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Labs/Biomarkers

Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Singapore center study of 119 IIM pts (DM 57%; ASyS 23%, OM 15%), IMNM 4%). MDA5 Abs seen in 35% DM. Vs ASyS, MDA5-DM had signif more Skin Sxs (ulcers, papules, Gottrons, heliotrope, periungual erythema). MSK Sxs equal & higher CK levels in ASyS MDA5. 79% DM-ILD were MDA5+ https://t.co/hWaaeLUYkz

Are Concerns Over Avacopan Efficacy Overblown?

MedPage Today

Avacopan (Tavneos), the complement pathway inhibitor for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), appeared strongly effective in an Italian registry study -- a step, maybe, toward setting to rest questions about its efficacy, if not its safety.

Treatment Landscape for Dermatomyositis Is Evolving

MedPage Today

After years of inactivity, therapeutic development for dermatomyositis has begun to move forward with several new therapies and therapeutic strategies.

"This is a very exciting time for the field because we're finally going to get some new treatments, and I think it will be helpful in

Don’t Hold the JAK (10.9.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

On this week's podcast, Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news: Steroids are easy to start and hard to stop; hold the MTX but not the biologic or JAK, weighing in on avacopan, and age-old messages for old-age patients. 

Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Cluster analysis of Spanish RELES #SLE SLE cohort reveals 3 groups. C1 (n 168) was younger, w/ lupus nephritis, low C3, intensive Rx, high infx & damage. C2 (175) w/ cytopenias, serositis, APL & dsDNA(+). C3 (452) mild skin-Jts, less serologic activity & complications https://t.co/N0XLUaegWc
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Cluster analysis of Spanish RELES #SLE SLE cohort reveals 3 groups. C1 (n 168) was younger, w/ lupus nephritis, low C3, intensive Rx, high infx & damage. C2 (175) w/ cytopenias, serositis, APL & dsDNA(+). C3 (452) mild skin-Jts, less serologic activity & complications https://t.co/OYTXD4KV6O
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Scleroderma-Specific Autoantibodies in Early Systemic Sclerosis Prognostication is tenous in early scleroderma, especially in those with dcSSc. dcSSc has associated with substantial morbidity and disease-specific mortality. Analysis of an early SSc registry shows that anti-RNA https://t.co/Qvu2vSShcg

VA/DoD 2025 Obesity Guidelines

Jack Cush, MD

Annals of Internal Medicine has published the updated 2025 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guidelines on adult Overweight and Obesity management. Here is a review of the guidelines, including five key takeaways for rheumatologists.

Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Phenotypic cluster analysis of 134 CPPD pts from COLCHICORT & CHRONIC-CPPD European cohorts ID 4 Grps: 1) C1 monoarticular recurrent flares, older, W, ^CRP; 2) C2 monoarticular w persistent arthritis; 3) C3 polyarthritis lower CRP; 4) C4 polyarticular (spine/shoulder( & recurrent https://t.co/ghMCmDLCki
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
CLOAK study: 3 mos DBRPCT of Colchicine vs PBO (no NSAID) in 120 symptomatic KOA (KL gr 2/3) shows no benefit in VAS pain index knee after 3 mos. (but COL pts had signif change in some biomarkers hsCRP, β-NGF (p < 0.05); PGE2, IL-1ra, IL-8, and VEGF (p < 0.16). https://t.co/MPgLpr7LPP

Review of HLA-B27

Jack Cush, MD

HLA-B27 remains the dominant genetic link to spondyloarthritis (SpA) across the age spectrum, but B27 related clinical expression diverges between children and adults. New mechanistic data on autoreactive T cells, HLA-B27 misfolding, and gut-joint trafficking point to new plausible, targetable

Early RA Referral Clinics Work!

Jack Cush, MD

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.

Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Leeds study of 44 patients idiopathic inflamm myopathy (IIM) pts Rx w/ rituximab showed a 70% response 4-6 mos post RTX. Responders had higher TIS (50·0 vs 17·5). Using highly sensitive flow cytometry, @ 2 wks responders had lower #s memory B cells & Plasmablasts. Is there a role https://t.co/JDvVZ1KEIY
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