Do You Zoster Vaccinate? (6.19.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and best ways to review EULAR 2026.
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From Cytokine Endotypes to Clinical Reality in Still’s Disease
Recent EULAR 2026 data highlight a paradigm shift in Still’s disease from syndromic management to biologically informed precision therapy.
https://t.co/fBtkDLPJNE https://t.co/y8NBW6VHHa
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
From Cytokine Endotypes to Clinical Reality in Still’s Disease
Recent EULAR 2026 data highlight a paradigm shift in Still’s disease from syndromic management to biologically informed precision therapy.
https://t.co/FrghBJdlXj https://t.co/CbHYDKbnK9
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Kyoto U. cohort study of 55 relapsing polychondritis pts (503 Pt-yrs) Rx w/ TNFi, IL-6i or none -- Crude relapse rates were 46.9/100PYs NoBio, 22.4 TNFi, & 12.5 IL-6Ri. Adjusted relapses signif lower w/ TNFi (IRR 0.4) & IL-6Ri (IRR 0.2) vs no biologic. Estimates for hospitalised https://t.co/h6IcVWjqfp
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
EULAR 2026 Rheumatology RoundUp
It’s time for Rheumatology RoundUp from EULAR 2026 from London, UK. Drs. Artie Kavanaugh and Jack Cush review their choice presentations from the meeting, offering their perspectives on impact and applicability.
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#OP0209 #EULAR2026 SPECIFI-RA
Balinatunfib, oral selective TNFR1 inhibitor designed to preserve TNFR2 signalling in RA. Phase 2b trial missed primary ACR20 endpoint, but 200mg QD arm showed signals for higher ACR50, ACR70 and DAS28 low disease activity & reduced IL-6. @RheumNow https://t.co/emxNQy0cPx
Mrinalini Dey @DrMiniDey( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 Recommendations: Vasculitis
-Confirm diagnosis with imaging and biopsy
- Start GC early but with taper plan
- For major flare again confirm dx and restart GC
- Consider IL-6 or UPA
- MTX may be option if biologics not available
@RheumNow https://t.co/DqLZtW630y
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
Emapalumab in MAS secondary to stills disease
39 pts, median age 12, 2 pooled prospective, open label, single arm studies.
Endpoint complete resolution at week 8-. Around 60% and partial resolution nearly 100%
67% had concomitant anakinra
@RheumNow ##EULAR2026 #EULARBest https://t.co/sGm43C3LfH
Links:
Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
Three Abstracts That May Shape the Future of RA Treatment
Our therapeutic armamentarium in RA keeps on growing. New studies and new molecules, new mechanisms of action or new ways of using old drugs are presented every year at conferences. But which are the ones who can have an impact on our practice? Here is my selection of 3 abstracts presented at
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Window of opportunity in stills disease is early. With IL1 / IL6 agents
#sJIA and #AOSD are the same disease. - may need a standard new crieteria
IL18 measuremnet should be encouraged.
@RheumNow #EULAR2026 plenary https://t.co/EQbs9mDYjS
Links:
Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
What to use in #RA #IL6i v #abatacept post #TNFi-IR?
H2H #TCZ v #Abatacept
Same on primary outcome
#CDAI change wk26
BUT
If #monoRx TCZ better
Better retention #TCZ
So you decide which is better! Equal v some advantages w #tocilizumab
#EULAR2026 @RheumNow @eular_org
#OP0205 https://t.co/xdOx4kQCTC
Links:
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Is there a ‘window
Of opportunity’ for Rx
#GCA w #IL6i
🤞
Obtain a better response
Rx GCA #GC
#TCZ
#Upadacitinib
#MTX
Study tries to answer if effects of #tocilizumab early vs >8wks is diff
N=471, 19% new GCA
Early vs late TCZ no dif
❎No
Not RCT
POS0624 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
JAK Safety Debate Continues: Stronger VTE signal, less clear cancer signal
Few topics in rheumatology have reshaped prescribing behaviour as dramatically as the safety concerns surrounding JAK inhibitors following ORAL Surveillance and the subsequent FDA and EMA warnings.
