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COVID-19

Post-COVID POTS? Neurology cohort study of 16 pts - 81%F, mean age 36. Common Sxs: - Palpitations & Fatuge in 2/3 - in <1/3: migraines, IBS, Raynaud’s - Variable tilt test but High autonomic Sxs No insights on Rx... https://t.co/I7MLjHAUDb https://t.co/hWnfJ9WWPX
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
MMWR: Vaccination and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children MIS-C is a rare but serious condition typically occurring 2–6 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection and characterized by fever and multiorgan involvement. https://t.co/PN2MPQxqSR https://t.co/eIzB4pjner
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Ides of March (3.15.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush has advice for Caesar and the superstitious, and covers pregnancy, platelets, dialysis and vaccinations in Lupus.





  1. Dutch study of 586 RA pts on bDMARDs found more nonserious infections (NSIE) (77/100PYs) than serious infx (SIE)(1.3/100Pys). Upper respiratory

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MMWR: Vaccination and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children

CDC

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but serious condition typically occurring 2–6 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection and characterized by fever and multiorgan involvement.  The current MMWR report shows that MIS-C case numbers have decreased by 98% since 2021.

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COVIDs Extended Risk for Rheumatic Disease Annals of Internal Medicine reports a large, binational study finding SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk for AIRDs that extends up to 12 months after infection. https://t.co/HjQ56hiiny https://t.co/vvC3iVqNyF
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

COVIDs Extended Risk for Rheumatic Disease

EurekAlert!

Annals of Internal Medicine reports a large, binational study finding SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk for autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) that extends up to 12 months after

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False positive COVID tests (+Rapid Ag; neg PCR) are rare, 1.7% of 11,297 tests; Persistent false positives seen in 13/191 and usually in women, with autoimmune dz (6/13; RA, SLE etc) & using the Quidel QuickVue rapid antigen test https://t.co/Pqkk7uBVcO https://t.co/m6ylQz00Ih
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Best Treatments for COVID-Related MIS-C https://t.co/6Ntdug1eam https://t.co/x6de0DQTZ9
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Best Treatments for COVID-Related MIS-C

The RECOVERY trial focused on pediatric MIS-C patients treated with immunomodulators and anti-cytokine therapy demonstrated the benefits of first-line therapy with intravenous methylprednisolone or second-line tocilizumab in children refractory to initial treatment. Neither IV

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Hydroxychloroquine for COVID may have caused 16,990 deaths. Systematic review of 44 cohort studies showed HCQ use in COVID was associated with 11% increase in mortality in 6 countries (US 12,739, Spain 1,895, Italy 1,822, Belgium 240, France 199,Turkey 95 https://t.co/vmhvSx4XLO https://t.co/KRxqiiSFC3
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Is MTX Safe in the Elderly? (12.1.2023)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews this past week's news and journal reports from RheumNow.com. Good news is that nearly 99% of adult rheumatology positions matched! But the challenge is that 45% of pediatric fellowship programs and 39% of pediatric rheum slots were unfilled in the 2024 NRMP match.

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🔥 HOT OFF THE PRESS for #ACR23 Effectiveness of a fourth dose of #COVID19 mRNA #vaccine in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases using DMARDs: an emulated target trial https://t.co/bvc75BP4aG @zach_wallace_md @jeffsparks https://t.co/CAlgjvUr9X
The Lancet Rheumatology @TheLancetRheum( View Tweet )
COVAD2 data: ⬆️proportion of SLE pts from lmHDI countries were on CS(73% vs 59% p=0.0002), antimalarials(81% vs 68% p=0.0002) & IS(66% vs 53%p=0.0009) vs pts from hvhHDI countries Comorbids more in younger pts from lmHDI (prob from CS use) #ACR23 ABST2269 @RheumNow @rheumarhyme https://t.co/4CLGFYG1d0
sheila ( View Tweet )
Kevin. Winthrop knocks it down on WHO is immunocompromised among rheumatic disease pts at Innovation Theater ⁦@CCalabreseDO⁩ #ACR23 ⁦@alhkim⁩ ⁦@AdamJBrownMD⁩ ⁦@ELittlejohnDO⁩ https://t.co/4hFtQgvaIf
Leonard Calabrese @LCalabreseDO( View Tweet )
Our collaborative study on nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) virologic rebound is out in @AnnalsofIM @DrJLi @zach_wallace_md -Paxlovid: 21% with rebound vs. 2% in untreated (OR 10) https://t.co/RRDxerGdBy

