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Labs/Biomarkers

CBT or Naltrexone in Fibromyalgia (12.8.2023)

Dec 08, 2023

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.  Be sure to catch the early registration break for 2024 RheumNow Live




  1. Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is difficult to treat; w/ few reports of JAKi efficacy. Now

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Chemokine CXCL10 a potential biomarker for ILD in systemic sclerosis (SSc)? Study of 165 SSc pts (41 w/ SSc-ILD) found higher serum CXCL10 in SSc-ILD (126 vs. 78.5 pg/ml). Hi levels incr risk of ILD 2.74-fold. Most CXCL10 from inflammed lung tissues https://t.co/Z8pIAZYaC0 https://t.co/ErRsD9Msn1

Is MTX Safe in the Elderly? (12.1.2023)

Dec 01, 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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MTX Toxicity in Older CKD Patients

Nov 29, 2023

You know this; you've taught this; but here's a good study documenting a higher risk of methotrexate toxicity when used in the setting of older patients with chronic kidney disease.

Yesterday's JAMA published a higher 90-day risk of serious adverse events in older adults with CKD taking low-

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Withdraw DMARDS after remission?

The possibility of withdrawing DMARDs after patients achieve remission has been in our minds for a while. Yet when our patients ask whether it is a good idea to taper or stop their DMARD when they are doing well, most of us don’t have a black or white answer for them. The arrival on the

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Rheumatology Roundup - ACR 2023

Nov 17, 2023

Drs. Jack Cush and Arthur Kavanaugh discuss highlights and key takeaways from ACR 23.

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ACR23 – Day 3 Report

Nov 15, 2023

These year’s annual ACR Convergence has been a success with the return of an insanely active Poster Hall! F2F learning amidst miles of research and many young talented aside wizened establish presenters is such a welcome return to ACR, the way it should be.



Highlights from today

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Urinary biomarkers precede loss of kidney function for lupus nephritis

Nov 14, 2023

In Abstract 0850, Dr. Andrea Fava from Johns Hopkins presents research on the value of urinary biomarkers as measure of intrarenal inflammation.

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Great research by @andreafava on urinary biomarkers for lupus nephritis A#0850 #ACR23 IL-17 and other biomarkers can predict renal fxn loss - better than proteinuria! Article on @RheumNow https://t.co/DeiWFKzNxC
Nov 14, 2023
AI predict ANA specific Abs? @AliDuarteMD Ab#0852 #ACR23 @RheumNow 410K pts test for ANA HEp-2 IFA (136K pos, 47K specific autoAb) AI prediction models >0.80 AUC exc for RNP, Scl70 More predictive than traidtional staining patterns (p<0.001), except centromere (similar) https://t.co/4ZvP79rEdl
Nov 12, 2023
Tired of getting referrals for symptomatic patients with 1/80+ ANAs antibodies? This new risk model for systemic AID is very welcome! Variables: age, female, higher ANA titer, higher platelet count, disease-specific autoantibody & billing code count. #ACR23 @Rheumnow ABST0131 https://t.co/q8rYjjtZ89
Nov 12, 2023

Anakinra Effective in Systemic JIA, Irrespective of HLA-DRB1 and IL1RN Variants

Nov 06, 2023

A prospective study of first line use anakinra in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) proved to be effective and without potentially allergic lung reactions.

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Subcutaneous Biosimilars? (10.27.2023)

Oct 27, 2023

Dr. Jack Cush reviews RheumNow's top entries the PMR Campaign, news, journal reports and regulatory actions.




  1. #PMR Polymyalgia rheumatica is very common, yet there is little research on the Dx & Management of PMR by #PCPs! Mayo study prevalence 701 per 100,000 (women=870

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Anti-Phospholipid Antibodies - Infrequent in Certain Groups

MedPage Today
Oct 26, 2023

Among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), high titers of anti-phospholipid (aPL) antibodies were most prevalent in whites and Latinos and less so for Black and Asian individuals, researchers found.



Rates for most aPL species varied from 2% to 4% for Black patients, while

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2023 EULAR Lupus Management Recommendations

Oct 17, 2023

EULAR has published updated recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) based on new evidence and expert opinion - formulationg five overarching principles and 13 recommendations.



A multinational international Task Force included  35 rheumatologists, five

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Sleep Apnea Smart Watches (10.13.2023)

Oct 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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Predictive FDG-PET in Newly Diagnosed GCA

Oct 04, 2023

Annals of Internal Medicine reports that the use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET imaging at the time of a giant cell arteritis (GCA) diagnosis may help estimate the risk for aortic aneurysm formation.

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TNR: PMR Diagnosis and Monitoring

Oct 04, 2023

Panelists Dr. Claire Owen, Stephen Paget, Anisha Dua and Jack Cush discuss diagnosis and monitoring in PMR during this week's Tuesday Night Rheumatology.

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RheumNow Podcast – with Special Guest Dr. Kathryn Dao (9.29.2023)

Sep 29, 2023

This week on the podcast, Dr. Jack Cush is joined by special guest, Dr. Kathryn Dao to review the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. They discuss unmet needs in gout, obesity and CV disease in PsA and should you check ANCA antibodies in SLE?




  1. Painful

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Uncertainty on Pre-Clinical RA – Rheumatologist Survey Results

Sep 27, 2023

In June 2023, RheumNow surveyed US and non-US rheumatologists (Rheums) about how they consider and manage pre-clinical rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in their practice. 



In the last few years there have been numerous well designed and appropriately powered randomized clinical trials of pre

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Advice on Multi-Drug Failures in RA

Sep 25, 2023

What’s your next best approach to the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient who has failed several DMARDs and biologics?  In such cases you have to either reconsider the diagnosis (especially if seronegative) or reach into your bag of tricks.  



As many of us struggle with multi-drug

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What Changed FDA's Mind About Ilaris for Gout?

MedPage Today
Sep 21, 2023

The FDA quietly approved the interleukin (IL)-1 inhibitor canakinumab (Ilaris) for gout 10 days ago, with no announcement from either the agency or the drug's manufacturer, Novartis -- leaving outsiders to guess at what changed in the dozen years since the company's first attempt to gain

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Update on Anti-Drug Antibodies and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

Sep 21, 2023

We use biologic agents on a daily basis in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Despite having an expanding array of options, our profession is keen on gaining a deeper understanding of why certain drugs fail and being able to predict the most appropriate next steps in treatment. 

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TNR: Decisions in Methotrexate

Sep 20, 2023

This Tuesday Night Rheumatology panel discussion on "Methotrexate Decisions" features Drs. Michael Weinblatt, Grace Wright, Richard Conway and Joel Kremer. The​ Panel discussed folate & MTX dosing, side effect management, MTX & lung disease and optimal monitoring, with many audience

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Machine Learning May Diagnose Psoriatic Arthritis Earlier

Sep 18, 2023

A machine learning approach was applied to two different population cohorts and was shown to be effective at the early identification of undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis (PsA).



It is estimated that PsA affects approximately 0.27% of the adult population, and 20% of those with with

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