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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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:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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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Screening High Risk Myositis Patients for Cancer
An Italian retrospective study of 411 idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) patients applied IMACS criteria to assess the risk of cancer and found significantly more cancers in those at high risk.
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Systematic review of plasma exchange (PE) in myositis (IIM) - 35 studies (mostly observational), 473 IIM pts (361 Rx w/ PE). Many reported improvements (publication bias). 7 comparative RCTs show no mortality benefit (severe ILD) (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.16–1.06, I2 = 70%) https://t.co/ox0pdUL3Ek
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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 )
Top Four and More (4.10.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com this week - including his top four favorite subjects.
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Predictors of Calcinosis Cutis in Systemic Sclerosis
Calcinosis cutis (CaC) is a common and disabling non-lethal manifestation in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study used SSc patients from the EUSTAR database to clinically characterize patients and identify risk factors for https://t.co/uXbcCa04Lv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
VEXAS Syndrome - A Review
Beck et al has published a review of the VEXAS syndrome in The Lancet, focusing on the pathogenesis, spectrum, and treatment strategies.
https://t.co/Nik0TJm6Qu https://t.co/WS35PRnbBv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Predictors of Calcinosis Cutis in Systemic Sclerosis
Calcinosis cutis (CaC) is a common and disabling non-lethal manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study used SSc patients from the EUSTAR database to clinically characterize patients and identify risk factors for CaC development.
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VEXAS Syndrome - A Review
Beck et al has published a review of the VEXAS syndrome in The Lancet, focusing on the pathogenesis, spectrum, and treatment strategies.
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Update on Primary CNS Angiitis
The Journal of Neurology has posted a review and update of Primary CNS vasculitis (PCNSV), also termed primary angiitis of the CNS (PACNS). PCNSV is rare, potentially fatal, and highly treatable, making timely recognition and accurate diagnosis critical.
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FDA Safety Warning: Avacopan and Serious Liver Injury
Yesterday the FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication alerting patients and health care professionals about postmarketing identification of serious (drug induced) liver injury, including fatal cases, associated with the use of avacopan (Tavneos) in patients with ANCA- associated vasculitis.
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19 yr old male is Dx w/ Stills Dz (Fever 104F, pleuritis, organomegaly, WBC 24k, ESR 98, CRP 11 mg/L) - what drug do you prescribe first?
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
19 yr old male is Dx w/ Stills Dz (Fever 104F, pleuritis, organomegaly, WBC 24k, ESR 98, CRP 11 mg/L) - what drug do you prescribe first?
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Brepocitinib in Dermatomyositis
The NEJM reports that brepocitinib, an oral TYK2–JAK1 inhibitor, was studied in a phase 3 trial of refractory dermatomyositis (DM) patients and shown to have significant benefits at the higher dose.
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EULAR 2025 Update for Behçet’s syndrome
EULAR has updated its recommendations for the management of Behçet’s syndrome, the last being published in 2018. The current update carries no recommendations from the previous version: seven recommendations have content modifications, https://t.co/Xb6KyqsDXf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Autoantibodies Anonymous
A new blog post from Dr. Artie Kavanaugh
https://t.co/GodltmEexc https://t.co/Mv2zIvGHyv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Moral Distress (3.27.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the journal reports and news from RheumNow.com. This week we discuss moral distress, FM in PsA, Lyme Vax is back & hidden but tangible benefits of the MDHAQ.
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EULAR 2025 Update for Behçet’s syndrome
EULAR has updated its recommendations for the management of Behçet’s syndrome, the last being published in 2018. The current update carries no recommendations from the previous version: seven recommendations have content modifications, https://t.co/QcjVUqlyMU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
