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Drug Safety

Guidelines for Adult-Onset IgA Vasculitis

A EUVAS-sponsored expert panel of 37 specialists across rheumatology, nephrology, dermatology and pathology has published evidence-based guidelines for adult-onset IgA vasculitis (IgAV), which behaves very differently in adults compared to usually self-limited childhood form.

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Registry Data Shows Liver Risk With Avacopan

MedPage Today

A new study may add fuel to the fire already burning around avacopan (Tavneos), approved in 2021 to treat anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), which the FDA wants drugmaker Amgen to pull from the U.S. market.

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Glucocorticoids: Use vs.Toxicity

This review article addresses the recognition, prevention and management of glucocorticoid toxicity in rheumatic patients.

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e-cigarette use assoc w/ a 1.5-fold incr risk of RA & SLE. All of Us Research prg matched 15,909 e-cig users vs nonusers. 66 new RA or SLE among current e-cig (IR 1.43/1,000PYs) vs nonusers (0.93/1,000PYs; IRR 1.54); applies to past or current smokers https://t.co/xYRezwQFYC https://t.co/pnNANfui4Y
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

EU Finalizes Tavneos Withdrawal - The European Commission has officially revoked the marketing authorization for Tavneos (avacopan), finalizing a process that began with regulators flagging the drug's pivotal trial data as "incorrect and misleading." The EC issued its legally https://t.co/jgysiV1hyX

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Misdiagnosis of Still's Disease

High fever, strange rashes, scary labs often lead to a consideration of Still's disease (AOSD or systemic JIA). Yet the dramatic onset of a systemic disorder may overlap with another, and possibly as rare, systemic disorder that should not be misdiagnosed or mistreated. A current case review by

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Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Rheumatoid Arthritis

RA confers a 50–100% excess risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared with the general population, with adjusted hazard/odds ratios ranging from 1.3–2.2 across large cohort studies (Vojinovic, Askling, Antovic; Rheumatology, 2026).

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JAMA: Review of Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain affects 16% of adults annually and is the third most common musculoskeletal presentation in primary care. This new review reframes the diagnostic and therapeutic approach, moving away from pathoanatomic labels (rotator cuff tendinopathy, impingement, bursitis) toward the umbrella

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Efgartigimod Efficacy in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy

Today Argenx announced the results of their Phase 3 "ALKIVIA" study; demonstrating efficacy and safety of subcutaneous efgartigimod for Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy (IIM, AKA inflammatory myositis).

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FDA & Fresenius Kabi Issues Nationwide Recall of Tyenne® (tocilizumab biosimilar) Injection 400 mg/20 mL Vials Due to Presence of Glass Particles. Applies to NDC Number 65219-594-20, Lot Number 16UI07 , Expiration date: 08/2028 . FDA warns possible ISR or VTE. https://t.co/YMRC9FO7Mu
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Can Effective Psoriasis Therapy Prevent Psoriatic Arthritis?

A review article assesses and integrates mechanistic, imaging, and clinical evidence to examine whether effective treatment of psoriasis may modify the future risk of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

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CDC warns of an association betw severe CNS arboviral disease, w/ neurologic sequelae in pts receiving anti-CD20 mAbs (rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, obinutuzumab, etc). West Nile virus was the most common arbovirus, but there are others; mortality up to 40%. Most arbovirus https://t.co/7eMoNgWbB4
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

ZEUS Trial: IL-6 Inhibition Fails to Cut Cardiovascular Events

The phase 3 ZEUS trial (published in JAMA Dec. 2025)  tested the IL-6 ligand inhibitor ziltivekimab in over 6,000 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and elevated hsCRP—a population enriched for an inflammatory driver of risk.

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CDC warns of an association betw severe CNS arboviral disease, w/ neurologic sequelae in pts receiving anti-CD20 mAbs (rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, obinutuzumab, etc). West Nile virus was the most common arbovirus, but there are others; mortality up to 40%. Most arbovirus https://t.co/WWg41fsRgr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Wealth and Where you Live Influences Outcomes

EurekAlert!

Patients from wealthier European countries tend to start treatment with biologics earlier but also stop or switch treatment earlier. They also experience lower disease activity at treatment start than patients in middle- and low-income countries.

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POETYK PsA-1: Deucravacitinib in Biologic-Naïve PsA

POETYK PsA-1 trial tested the disease modifying efficacy of deucravacitinib, a tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients and was shown to be superior vs to placebo for clinical responses, patient-reported outcomes, and structural damage inhibition in PsA.

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In a Cohort of 410 #SLE pts, there were 37 MALES who demonstrated a high prevalence of renal (IV/V lupus nephritis 49%) and a notable incidence of Plaquenil-related retinal toxicity. 62% on HCQ, but 22% D/C HCQ due to retinal toxicity or drug intolerance. https://t.co/VISwHO1wcK https://t.co/6SoD6mD5tf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
New Avacopan Analysis Sent to FDA After data manipulation allegations, the FDA has been calling for the vasculitis drug to be pulled from the market since January. Amgen has submitted a third-party review of avacopan's (Tavneos) pivotal trial data and other analyses to the FDA https://t.co/zBg4pFBfSP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Mentshlichkeit* (8.7.2026)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and recent journal reports on RheumNow.com.

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Rethinking Treatment of EGPA

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) has long been managed by extrapolating results from microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis clinical trials. But new insights into EGPA's has lead to advances in therapy and new treatment paradigms.

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Keep HCQ Blood Levels Up to Avoid Cardiovascular Disease in Lupus

MedPage Today

People taking hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) showed markedly increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease when blood levels of the drug were low and when long-term adherence was poor, a prospective study showed.

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A Tribute to Daniel L. Kastner, MD, PhD (1951–2026)

The rheumatology, genetics and NIH communities mourn for Dr. Daniel L. Kastner, who died on July 28, 2026, in Bethesda, Maryland, at age 74. The following are declarations, tributes, and memories dedicated to this mensch of a man, titan of science, memorable mentor and humble physician.

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New Avacopan Analysis Sent to FDA After data manipulation allegations, the FDA has been calling for the vasculitis drug to be pulled from the market since January. Amgen has submitted a third-party review of avacopan's (Tavneos) pivotal trial data and other analyses to the FDA https://t.co/TdLWRMPvnR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Tips for safe use of allopurinol https://t.co/Yn1u1bEj4F https://t.co/lMWPI9OsVe
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

JAMA Review of Hip Fracture

The July 16th edition of JAMA reviews the highly prevalent problem of hip fractures - a major global health burden: 14.2 million occur worldwide annually (280,000 in the US), with global incidence higher in women (833.9/100,000) than men (510.0/100,000). Lifetime risk at age 50 is 22.9% for

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