Outcomes

Article

Autologous HCT in Severe Systemic Sclerosis

Jack Cush, MD Nov 04, 2026

An international study reports 60% progression-free survival at 10 years after autologous bone marrow transplantation, adding important evidence on sustained positive clinical outcomes and long-term safety in patients treated for early severe systemic sclerosis.

Intra-Articular Injections for Knee OA: Options, Evidence, and no Clear Winner At APLAR 2026 in Seoul, the OA special interest group offered a whirlwind overview of IA injectables from Dr. Gun-il Im. The products fall into three tiers: symptom-modifying, biologic/regenerative https://t.co/jWuinfM2W6

Article

The Concern about Seronegative RA

Jack Cush, MD Nov 03, 2026

A current review of seronegative RA (SNRA) by D’Onofrio, et al in npj Autoimmunity shows the diverse fate of seronegative RA - which can resolve, persist or become refractory. Clearly dedicated trials of SNRA are needed to better predict.

Spanish Nationwide registry study of 5120 hospitalised #GCA pts (2016-2024) found that 54 (1.1%) Dx / aortic aneurysm (AA) & 41 (0.8%) developed AA on F/U (AAf group). Median time to AA Dx 2.7 yrs. AA Risk was higher in males (RRR 2.42) & smoking w/ GCA (RRR 3.23) https://t.co/eZVGKbOfQt

Same molecule, different route, different persistence: golimumab IV persisted 4.44 yrs vs 2.07 for SC in biologic-naive RA (n=9,464, Korean claims). Is it the route, or differenntial out of pocket cost, or supervised dosing and better adherence? P#240 #APLAR26 @RheumNow

This interesting study by @doktora_ging et al describes the notable differences in skin lesions bet Filipino vs caucasian. Fil skin: darker lesions, marked contrast bet hypo/hyperpigmentation, more gray & black psor plaques Practical & informative. @RheumNow #APLAR2026 https://t.co/A1dyFRNkwV

Beyond Chondrocalcinosis - What’s New in CPPD Disease An overview of calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease by Sara Tedeschi presents our evolving understanding of CPPD with advances affecting nomenclature, classification, imaging, genetics, long-term outcomes and https://t.co/HmDgB9nNbm

Article

FDA Approves Tildrakizumab for Psoriatic Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD Nov 02, 2026

Sun Pharmaceuticals announced Friday that the FDA has approved its IL-23 inhibitor, tildrakizumab (Ilumya) for use in patients with active psoriatic arthritis. This agent is already FDA approved for plaque psoriasis, and joins guselkumab and risankizumab as the third IL-23 inhibitor

Tocilizumab is effective in glucocorticoid-resistant adult-onset Still’s dz. 40 AOSD pts rx w/ TCZ (4-8 mg/kg q4wks). @12 mos clin remission 55%, 6 mos CID 62%, signif drops in CRP, ESR, ferritin & daily pred decr 91% (50 to 4.4 mg; p<0.001). TCZ retention 65%; MAS 7.5% & https://t.co/jtAxrz6ETd

Long term F/U of 80 systemic sclerosis pts Rx w/ autologous HSCT. W/ Med. 9.2 yrs F/U progression-free survival = 81%, 72% @5 yrs, & 60% @10 yrs. 18 pts died; death due to HSCT in 6%, SSc progression in 11%, CA in 2 (3%), serious infx 2 (3%), 34 (43%) maintained remission without https://t.co/l6RUf2Zqyw

Why phenotype OA? Mechanisms, course and treatment response vary. Three knees at the same Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 can differ: post-meniscal varus pain, obesity with synovitis, or widespread tenderness etc. X-ray grade alone misses this. OA:SIG #APLAR26 @RheumNow https://t.co/RWtq3ORGwc

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Prof. AHoi presented their study on ESR as potential source of risk info in SLE 48% discordance bet ESR & conv. serology Isolated ⬆️ESR levels showed ⬆️ assoc with dse activity and flare; risk increases further if combi ⬆️ESR+low c3/4+antidsDNA @RheumNow #APLAR2026 https://t.co/BvC0OZFjd5

