge!
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Make Rheum for Rads: Autoimmune ILD Diagnosis, Monitoring, and the Patient Experience
Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Drs. Elizabeth Volkmann and Robert Suh explore the roles rheumatologists and radiologists play in diagnosing and monitoring autoimmune ILD and hear from a patient about her experience.
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A JAKi After TNFi Failure in RA: SELECT-SWITCH at Week 12
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Dr. Christina Charles-Schoeman and Dr. Manish Jain are back to discuss treatment considerations after TNFi failure in RA. Join them as they review the latest data from SELECT-SWITCH, including post hoc results in primary and secondary nonresponders presented at EULAR 2026.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Real-World Predictors and Early Indicators for IBD in Patients With PsA
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EULAR 2026 RA Topic Panel
RA Topic Podcast compilation
EULAR 2026 Daily Podcast Day 4c
