CKD & Osteoporosis Rx Revisited (7.25.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and FDA updates from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Heart Attack No Longer the Leading Cause of Death in America . Journal of AHA reports that heart disease mortality in the United States dropped by 66 percent over the past five decades, driven largely by a dramatic decline in fatal heart attacks. https://t.co/whMQSMozVv https://t.co/ik6uydmspF
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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). https://t.co/13h2u26ecb
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Clinical Associations with Anti-RNA Polymerase III Antibodies
A systematic review of anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies (ARA) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients finds ARA positivity in only 9% of SSc patients, but come with a higher risk of many potentially worrisome outcomes.
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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).
SSB, > SSA, Abs are signif associated w/ abnormal DLCO (AUC 0.791) in Sjogrens syndrome, esp in assoc. w/ LIP- lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis. These findings more likely in quadruple positive Sjogrens w/ RF/ANA/SSA/SSB positivity. https://t.co/s6IyRzfXiN https://t.co/rKDBovTOpl
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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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Stroke in patients with SLE is associated with a poorer outcome than matched controls in
terms of functional recovery, recurrence, and mortality - study of 40 SLE vs 120 controls w/ CVA https://t.co/spBT1u6bfj https://t.co/eVNYBogJWz
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SSB, > SSA, Abs are signif associated w/ abnormal DLCO (AUC 0.791) in Sjogrens syndrome, esp in assoc. w/ LIP- lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis. These findings more likely in quadruple positive Sjogrens w/ RF/ANA/SSA/SSB positivity. https://t.co/s6IyRzfXiN https://t.co/J3bMowsrUQ
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Interstitial Lung Disease and Lung Cancer Risk
A large prospective cohort study found that interstitial lung disease (ILD) is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer.
https://t.co/SdOT28qVfr https://t.co/6KhAijhfHw
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Martinque, Afro-Caribbean population (n 354 800) study(2004-2022) of 33 AOSD pts (71%F; 79% systemic; 21% chr articular); 91% met Yamaguchi criteria; features as expected but more Pulmonary Dz(51%; 94% w/ a systemic pattern). Half Dx < age 35 yrs. Prevalence 7.6 /100 000 mean https://t.co/QWyfNuvhkl
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Interstitial Lung Disease and Lung Cancer Risk
A large prospective cohort study found that interstitial lung disease (ILD) is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer.
This cohort study of 5,425,976 used a a sibling-controlled design to account for genetic factors. Data was taken from the Swedish Total Population Register
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HHS secretary Abruptly Cancels USPSTF Meeting on July 10 - to discuss diet, physical activity, and weight loss to prevent cardiovascular disease in adults. An HHS spokesperson did not give a reason. https://t.co/IqNOUWeVA4 https://t.co/0AmxQ1ZAcQ
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Study of 74 systemic sclerosis pts shows nailfold videocapillaroscopy (capillary disorganization, late pattern changes) predicts ILD progression, worsening PFTs & mRSS in SSc over 2 yrs. KL-6 correlates w/ NVC findings & PFT decline. ILD incr from 38 to 51% in 2yrs https://t.co/A3LiG6Nn0m
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Study of 176 anti-MDA5-DM patients and 55 controls found anti-IFN-α Abs in 18% of MDA5-DM pts, higherin those >60 yrs. IFN-α Ab-positivity assoc w/ RP-ILD (68% vs. 41%) & pulmonary infxn (74% vs. 46%, esp fungi), Mortality (p = 0.006). https://t.co/6w6S3nozPI https://t.co/FoXEIuLBEk
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EUSTAR Study of 893 SSc-ILD pts - 94 (10.5%) died (mean F/U 39 mos). Predictors of mortality: FVC deterioration >10% w/in 12 mos (HR 3.81) & >10% FVC decline or mRSS worsening (HR 2.82); but not changes in DLCO, mRSS or digital ulcer burden alone. https://t.co/28wSQc1dUS https://t.co/dourQ6WGDq
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JAMA Patient Education Page on what is Interstitial Lung Disease https://t.co/BDbV6I53NH https://t.co/1OtTiJHkdt
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ICYMI: Clinical and Therapeutic Challenges in Connective Tissue Disease and ILD
Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) represent a challenging intersection of systemic autoimmunity and progressive respiratory impairment. Research presented at EULAR 2025 continues to highlight the importance of CTD-ILD and the evolving landscape of therapeutic
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In >228k CTD patients across France, ILD increased mortality risk across all CTDs. Proportion of incident CTD with ILD highest in IIM (37%). Up to 34% of CTD-ILD pts had progressive pulm fibrosis. Supports earlier ILD screening & vigilance in CTDs.
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#EULAR2025 #OP0033 https://t.co/nEiTWQEqsP
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POCUS of the lung can detect subclinical ILD and can be a useful, inexpensive, easy to perform screening tool for CTD-ILD.
#EULAR2025 @RheumNow https://t.co/HC0skwUKQG
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FDA adds new warning for "myocarditis" to the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines (prev mainly assoc w/ Moderna) - risk is 8 per 1 million people for those on 2023-2024 COVID shots, most common in males ages 12 to 24. Generally good outcomes seen. https://t.co/QZbTRaKGH1 https://t.co/1cAUw73eqF
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Jekyll and Hyde: which RA-ILD is it?
Dr. David Liew reports on abstract OP0329 presented at the EULAR 2025 meeting in Barcelona, Spain.
https://t.co/oH9nXaKRDz https://t.co/iUAJk2Q856
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PCR: Prevalence, Cost, & Risk (6.27.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from last week on RheumNow.com
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Prospective KORAIL study of 138 RA pts w/ ILD on chest CT -60% had UIP ILD. After F/U of 2.9 yrs, 35% had RA-ILD progression. Baseline predictors of progression = UIP, ILD >10 %, DLCO %pred, CCP+, KL-6 levels, RA Dz activity. Useful to ID high-risk RA-ILD pts.
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Aortic aneurysms w/ GCA. TriNetX study of 7,294 Bx-proven GCA vs 265,948 controls w/ tension HA. GCA had signif higher 5-yr risk of aortic aneurysms (3.59%; aHR 1.98), including thoracic thoracoabdominal & abdominal. Carotid A stenosis also incr in GCA (aHR 1.59) https://t.co/15fwlHa0FG
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Recent Blogs
How would you manage a patient with Overlap (anti-synthetase) syndrome, ILD, polyarthritis and myositis?
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