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Infection

Infections cause high morbidity & mortality in our immunocompromised rheum patients: vaccinations are essential to keep them healthy. Best time to administer vaccines? 1. Before immunosuppression 2 during periods of dz control 3. >1 vaccines need pt input @LCalabreseDO #CCRW25 https://t.co/oBgXlIk1TY
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Did Hydroxychloroquine Reduce COVID-19 Mortality?

A multicenter study investigated the association between hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) dosage and COVID-19 mortality among hospitalized patients from multiple medical centers in China. The analysis focused on dose effects of HCQ on mortality.

This retrospective cohort includes 2,387 COVID-19

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SARD-ILD and serious infection risk: The elephant in the room Interstitial lung disease (ILD) remains one of the largest unmet clinical needs across many systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). ILD is highly prevalent across systemic sclerosis, mixed connective tissue https://t.co/oxIteGfUTd
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CDC 2025–26 Updates to Influenza Vaccination. - Most are trivalent inactivated (IIV3s) or vaccines (RIV3), few live virus(LAIV3) - FDA approved FluMist (LAIV3) for self-administration (ages 2-49) - If <18yrs, Flu vax should thimerosal free 2023/24 Flu vax prevented 7900 deaths, https://t.co/hjLBGKWNDr
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RA-associated interstitial lung disease or bronchiectasis is assoc w/ increased risk of total and cause-specific mortality. retrospective cohort study using the Mass General Brigham Biobank 221 RA-LD cases (151 RA-ILD, 70 RA-BR). RA-LD higher mortality (34 vs 13/1000PY; HR

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When Myositis Hits the Lungs: What Every Rheumatologist Should Know About ILD When idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) affect the lungs, the consequences can be serious. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is not only common in IIM, but also one of the leading causes of death, https://t.co/qRoTr3r84x
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Retrospective study of 201 IPAF (Interstitial pneumonia w/ autoimmune feat.) pts w/ F/U 5.6 yrs. ANA+ 80%, RF+ 25%, CCP+ 14%, 88% Rx w/ IS or antifibrotics. 24% died, 7.5% transplant. Comorbidies were common; mean CCI 3.2; IPAF mortality worsened by

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Nitazenes — a class of highly potent synthetic opioids — are rapidly emerging as a major contributor to the overdose crisis; they are over 20 times more potent than fentanyl. Nitazenes are an illegal Schedule I drug that are rapidly spreading in the illicit drug market

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There is no criteria for infection-induced Antiphospholipid syndr (APS). aPL & aCL abs have been reported w/ COVID, HCV, HIV, EBV, varicella-zoster, & CMV. infections may induce transient aPL positivity without over APS, but may precipitate APS or catastrophic APS (CAPS).

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Equal Safety of JAK Inhibitors and TNF Inhibitors

JAMA has published a systematic review and meta-analysis of head-to-head studies showing there was no meaningful difference in safety events observed when taking either JAK inhibitor (JAKi) vs TNF antagonist (TNFi) therapies for the treatment of immune-

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SARD-ILD and serious infection risk: The elephant in the room

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) remains one of the largest unmet clinical needs across many systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). Clinicians are already keenly aware of the complexity of patients with SARD-ILD. The “elephant in the room” for all these issues: serious infection.

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QD Clinic: Progressive RA-ILD Management Dr. Richard Conway, a rheumatologist in Dublin, discusses a case about managing progressive rheumatoid arthritis-interstitial lung disease, as part of RheumNow's Rheum to Breathe: ILD campaign, presented throughout the month of September https://t.co/dLCXeXwl7w
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Hyperferritinemia is common in Hyperinflammatory syndromes but is a hallmark of Macrophage activation syndrome and Sepsis; and is a poor prognostic sign too. MAS is excessive activation of T-lymphocytes & macrophages leading to cytokine storm & multi-organ damage. https://t.co/MUKXC0Tw3M
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QD Clinic Video: RA and Bronchiectasis Dr. Jeffrey Sparks, Boston, talks about rheumatoid arthritis and bronchiectasis as part of RheumNow's Rheum to Breathe: ILD campaign, presented throughout the month of September 2025. https://t.co/Y2u3m4rFfj https://t.co/KgrIxXlQo4
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9 yr. study of anti-Ro52 & ILD pts -- 1,026 pts 15% Ro52+: interstitial pneumonia w/ autoimmune 48%, CTD-ILD 13%, idiopathic pulm fibrosis 10%, hypersens pneumonitis 6%, idiopathic ILD 24%. Ro52+ were younger w/ more autoimmune dz, +MSA Abs, ILD progression, death, & lung https://t.co/fuFfnaYIRd
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3 yr study of FDA Adverse Event Reporting on anifrolumab shows following AEs- URIs, herpes zoster, infusion reactions, and potential new risks like dyspnea and pyrexia, not in the label. https://t.co/vP2YWGT2vR https://t.co/BruGBtXEBu
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📍Smoking, obesity and low Vit D are significant risk factors for Pre-RA. 📍Subdoligranulum arthritogenic strain is a newly described infectious agent implicated in the pathogenesis of pre-RA @RheumNow #ACR25 @rheumarhyme https://t.co/ZzZZlfdKmk
Lung Cancer in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Interstitial Lung Disease A matched cohort study from the Veterans Health Administration shows that RA patients have a >50% increased risk of lung cancer, a 3-fold higher risk of lung cancer in RA-ILD. https://t.co/Gjn2M2CNAO https://t.co/DPgDQsCWK9
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September to Remember (9.5.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow. This week - unemployment, diagnosing Sjogren's and a lot of ILD.

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LTBI risk in rheumatic pts is high (22%). Metanalysis 18 studies, 12,167 rheum pts shows LTBI signif. incr w/ current smoking (OR 1.50), golimumab(OR 2.90), Chloroquine (OR 1.27), age >40 (OR 1.84), prior TB OR 3.26). LTBI not increased w/ RF, ADA, ETN, BCG, Pred, smoking, DM https://t.co/0PayHJqwDn
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Retrospective French Health Data System Immune Checkpt inhibitor (ICI) study. Of 172,363 ICI-Rx adult pts, ICI myotoxicities at 6 months ranged from 0.7% -0.9%. ICI myocarditis & myositis incidence was 0.3%- 0.6%, co-occurring in ∼13–23%. ICI myotoxicity- 1-mo fatality was https://t.co/kOGKM8lC0H
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ILD Begins (8.29.2025) Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from https://t.co/V10S4oVFsv. This week news on vaccines, safety of acetaminophen and more. https://t.co/YlOK3X4hkW https://t.co/9cgcDn0xab
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ACR Concerns on the Scientific Integrity at the CDC

ACR

On behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), we express deep concern over recent developments at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that appear to undermine the agency’s longstanding commitment to science-based public health policy.

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Wait! FDA approved the Chikungunya Virus Vaccine 2 yrs ago, but just pulled the vaccine, Ixchiq, citing serious safety concerns (specifically CBER reports of >20 serious adverse events, including 21 hospitalizations, 3 deaths, w/ 1 fatality directly linked to vaccine-derived https://t.co/aaC38VX7rF
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Recombinant zoster vaccine effective in #SLE without flare. Retrospective Medicare & commercial claims data on pts given 2 RZV doses, matched 1:4 to unVAX. 3592 pts F?u ~1.5 yrs. Vax effectiveness 70% in Medicare; 54% commercial. SLE flare rates HR 0.91& 0.94. https://t.co/WCBOQhb4Ad
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