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Anti-Rheumatic Rx

Practical management of rheumatic immune-related adverse events with immune checkpoint inhibitors

Joint Bone Spine has published a full read review of the management of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in patients receiving Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for cancer.
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Subclinical Synovitis Among Psoriasis Patients

A systematic review shows that imaging can be used to detect subclinical synovitis among patients with psoriasis and may identify individuals at risk for future psoriatic arthritis.

A meta-analysis of 12 cross-sectional and case-control studies, synovitis was 2.5 times more likely to be

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New ICD-10 Diagnostic Code -- R76.81 -- for ’At-Risk RA’ (AKA Clinically suspect arthralgia or Pre-clinical RA); this applies to pts w/ abnormal RF or ACPA without having RA. Thanks to Dr. Kevin D. Deane for leading this effort. https://t.co/14I6RCZrXb https://t.co/YxTwPB0YDQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

RA Lung Disease Portends Poor Outcomes

A retrospective Harvard affiliates study shows that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with lung disease have higher mortality, especially respiratory and infection-related mortality than those without lung disease (LD).

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MTX lowers risk of serious infxn (SI) - UK Observational study of 17 472 newly Dx RA (2018–2023); 10K on MTX, 4,540 other csDMARDs; 13680 corticosteroids (GC). 1307 SI (3/100 PY) w/ reduced adj HR 0.72 (95% CI: 0.63–0.82). 311 SI-related mortality (IR 0.69;0.61–0.77) https://t.co/iuxAivtrYZ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Pesticides and Rheumatoid Arthritis?

MedPage Today

Women exposed to pesticides through farm work or as farmers' wives face increased risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis, a new analysis of Agricultural Health Study data indicated.

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Sulfasalazine as a preventative against Pneumocystis (PJP). 594 RA pts & 848 Rx episodes - 181 on SSZ, 667 controls. W/ 850 Pt-Yrs F/U, 21developed PCP, 3 died of PCP. SSZ significantly lowered PJP risk (p = 0.003, rate ratio = 0.05; 95% CI 0.00–0.34). https://t.co/PAgBaJGldR https://t.co/PuTxGXTeRS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

NHANES, Numbers, & Risk (7.18.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com along with interesting case questions from "Ask Cush Anything".

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Zasocitinib (Tyk2 Inhibitor) Efficacy in Psoriatic Arthritis

A highly selective, tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor zasocitinib (TAK-279), was studied in a phase 2b trial and found to be effective and safe patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

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Variability of Guidelines on the Perioperative Use of DMARDs in Rheumatic Diseases Patients More effective treatments in patients with rheumatic diseases have resulted in less need for major surgery, yet a substantial number of RMD patients will undergo surgery often in the https://t.co/gjJOjZhSHU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Americans choose short term relief for neck and back pain

EurekAlert!

New survey data from the Orlando Health Spine Center reveals a significant difference among Americans on how to manage neck and back pain. Respondents were split between relying on rest and reduced activity (44%), turning to over-the-counter pain

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Sulfasalazine as a preventative against Pneumocystis (PJP). 594 RA pts & 848 Rx episodes - 181 on SSZ, 667 controls. W/ 850 Pt-Yrs F/U, 21developed PCP, 3 died of PCP. SSZ significantly lowered PJP risk (p = 0.003, rate ratio = 0.05; 95% CI 0.00–0.34). https://t.co/PAgBaJGldR https://t.co/VV3MvVEGal
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Manifestations and Treatment in Relapsing Polychondritis

A large multicenter cohort study of Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) describes the clinical manifestations and treatment approaches to this rare, heterogeneous, multisystem disease

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Variability of Guidelines on the Perioperative Use of DMARDs in Rheumatic Diseases Patients

More effective treatments in patients with rheumatic diseases have resulted in less need for major surgery, yet a substantial number of RMD patients will undergo surgery often in the setting of DMARDs use. A scoping review looked at numerous clinical practice guidelines/recommendations for the

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Osteoporosis treatment benefits people older than 80

EurekAlert!

People who are older than 80 should be considered for osteoporosis treatment after a fracture to avoid further risk, according to a study being presented Saturday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

“The burden of osteoporosis is rising as the

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Don't Stop the DMARDS!! Retrospective study of 91 JIA pts (all types; 36% oligo, 27%poly) all Rx w/ cycles of DMARD therapy. Consistently two-thirds relapsed and flared. Only one-third of JIA patients were able to remain off DMARDs. https://t.co/ifqnMKfhAe https://t.co/8JAbpO1IVe
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Rheums! Question or case for Jack Cush? Record it here and we may feature it on an upcoming podcast. https://t.co/HsqM9xLNtP https://t.co/voONsOLeSK
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Hmmm Really? (7.11.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week - some obvious, other new thoughts and some - hmmm, reallly?

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No Increased Malignancy Risk with Ixekizumab

A pooled analysis of 25 randomized clinical trials affirms the safety of ixekizumab (IXE) when used to treat patients with psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The observed incidences of malignant neoplasms were consistent with the US general

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Don't Stop the DMARDS!! Retrospective study of 91 JIA pts (all types; 36% oligo, 27%poly) all Rx w/ cycles of DMARD therapy. Consistently two-thirds relapsed and flared. Only one-third of JIA patients were able to remain off DMARDs. https://t.co/ifqnMKfhAe https://t.co/bEqAxzRoq6
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Overview of the VEXAS Syndrome

A current systematic review in Rheumatology addresses the clinical features seen in the VEXAS syndrome.

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Cancer Survival Outcomes in Autoimmune Skin Disease Patients

Patients with autoimmune skin diseases (ASDs) with cancer had significantly better cancer survival outcomes than those without ASD, suggesting coexistant autoimmune or inflammatory disease does not adversely affect a cancer prognosis.

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Reducing Progression of Psoriasis to Psoriatic Arthritis

MedPage Today

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor therapy was effective in reducing the likelihood that psoriasis would progress to psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a retrospective study indicated.

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Early DMARD Initiation Benefits in Psoriatic Arthritis

Mease et al has published the results of a cohort study showing early initiation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) resulted in better outcomes compared to late initiation.

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Immunomodulators in the Treatment of Autoimmune Hepatitis

EurekAlert!

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic, progressive inflammatory liver disease driven by autoimmune mechanisms, characterized by elevated serum aminotransferases, hypergammaglobulinemia, and interface hepatitis on histology. With an annual global incidence of 1.37 per 100,000, AIH can lead

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