Jeffrey Sparks MD MMSc @jeffsparks( View Tweet )

Is rituximab still a problem with COVID - esp if our patients have been vaccinated pre-ritux? Antibody titres better when not getting regular ritux around boosters Maybe boosters 9mo (or so) gap after ritux helps immunogenicity @TroldborgAnne et al #ACR23 ABST2511 @RheumNow https://t.co/dE0uC6B9hx
David Liew @drdavidliew( View Tweet )
A#2316 #ACR23 @RheumNow 91 SLE pts w COVID v 182 SLE wo COVID ifn 11 SLE/COVID: serious disease 1 death, 7 severe compl W/in 90d, 15% mild/mod SLE flare 2% severe SLE flare Flare rate 17.6% higher than no COVID ifn 5% p=0.001 High HV ifn (2% v 1%) dsDNA/C3 changes not signif diff https://t.co/dxGJNNWuFy
Eric Dein ( View Tweet )
Two-week interruption of MTX for IMIDs enhanced boost of antibody responses after COVID-19 vaccination, sustained at 12, 26 weeks. Consistent across ages, MTX doses, route, IMIDs, primary vaccination platform,COVID-19, Abhishek A Abst#1677 #ACR23 @RheumNow https://t.co/T0KdsGh6vg

Dr. Antoni Chan ( View Tweet )

VROOM 🏎️ study 2 wks interruption of MTX just after COVID vaccine: -Increase S1-RBD Ab response for 26 wks -Improves Neutralizing Ab titres (Wuhan Hu-1) -Leads to more flares wks 4 & 12 Greater effect when MTX dose>15mg @RheumNow #ACR23 ABST1677 https://t.co/SJmaRHtbRH
Aurelie Najm ( View Tweet )
Abishek et al. 2 week break from MTX enhances response to COVID-19 vaccination, mirroring what we saw for flu. Trade off is short term worsening of disease activity. Abstr#1677 #ACR23 @RheumNow https://t.co/gguRWER81x https://t.co/1hncvDTahH
Richard Conway ( View Tweet )
@Dr_K presenting long COVID data from FORWARD RA. These pts had some symtoms before COVID!- More comorbidites, depression patient reported scores, fibromyalgia but no different DMRD use. PHQ8 and wodepread paid were the most important PROMs @RheumNow #ACR23 https://t.co/JaWc4oDnaI
Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
Michaud et al. RA patients with long COVID had more fibromyalgia pre-COVID (41% vs 13%), higher rates of pain, depression, and worse PROs pre-COVID. Authors suggest long COVID may partially reflect pre-existing illness Abstr#1629 #ACR23 #ACRbest @RheumNow https://t.co/mrcGWrSD6c https://t.co/YiGCbvBDtn
Richard Conway ( View Tweet )
COVID boosters in RA patients: getting the job done (versus healthy controls, irrespective of non-withheld DMARDs excluding ritux) @UChicagoMed #ACR23 ABST0416 @RheumNow https://t.co/HVRjC4dauw
David Liew @drdavidliew( View Tweet )
Ph 3 360 pt RCT of sarilumab in #GCA was terminated early (COVID). 83 pts Rx'd, only 35%(29) completed. Sustained remission @wk 52: - SAR 200: 6/13 - SAR 150: 3/7 - PBO: 0/6 All had 26wk GC taper Sm sample size & COVID ruined RCT interpretation https://t.co/axOvJGpUti #PMR https://t.co/Xpabxn1IjZ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Sleep Apnea Smart Watches (10.13.2023)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory approvals from this past week on RheumNow.com.





  1. Full Read review of #PMR in Lancet: - Start @ 12·5–25mg prednisone qd - Remission in most but, relapses in 40–60% - Onset sudden; AM stiffness predominates;

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