Better drugs only help if patients can get them. In an APLAR PsA registry, 43% of lowest-GDP patients had not reached MDA and were not on a biologic or targeted DMARD. Coverage, reimbursement and social support needed, not just science. P#242 #APLAR26 @RheumNow https://t.co/Rms4QsbcII

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"We really need to ask every patient who has psoriasis about their joints” – Dr. Ahmad Amin, Dermatologist Watch Dr. Amin and Dr. Saakshi Khattri discuss the link between skin and joints in PsA. Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact. https://t.co/rp2e5oknVF https://t.co/nf2vpvNJuV

PsA Beyond the Joints: Rheum, Derm, and Gastro Perspectives | RheumNow

Tx persistence & response in PsA is a problem - influenced by demographics & Dz severity. 815 PsA pts in e Brit Society Rheumatology PsA Registe. @12 mos - 24% MDA, 24% ACR50. Median F/U 31 mos, only 65% still on index Rx. D/C higher w/ PDE4i & poorer baseline activity & PROs https://t.co/BhxAMtjsZV

Article

Mixed Drinks, Mixed Results (10.30.2026)

Jack Cush, MD Oct 30, 2026

Dr. Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow. This week on the podcast: hopeful guidelines for PMR; certainty about good & bad beverages in gout; mixed results in Sjogren's; non-lupus drugs saves lupus lives; and big hips sink ships in psoriatic arthritis

24-Week Interim Findings from a Randomized Phase 2 Study of Iptacopan (LNP023) Indicate High Remission Rates in Participants with Active ANCA-Associated Vasculitis https://t.co/cUNMo2ngeE and liver safety over time is?

24-Week Interim Findings from a Randomized Phase 2 Study of Iptacopan (LNP023) …

why biologics for “refractory”only - a life on steroids HCO MMF etc? APLAR Seoul 2026 Nikpour #SLE #RheumNow https://t.co/Fa58nsF5Mk

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Oswestry Disability Index in axSpA (n=107, India): a patient-reported, low-cost, quick tool that tracked closely with BASDAI (r=0.77), BASFI (r=0.80) and ASDAS-CRP (r=0.79). Could help where rheumatologists are scarce. P#478 #APLAR26 @RheumNow https://t.co/teoMtnM3Gl

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evidence T2T in SLE is wortwhile APLAR Seoul 2026 Nikpour #SLE #RheumNow

Saag Osteoporosis - what to do when stopping Denosumab ? APLAR Seoul 2026 Nikpour #SLE #RheumNow https://t.co/skeONgWUpH

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Rescue combo injection for refractory grade 3-4 knee OA (Singapore, n=3): tramadol + vitamin D 100,000 IU + high-dose polynucleotide (Conjuran, 4 mL) in the joint. VAS 9 to 5 and 9 to 3 in two patients; WOMAC improved in all. Case series, no control. P#303 #APLAR26 @RheumNow

Advances and Challenges in Lupus Care: Insights https://t.co/qQ0kk3W80C https://t.co/xMCtvMKIem

Advances and Challenges in Lupus Care: Insights | RheumNow

2026 BSR Guideline for the Treatment of Polymyalgia Rheumatica Toyoda and colleagues from the British Society for Rheumatology have published new PMR treatment guidelines to supercede the previously published 2009 BSR/BHPR PMR guidelines. https://t.co/o1Y1a13WIG https://t.co/W9jNGfMgP7

2026 BSR Guideline for the Treatment of Polymyalgia Rheumatica | RheumNow

Boston study of 25 systemic sclerosis pts has shown spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) is a noninvasive evaluation of skin, but only has weak-to-moderate correlation w/ mRSS (r −0.38 to −0.48); somewhat better w/ histology/fibrosis (r −0.35 to −0.52) https://t.co/N1uSWjNEcl