Follow the Money (4.23.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush follows the money and all the news that fits the Rheumatology Gab for this past week.
Read Article
Does monotherapy work? network meta-analysis of 31 RCTs, 13 csDMARDs, Leflunomide, SSZ & gold were better than placebo & equal to MTX regarding annual xray progression scores. Evidence in favor BUT failed to study monoRx vs Combo Rx https://t.co/cMSZ4QHi5G https://t.co/o9ikhJu3UM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Mortality in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Story of Decline, Delay, or Plateau? Dr. Elena Myasoedova
In this https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2026 podcast, Dr. Elena Myasoedova examines mortality trends in RA, exploring whether we are seeing continued decline, delayed impact, or a concerning https://t.co/yUob3Tv0tR
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Chinese target emulation trial of MDA-5+, dermatomyositis w/ ILD. 106 Rx w/ UPA & 328 w/ TOFA. 6-month lung transplantation-free survival 72% vs 67% (UPA v TOFA). UPA non-inferior to TOFA in MDA5+DM-ILD https://t.co/BBAfbM06AM https://t.co/QP8YdX7CcH
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Does monotherapy work? network meta-analysis of 31 RCTs, 13 csDMARDs, Leflunomide, SSZ & gold were better than placebo & equal to MTX regarding annual xray progression scores. Evidence in favor BUT failed to study monoRx vs Combo Rx https://t.co/eHdRPAcnkd https://t.co/1odwJjyL6A
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
In this https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2026 podcast, Dr. Kristin Demoruelle explores the mucosal origins of RA and implications.
🎧 Listen here: https://t.co/ehPLdB4byb
#Rheumatology #Autoimmunity #RNL2026 https://t.co/nLEPM3REi4
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Leeds study of 63 pts w/ palindromic rheumatism (PR) progressed to Persistent IA (PIA) @ median 13.4 mos, hands predominating across flares. PIA developed in joints involved in PR flares in 71% of pts. @RA Dx, PR onset pts had signif higher swollen joints(4.1 vs 3.2) https://t.co/g2vjfVjDlK
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Retrospective observational study of IPAF (ILD w/ autoimmune) pts - from Mt Sinai ILD registry 791 - 14 Rx w/ rituximab vs 19 not. Betw group outcomes same: PFTs, O2 use, Infx, Resp admissions, mortality. RTX group recv more immunosuppressives. https://t.co/sle4a0JOFL https://t.co/rS69epQiif
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Potential new mechanism of MTX Effx - MTX polyglutamates accumulates in monocytes by D5, modulates transcriptional signature “non-classical monocyte”-assoc genes by Wk4, & predicts MTX responses https://t.co/0HtvWOczba https://t.co/oIs4V34hw3
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Malignancies Not Increased with Biologic Therapies
The risk of malignancy in RA patients receiving biologic agents was evaluated by metanalysis of RCTs and found no significant increased risk of malignancy compared with other DMARDs or with placebo.
https://t.co/ZEO4jP5RwA https://t.co/C1YeTSh7ZN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Rheumatoid Arthritis Faculty Panel Q&A
This expert panel from https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2026 brings together leading faculty to address real-world challenges in RA care, offering practical insights you can apply immediately in practice.
🎧 Listen here: https://t.co/LOiUuia852 https://t.co/REvpPJv0O8
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Prescribing Lessons (4.17.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com.
Read Article
Couldn’t attend https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2026?
You can now watch the entire meeting On Demand.
This high-impact program features leading experts discussing:
• RA outcomes and pathogenesis
• Obesity, inflammation, and rheumatic disease
• Treatment decisions in Psoriatic https://t.co/A3wb3pzbl3
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ILD in RA – Dr. Jeffrey Sparks
In this https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2026 podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Sparks reviews the latest advances shaping diagnosis and management of ILD in RA.
🎧 Listen here: https://t.co/U5cZVlgAka
#Rheumatology #ILD #RNL2026 https://t.co/LidiS3Wj9d
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Advanced Practice Rheum: Methotrexate
In this session, we're going to review methotrexate. It is the most popular of disease-modifying drugs used in rheumatology. While it may be indicated for a few disorders, it's widely used in many inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. https://t.co/RKh3mQv7Hx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Malignancies Not Increased with Biologic Therapies
The risk of malignancy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving biologic agents was evaluated by metanalysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and found no significant increased risk of malignancy compared with other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or with placebo
Read Article
Korean Insurance claims nested case–control study of 27,410 RA pts - 5482 w/ > comorbid Dsx Vs 21,928 w/ < 10 comorbd Dz. Having >10 signif incr Serious infx (OR 1.44), opportunistic (21.9)& Hzoster (1.18); mainly skin & soft tissue infx - NOT fatal infx. https://t.co/qDrU3BXYzd
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Korean study 50600 adult RA pts (Dx 2010-2020) shows Sustained high-income was assoc w/ reduced mortality, esp in younger pts (adj HR 0.50 <65 years vs 0.74 ≥65 years). Amplifed by Rural residence https://t.co/DUZoNsPSHj https://t.co/PV3Umlrgvv
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Open label RCT in 116 DMARD-naïve #RA pts Rx w/ tofacitinib or MTX (after 1 IM steroid injx). @3 mos, TOFA signif better than MTX for >50% SDAI improv(94 v 75%), CDAI[14.5 v 7.3), DAS28-CRP[1.7 v 1.2] https://t.co/smOuLlVFyX https://t.co/xGvbiu62OB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Japanese ANSWER study Rx 7268 RA pts initiating bDMARDs or JAKi by orthos or Rheums. Vs Rheums, Ortho Rx RA had longer Dz duration, more seropositivity, functional impairment, less comorbidity, more MTX/GC/TNFi, less AE D/Cs - responses & outcomes were similar https://t.co/1ryA8C2p1b
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
What's it like to have RA? MARY: "I can manage the pain, the exhaustion, and side effects of the meds. The hard part is grief. I grieve for me, the adventurer that decided what she wanted and boldly went after it, no matter what. I trusted myself to handle whatever came. Now https://t.co/GakWIy2XCt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Target trial emulation: biologics or JAK vs RTX in RA-ILD -- abatacept (n=694), JAKi (156), IL-6i (389), or TNFi (734), PS-matched =# RTX; no significant differences (HR 0.74-1.09 NS) in outcomes of resp hosp, lung transplant & death. But ABA (HR 0.84) & JAKi (HR 0.62) had less https://t.co/c9IVwQYwMN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
What's it like to have RA? LISA: "It only took me three short years to go from rock climbing to a power wheel chair and that stage of the disease was frightening and painful and you feel hopeless and as if your life plan is being stolen from you. Once I was able to start https://t.co/d49htc8k4m
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
What's it like to have #RA? RICHARD: "There were days that I couldn’t mask the pain or hide the limp..So I tried to deny and hide the disease. I would always go up and down stairs when no one was looking. I got up extra early so no one could see me walk like an old man to the https://t.co/krHn4yoRYd
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
What’s New PsA? (4.3.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and major articles from this week, including FDA safety warnings, reports from AAD, PsA trials.
Read Article
