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Cardio/Pulmonary

Retrospective clinicopathologic review of 170 AORTIC surgical pathology cases (2009-16) - showed 87% w/ atherosclerosis, 13% aortitis/periaortitis and 2.4% atherosclerosis w/ excessive inflammation. Lymphoplasmacytic inflammation was most common w/ aortitis/periaortitis. https://t.co/CuP30dqRQU
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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
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Myocarditis causes 17,000 deaths/Yr worldwide. Causes include A) iatrogenic/autoimmune: checkpoint inhibitors & gene therapy; B) High income countries: parvo B19, herpesvirus 6; C) low income: dengue, HIV, malaria and Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease) https://t.co/0FjPyXygpz https://t.co/04J23AiqtK
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What’s New PsA? (4.3.2026)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and major articles from this week, including FDA safety warnings, reports from AAD, PsA trials.

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Review: Rheumatoid Arthritis–Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

RA-ILD represents the most severe extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis, affecting an estimated 1% of the adult population in the US and Northern Europe. Prevalence estimates vary widely  (up to 58%), reflecting different diagnostic criteria, imaging modalities, and study

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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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Retrospective TriNetX Network cohort study of adult PsA (N 123,031) pts, propensity- matched to non-PsA controls. PsA had signif higher CV morbidity: MACE (HR 1.74); mortality (HR 1.95); CHF (HR 1.96), MI (HR 1.71), & CVA (HR 1.49). bDMARDs reduced MACE (HR 0.95) & mortality (HR https://t.co/bHrq9KpwBM
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Outcomes of 87 VEXAS pts in the AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance (AIDA) - 75% had recurrent fever episodes. Fever episodes assoc w/ mortality, organ involvement (CV, GI, Lung), but not with complete response to biologics. https://t.co/j9vzBJNMj0 https://t.co/YGsE7LH3ml
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Single center prospective cohort study of 137 Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK) pts found the prevalence of coronary arteritis was 13 (9%). TAK coronary arteritis pts were not distinguished by demographics, angiographic patterns. 50% had complications from vascular grafts or stents https://t.co/xRR7TSi5FW
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ILD found in 3% of #PsA pts. Metanalysis of 6 studies, 14,272 pts found ILD pooled prevalence was 3% in PsA; highers ((6%) in studies w/ CT, HRCT. Smoking was a signif. risk factor for ILD in PsA (OR 2.94, 95% CI: 1.22–7.12; I2 = 1.8%). https://t.co/9mY4Eiqc9d

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Hydralazine and the Rare Risk of Vasculitis

Since the 1980s, hydralazine has been a notable cause of drug-induced lupus, and inferred to cause vasculitis as well.  A retrospective cohort study from Canada has shown

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Rheumatic Immune-related Adverse Effects with Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy A retrospective study of patients who developed rheumatic immune-related adverse events (R-irAEs) after receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) at two oncology centers in Spain suggests that early https://t.co/jKCbIvfebm
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Treat-to-Target and Cardiovascular Benefits in Gout

A new user cohort study of 109 504 gout patients, achieving a serum urate level less than 6 mg/dL, was associated with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular events.

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UK Retrospective analysis of 2 RA cohorts, 2,701 pts (F/U 6 yrs) = 101 (3.7%) Dx with ILD. (12 @ baseline, 46 w/ F/U, 43 @ death). ILD Dx signif. assoc w/ onset age (aOR 1.03), seropositivity (aOR 2.58), ever smoking (aOR 1.7). https://t.co/Zvkb1Wjpa4 https://t.co/YMkWDc3rMr
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RT @RichardPAConway ACR/Chest and EULAR/ERS guidelines for RA-ILD presented by Dr Sparks. I'm posting the one I use ;) #RNL26 https://t.co/fwTjB2bIqg
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RT @richardPAConway Data from Scott Matson's group showing that immunosuppressing RA-ILD (agnostic to agent) results in stabilisation of the previous downward trajectory of pulmonary function tests. #RNL26 https://t.co/TMNeCsPDep
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RT @RichardPAConway UIP pattern RA-ILD is where the big problem is. We are less good at treating this. Perhaps the newer agents such as nerandomilast will change this? #RNL26 https://t.co/lzKFulaomD
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RT @richardPAConway Target trial emulation from Dr Sparks group in RA-ILD. Abatatacept and JAKi seem to be better than RTX. TNFi and IL-6i appear similar to RTX. Thought provoking! #RNL26 https://t.co/vmg7ot9m8b
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RT @richardPAConway Data from Scott Matson's group showing that immunosuppressing RA-ILD (agnostic to agent) results in stabilisation of the previous downward trajectory of pulmonary function tests. #RNL26 https://t.co/MoYoM0K1cs
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
UK Biobank registry analyzed assoc. betw sleep duration, insomnia, & shift with osteoarthritis endpoints (KOA, HOA, TKA, THA) - all incr/highest in pts w/ <6 hrs nightly sleep. Night shift workers had 24% higher knee OA risk (HR=1.24) & 28% higher TKA risk (HR=1.28). https://t.co/UnxXH2I92R
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RT @richardPAConway The new kid on the block in RA-ILD (and other PPF). Nerandomilast, an anti-fibrotic with additional anti-inflammatory/immunomodulating functions. Demonstrated significant mortality benefit in ILD. #RNL26 https://t.co/8DU3WyPQGy
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @RichardPAConway ACR/Chest and EULAR/ERS guidelines for RA-ILD presented by Dr Sparks. I'm posting the one I use ;) #RNL26 https://t.co/a6vwQWbjE7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Screening study of lung US (LUS) vs HRCT in 73 RA pts (DAS28 3.47) Chest HRCT identified ILD in 29%. LUS identified ILD in 22% of patients. LUS sensitivity was 59%; specificity 94%. ROC. This study demonstrates the good diagnostic performance of LUS in RA- ILD detection https://t.co/E8avnbvUiw
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @RichardPAConway UIP pattern RA-ILD is where the big problem is. We are less good at treating this. Perhaps the newer agents such as nerandomilast will change this? #RNL26 https://t.co/Z0BXxyNrCI
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Disease Modification, Disparities and the Next Therapeutic Frontier in Gout

Gout management has entered what Dr. Robert Terkeltaub MD from UC San Diego described as its “disease-modifying era,” during his talk at RheumNow Live 2026. In a recent comprehensive review of the past, present, and future of gout therapy, the central message was clear: “We can really apply

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