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Anti-Rheumatic Rx

Advanced Practice Rheum: Methotrexate https://t.co/PHAFWBG4gJ https://t.co/p9cMqT4nhR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Treat-to-Target in Gout and Cardiovascular Outcomes

A 5 year JAMA study shows that a treat-to-target (serum urate < 6 mg/dL) study finds that effective urate-lowering treatment (ULT) results in a significantly reduced cardiovascular risk in patients with gout. 

These findinds are significant knowing that

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Rheum Poll> Which is the most difficult to treat RA (D2TRA) patient (despite aggressive Rx)?

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

APPIPRA Study - Benefits of Early Treatment Treating people who are at high risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can delay the onset of the disease for several years, with benefits also continuing well after treatment has stopped. https://t.co/hgxj936CWn https://t.co/eJX3amp3Id
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Trends in Rheumatoid Arthritis Mortality

A recent study examines trends in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related mortality among U.S. postmenopausal women (aged 55 and older). They found RA mortality rates have declined, yet disparities in who is most affected persist, especially for white women, and those over 85 yrs of age.

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UCAN CAN-DU study of 181 JIA pts starting biologics. Early Rx w/in 6 mos (n=35) assoc. w/ greater odds of achieving inactive arthritis (83% vs 57% in late starters (>12 mos). For each month of delay increased the odds of future active arthritis (after 6 mos) by 9%.

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Did you know theres a Subcutaneous (SC) rituximab (Hycela)? Its same RTX but combined w/ hyaluronidase, faster 5-7 minute injection Vs hours for IV RTX. FDA approved 2017 for Follicular Lymphoma (FL) and Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). Give 1st dose IV, then use SC RTX. https://t.co/piQ2ZhAOyf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Emergencies, Independence & Hemorrhage (1.23.2026)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and reports from the past two weeks on RheumNow.Com

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BIOBADASER III Registry shows No Cancer Risk with b/tsDMARDs

A large, real-world cohort study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) finds patients treated with biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs (b/tsDMARDs) do not have an increased risk of cancer. 

Researchers used 2000–2023 data for RA patients from the BIOBADASER III registry,

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APPIPRA Study - Benefits of Early Treatment

EurekAlert!

Treating people who are at high risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can delay the onset of the disease for several years, with benefits also continuing well after treatment has stopped.

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Preoperative Semaglutide for 3 mos. prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty assoc w/ signif less Postoperative Adverse Events in NIDDM. Retrospective study of up to 745 T2DM needed TKR . 2-3 mos of GLP-1a reduces serious AEs by 75% (OR 0.25, P < 0.001). https://t.co/re57y9OvTN https://t.co/KNirmfdr2F
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Are JAK Inhibitors Better at Pain Relief in RA?

MedPage Today

Among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients responding to upadacitinib (Rinvoq) or adalimumab, those receiving the former had significantly less residual pain with treatment, according to a post-hoc analysis of phase III trial data.

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Review of Restless Legs Syndrome

JAMA has published a full read review of RLS - restless leg syndrome - a frequent, but often unrecognized, cause of poor sleep and the resultant hazards of insomnia.

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German psoriasis registry PsoBest reports on 595 Rx w/ apremilast (417 APR monotherapy). Compared to Ptx Rx w/ other DMARDs/biologic drugs, APR pts higher age, more comorbidities. Nonserious AEs: ineffectiveness (14%), diarrhea (9%), nausea (7%), HA (6%). https://t.co/TviJmM7Fr9 https://t.co/tY89oHgUgV
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Emergency Department Visits by Rheumatoid Patients

A Canadian population study shows that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have 30% higher emergency department (ED) visit rates for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSCs) compared to age- and sex-matched population controls.

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Smartphones and Rheumatoid Flares

FORWARD Databank of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients reveals that smartphone data can predict flares using PROs. 

RA flares are seen in 30-60% of patients, are hard

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Subcutaneous Anifrolumab in SLE Manzi et al. have published the results of the TULIP-SC trial that showed that weekly subcutaneous (SC) anifrolumab, when given to severe SLE patients, had comparable efficacy and safety to the approved intravenous (IV) anifrolumab. https://t.co/ruZM3Qftxb
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Retrospective study of recombinant zoster vaccine Rheumatic (RMD) pts on DMARDs (32% JAKi) (114) vs 65 normals. HZoster reactivation: no controls vs 1in RMD. 1 Dz flare requiried steroids. Minor AE (ISR, HA, myalgia) seen in 17.5% & 21.5% w/ 1st & 2nd dose. RZV is safe in RMD https://t.co/Mu3OyA4EOD
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ADJUST trial (248 JIA pts w/ Uveitis & inactive >6mos, either continued or weaned off adalimumab. ADA weaning resulted in more flares (68% vs 14%, mostly uveitis) w/ no protection from background DMARD Rx. Restarting ADA was mostly effective. https://t.co/ZWHfPl2UNl https://t.co/Fk1HES2UIc
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

The 2025 Rheumatology Year in Review

The year 2025 presented numerous advances in rheumatology and related inflammatory and autoimmune disorders ranging from several new groundbreaking FDA approvals/indications, drug developments, game-changing guidelines and practices that will impact patient care for rheumatic diseases.

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Subcutaneous Anifrolumab in SLE Manzi et al. have published the results of the TULIP-SC trial that showed that weekly subcutaneous (SC) anifrolumab, when given to severe SLE patients, had comparable efficacy and safety to the approved intravenous (IV) anifrolumab. https://t.co/3DWNEXaO2x
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Metanalysis of Tramadol included 19 PBO-RCTs, 6506 pts, showing a very modest benefit on chronic pain (low certainty of evidence), but a doubling of risk for serious adverse events (OR 2.13); including nausea (NNH 7), dizziness (NNH 8), constipation (NNH 9), somnolence (NNH 13) https://t.co/0ZEIoy1gqC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Advanced Practitioner Biologic Prescriptions for Psoriasis

Advanced practice clinicians (APCs; nurse practitioners and physician assistants) deliver a large share of US dermatologic care, accounting for 37% of clinicians and 27% of dermatology visits by 2020. A current JAMA Dermatology reports APC drug spending trends in dermatology, with a focus on

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Spread of Psoriatic Disease from Skin to Joints

Approximately 20 to 30 percent of all people who suffer from psoriasis also develop painful inflammation in their joints over time. If left untreated, psoriatic arthritis can lead to permanent damage to bones and joints. Why the disease progresses was assessed by researchers from the

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Retrospective study of recombinant zoster vaccine Rheumatic (RMD) pts on DMARDs (32% JAKi) (114) vs 65 normals. HZoster reactivation: no controls vs 1in RMD. 1 Dz flare requiried steroids. Minor AE (ISR, HA, myalgia) seen in 17.5% & 21.5% w/ 1st & 2nd dose. RZV is safe in RMD https://t.co/Hf7HaGOLXd
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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