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Review of Ruxolitinib in 7 pts w/ refractory systemic JIA complicated by macrophage activation (MAS) (ages 1.6-11 yrs; 3M: 4F). 5 achieved complete remission; 2 partial remission. 2 relapsed w/ GC tapering (remission after adding canakinumab). No deaths https://t.co/j4Cm3UYB9c https://t.co/YIupsBank5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
NLRP3 inflammasome activation triggers PAD (2, 4) release from human neutrophils, increasing citrullination of intracellular proteins (CCPs) and driving the pathogenesis of #RA. Further proof: , PAD concentrations and PAD activity correlate with IL-1β.https://t.co/pRQy0ECG5d https://t.co/HExIhebJ4u
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Prospective study of 40 newly Dx, Tx-naïve RA pts starting MTX; Of serum cytokines tested, high baseline IL-6 & IL-17 was assoc w/ nonresponse to MTX. Yet, still not good response biomarkers. TNF-α & GM-CSF did not assoc w/ MTX outcomes https://t.co/YIQKop9LMH https://t.co/XxwcRsKwoM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ANCA-Assoc. Vasculitis has great Rx optionis, BUT still no reliable biomaker to predict relapse or renal outcomes, this includes IL-6. But there is hope for CD163 in the future. https://t.co/lFyfTPj5vG https://t.co/wLfOPz76JC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Breaking the Rules: Dual-Advanced Combinations in Rheumatology
For decades, the standard of care in rheumatology has been combination therapy - pairing methotrexate (MTX) with an advanced biologic or synthetic agent to achieve optimal outcomes.
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Study of 216 RA pts - Serum IL-8 independently assoc w/ RA Dz activity. CRP & IL-6 significantly associated w/ higher IL-8 levels, but RF & CCP did not. IL-8 also correlated w/ CV risk (SCORE2) & carotid intima media thickness https://t.co/aqUoAeXFFP https://t.co/ZW7OAx8YGK
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Follow the Money (4.23.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush follows the money and all the news that fits the Rheumatology Gab for this past week.
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Still's Disease Update
Arthritis Research & Therapy has published an overarching review of Still's disease - claiming it to be a single acquired and complex autoinflammatory disease in which both pediatric and adult forms share core pathogenic mechanisms, genetic associations and clinical presentations, with minor
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Malignancies Not Increased with Biologic Therapies
The risk of malignancy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving biologic agents was evaluated by metanalysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and found no significant increased risk of malignancy compared with other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or with placebo
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Spotty Medicare Coverage for Newer Rheumatoid Arthritis Meds
MedPage Today
Medicare coverage of targeted disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) -- both under Medicare Advantage and in separate Part D plans -- is likely to leave many patients wanting, researchers found.
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SATISFACTION (2.27.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Aortitis in Giant Cell Arteritis Treated with Tocilizumab
The Tocilizumab in Giant Cell Arteritis Spanish Collaborative Group studied giant cell arteritis (GCA) with aortitis, comparing the efficacy of intravenous (IV) vs. subcutaneously (SC) tocilizumab (TCZ) - demonstrating https://t.co/yo7SDj5lgZ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Recent Blogs
How would you manage a patient with Overlap (anti-synthetase) syndrome, ILD, polyarthritis and myositis?
Even though polymyalgia rheumatica is not perceived by many physicians as a severe diagnosis, its diagnosis and management actually propose significant challenges. I'd like to talk about those challenges, and what directions our path forward can include to advance our understanding and improve the treatment of patients who have PMR.
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Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a common inflammatory rheumatic disease. The exact trigger for PMR onset remains unknown. However, immunology studies and clinical trials with biological DMARDs now shed light on the immune pathways involved in PMR.
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