Quiz Talk (5.22.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush talks of birthdays, Quizes and journal articles this week on the podcast.
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Early GI Involvement Predictive of Scleroderma Outcomes
Rheumatology has published a cohort study showing that earlyGI symptoms and overall symptom burden predict both GI progression and mortality in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).
Update on Multicentric Reticulohistiocytosis
Have you ever seen multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH)? Don't worry, it's a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis condition characterized by papulonodular skin lesions and symmetric erosive polyarthritis, and it has only been https://t.co/koXOwktDgA
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ABA versus HCQ in Palindromic Rheumatism
Palindromic rheumatism may develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and could be an at-risk population. A pilot trial compared abatacept (ABA) versus hydroxychloroquine and demonstrated ABA reduces RA development in a 2 year study.
An open-label, multicenter, randomized trial enrolled 70
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Update on Multicentric Reticulohistiocytosis
Have you ever seen multicentric reticulohistiocytosis? Don't worry, it's a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis condition, characterized by papulonodular skin lesions and symmetric erosive polyarthritis, and has only been described in fewer than 500 cases reported worldwide.
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Infectious Rheumatology (5.15.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush discusses his favorite journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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UCB has aquired Candid Therapeutics for $2 billion; plan to lead in autoimmune dz by acquiring cizutamig - a T cell engager. Its been studied in >100 pts, including early Global Phase 2 RCTs of myasthenia gravis & ILD. https://t.co/xz4uEhvxu6 https://t.co/6FS1riLecW
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EGPA Review
A current review of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) provides current recommendations on diagnosis and management.
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Predictors of renal crisis & pulm. arterial HTN (PAH) in systemic sclerosis - retrospect. study of 234 SSc pts; 7.3% had PAH & SRC. PAH may precede overlap w/ SRC. SSc w/ both at hi risk for GI bleed (OR 9.5). SRC+PAH assoc w/ Older age, elevated NT-proBNP https://t.co/MsaiPdcDrb https://t.co/CyMrL8izxP
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ANCA assoc. pachymeningitis (AAP) is rare. 230 systemic vasculitis, from 177 reports (108 MPO+, 71 PR3+); age~60; HA & cranial neuropathy (hearing/visual loss, diplopia) common. 89% w/ systemic Sxs (ENT, lungs, orbits, kidneys). Look for abnl ESR/CRP, CSF https://t.co/bHQegYYl5V https://t.co/hpfu8iaIkx
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In Still's disease, what is the primary life-threatening complication clinicians must monitor for? If you think you know the answer, prove it in this week's RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/KVK8J2iaFQ https://t.co/O62ZpIciWW
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Supposedly there's a shortage of Infectious Dz specialists & Fellowship applic are down. Survey of 380 Int. Med residents (41 prgs) shows ID interest signif assoc w/ exposure to ID in Yr 1 & 2, outpt clinics, ID- research. https://t.co/AUkiIvsuaV https://t.co/pOqkBhy93U
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A Review of Hydroxychloroquine Ocular Toxicity
While hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is thought to be a very safe drug, its ocular risk profile is probably more serious than appreciated. A comprehensive review published in the Journal of Rheumatology discusses HCQ pharmacokinetics, mechanisms of retinal toxicity, risk stratification, and evidence-
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24 systemic amyloidosis pts (AA type 46%, AL 29%); 62% joint pain & AM stiff, axial 37.5%, macroglossia (4 pts, 17%), carpal tunnel (12%), proteinuria > 1 gm 50%, CKD 21%, Cardiac amyloid 29%. Amyloid was secondary to Rheum Dx in 11/24. Better survival w/ AA than AL (91% vs https://t.co/pAEqYJIKaw
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A Patient’s Plea for a New Paradigm in Autoimmune Disease
A current article in Nature Reviews Rheumatology has a patient boldly asking why we rheumatologists aren't more like her oncologists?
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FDA Targeting the Safety of Avacopan
The future of avacopan is up in the air. In April, the FDA issued a drug safety warning, previously requesting that Amgen to pull its rare disease drug Tavneos from the market. Now, there appears more pressure to remove it from the market. https://t.co/Otl0WQaOqo
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FDA Targeting the Safety of Avacopan
The future of avacopan is up in the air. In April, the FDA issued a drug safety warning, previously requesting that Amgen to pull its rare disease drug Tavneos from the market. Now, there appears more pressure to remove it from the market.
The FDA’s concern is that the data, orginally
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Severe thrombocytopenia (TP) assoc w/ severe APS & increased mortality. Retro study of 432 #APS pts - 142 w/ TP (33%): 13% severe TP (<50L G/L). Severe TP assoc w/ ITP & CAP -had higher mortality https://t.co/7f8VpIcEJy
Links:
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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.
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Chinese study of 371 pts w/ Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) - extrahepatic autoimmune diseases (EADs) seen in 24% -Sjogren’s & autoimmune thyroid dz (9% each). ANA+ independently assoc w/ EADs (OR 2) https://t.co/NVz8MWbJch https://t.co/tjCzaDcUFI
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Severe thrombocytopenia (TP) assoc w/ severe APS & increased mortality. Retro study of 432 #APS pts - 142 w/ TP (33%): 13% severe TP (<50L G/L). Severe TP assoc w/ ITP & CAP -had higher mortality https://t.co/p0bvLKupUe
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Aspirin Cardiovascular Prevention in Giant Cell Arteritis
A retrospective target trial emulations has shown that low-dose aspirin (ASA) given with a giant cell arteritis (GCA) diagnosis is associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), but a higher risk of GI bleeding.
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Adjunctive Prednisolone for Kawasaki Disease
An NEJM study has shown that glucocorticoids provide no added benefit when added to standard primary treatment in Kawasaki disease patients.
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Still's Disease Update
Arthritis Research & Therapy has published an overarching review of Still's disease - claiming it to be a single acquired and complex autoinflammatory disease in which both pediatric and adult forms share core pathogenic mechanisms, genetic associations and clinical presentations, with minor
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Litifilimab in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Biogen has announced positive results of their Phase 2 study, evaluating litifilimab in patients with active cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), presented at the recent American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting.
Litifilimab is an investigational monoclonal antibody that
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At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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I recently overheard a very good practicing rheumatologist complain, “why do I need yet another drug for psoriatic arthritis? I have more treatment choices than I have actual PsA patients who need a new or better drug”.
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Adult-onset Still's presents an interesting and diagnostic challenge when encountered. Here are 5 tips to improve your diagnostic acumen for this febrile disorder.
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