APPs in the News (12.5.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com, including info on scleroderma, dermatomyositis and malignancy, rheumatologist and APP salary concerns.
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Low Dose Naltrexone for Fibromyalgia Pain - Use it or Lose it?
Medscape recently reviewed off-label use of low dose naltrexone (LDN) in fibromyalgia (FM) and found it is deemed effective by some clinicians and patients, but 1) there is no FDA indication for LDN use in FM and 2) the data supporting its use is limited.
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DMARD Treatment Lags for Minority Groups with Rheumatoid Arthritis
MedPage Today
Use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was markedly lower among all major racial-ethnic minority groups in the U.S. compared with white patients, analysis of federal survey data indicated, even after adjusting for income, education, and other factors
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Treating Refractory Still's Disease
A full read systematic review article examined treatment options for difficult to manage systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or Still’s disease. It classified these refractory disease patients as those with either (1) persistent arthritis, (2) recurrent or difficult-to-treat
Managing Perioperative DMARDs with Arthroplasty
Postoperative complications with arthroplasty may be related to chronic inflammation and immunosuppressive therapy. Yet a recent retrospective study total ankle arthroplasty in end-stage RA patients shows that early postoperative wound complications are unaffected by the continued use of their
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Retrospective study of 39 pts w/ MDA5 + DM-ILD Rx w baricitinib. 31 (79.5%) had improvement in Gottron’s, heliotrope, dyspnea, HRCT score, ferritin, LDH, steroid dose & 6 mo survival (87% vs. 70%, p = 0.047). https://t.co/RCTbBsCkeV https://t.co/K49cEmeRk3
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Retrospective study of 39 pts w/ MDA5 + DM-ILD Rx w baricitinib. 31 (79.5%) had improvement in Gottron’s, heliotrope, dyspnea, HRCT score, ferritin, LDH, steroid dose & 6 mo survival (87% vs. 70%, p = 0.047). https://t.co/8whN2I1hXh https://t.co/voSVzPQWUI
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New quadrivalent modRNA influenza vaccine is more efficacious than conventional inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine. Really interesting excited to see mRNA technology transforming therapies. https://t.co/ZM13ojQUCl
Alberta Hoi @alberta_hoi( View Tweet )
ICYMI: Head-to-Head Clinical Trials
https://t.co/LpvqQRP06b https://t.co/YkXYvUuJWx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Review of neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blockers, being developed by J&J, argenx & UCB, showing utility in autoimmune dz as they reduce autoantibodies. FcRn inhibitor market may be worth USD 3.3 billion by 2035. Approved for myasthenia gravis & being developed in Sjögren’s, SLE, https://t.co/mBUla87dK5
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IL-23 Blockade Goes Oral
A new player is entering the IL-23 arena — and it’s a tablet! Icotrokinra (ICO), a first-in-class peptide that binds and blocks the IL-23R, is showing encouraging efficacy and safety across a range of psoriasis (PSO) and psoriatic disease (PsD) studies. https://t.co/fYXULrMD16
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Sjogren’s disease: two drugs with positive trials Sjogren’s disease: two drugs with positive trials
After several failures of therapies in Phase 3 trials of Sjogren’s disease (SjD) over many years, all hope is not lost! At #ACR25, not one but two drugs presented their efficacy https://t.co/tGwUrLMZEI
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Tocilizumab Beats Methotrexate in GCA
Dr. Mike Putman reports on abstract 0891 (MEthotrexate versus TOcilizumab for treatment of Giant cell Arteritis (METOGiA trial): a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial), presented at the #ACR25.
https://t.co/IeCWZGupqR https://t.co/SCF1guorMs
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Treating During Pregnancy (11.14.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the journal articles, news and guidelines from this past week on RheumNow.com
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Taking a closer look: B-Cell depletion beyond the blood
At #ACR25, we have seen an exciting wave of cellular and immune therapies reshaping the landscape of autoimmune disease treatment. Following the landmark case series by the Erlangen group, multiple cellular therapies have https://t.co/GIrPwlGKE2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
IL-1 Inhibition in CPPD
Controlled clinical trials in patients with calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease (CPPD) are scant. Now a metanalysis provides evidence that anakinra, an interleukin-1 inhibitor, is a promising alternative for patients with acute CPPD flares. https://t.co/7RkE2i6sYY
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DAHLIAS study - Nipocalimab in Sjögren's Disease
Nipocalimab, a neonatal Fc receptor blocker that reduces circulating IgG and autoantibodies, was shown to be effective in a phase 2 trial in patients with severe Sjögren's disease.
https://t.co/tpoh8YF0F1 https://t.co/jFB1RKOqDV
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
IL-1 Inhibition in CPPD
Controlled clinical trials in patients with calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease (CPPD) are scant. Now a metanalysis provides evidence that anakinra, an interleukin-1 inhibitor, is a promising alternative for patients with acute CPPD flares.
The purpose of this analysis is
Biologic use in 5008 IBD pts finds higher serious infxn (SIE) rates (vs, RA or PsO). In UC the SIE rate was 5.5/100PY w/ vedolizumab & 7/100PY w/ other biologics. In Crohns the SIE rate was 7.9/100PY w/ vedolizumab vs 6.5/100PY w/ other biologics (adj HR 1.15; 0.95–1.40) (P .16) https://t.co/R7YC220NnO
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New Approaches to Therapy in PsA
Dr. Arthur Kavanaugh offers an overview of new approaches to therapy in psoriatic arthritis, at #ACR25.
https://t.co/9vHgQ6S2JD https://t.co/5mvX1rOrIP
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
DAHLIAS study - Nipocalimab in Sjögren's Disease
Nipocalimab, a neonatal Fc receptor blocker that reduces circulating IgG and autoantibodies, was shown to be effective in a phase 2 trial in patients with severe Sjögren's disease.
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Combining CAR-T with CAR-Treg All in One
Dr. Alfred Kim reports on abstract 0981 (GNTI-350: A CAR-Treg Therapy Offering Durable Immune Reset with Improved Safety for B Cell–Driven Autoimmune Diseases).
https://t.co/SXuLYyUCXo https://t.co/5CAzoGfOyf
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
IL-23 Blockade Goes Oral
A new player is entering the IL-23 arena — and it’s a tablet! Icotrokinra (ICO), a first-in-class peptide that binds and blocks the IL-23R, is showing encouraging efficacy and safety across a range of psoriasis (PSO) and psoriatic disease (PsD) studies. https://t.co/MyqCjilYGL
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Sjogren’s disease: two drugs with positive trials Sjogren’s disease: two drugs with positive trials
After several failures of therapies in Phase 3 trials of Sjogren’s disease (SjD) over many years, all hope is not lost! At #ACR25, not one but two drugs presented their efficacy https://t.co/kTTdZnVUtj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
B Cell Depletion: Check the Lymph Node
Dr. Akhil Sood reports on abstract 2695 (B-cell depletion and lymphoid follicle disruption upon different B-cell depleting agents) presented at #ACR25.
https://t.co/bvZMGWNzfe https://t.co/dB6iQlgoYx
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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