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Labs/Biomarkers

Best of 2025: Glossary for Giant Cell Arteritis

Dejaco and colleagues have published a glossary of terms often used in conjunction with giant cell arteritis. The glossary of definitions for 23 signs and symptoms of GCA was developed through a consensus process involving international experts.

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Best of 2025: Distinguishing Septic and Gouty Arthritis

A single center, retrospective review of patients undergoing knee joint fluid aspirations for presumed crystalline arthritis (CA) showed that synovial WBC may provide a useful diagnostic marker for SA with an optimal threshold of 50,000 cells/mm3.

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Best of 2025: Dermatomyositis Reviewed

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have published an open-access review of dermatomyositis (DM) - its manifestations, hallmark cutaneous features, etiopathogenesis and treatment options.

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Austrian 1K Paracelsus cohort study; from 9,665, 296 (3.1%) had RA. CKD prevalence was higher in RA vs controls (11.8% vs. 6.7%, p<0.001). Albuminuria was dominant renal dz in RA (6.8% vs 4.2%, p=0.027), but missed signif after adjustments (OR 1.43; 0.96–2.13) https://t.co/9DnErwT4rX
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Optimizing Hydroxychloroquine Blood Levels in Lupus A large observational cohort study suggests that monitoring hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) blood levels is effective in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with a target therapeutic range (for HCQ level monitoring) of https://t.co/7pggMk2pTO
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Telling You Where to Go (12.19.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com. Who would've thunk - a PsA FMF connection? Labs to diagnose SSc-ILD? IgA-RF may be important or RZV may not work in JAK inhibitor treated patients?

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Tricks of the Trade – Clinic Advice from APPs

J. Cush and many APPs

December 2025 is focused on advanced practice providers, their impact, education and priorities.  In seeking and soliciting the help and advice of leaders in the rheumatology APP world, I have been impressed by APP pride, dedication and passion for what they do.

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IN RA: IgA-RF seen in 50%, IgA-ACPA in 20-40% (& are very specific). IgA-RF or -ACPA found in serum, saliva & syn.fluid.& may underlie "mucosal hypothesis" of RA. IgA-RF assoc w/ more severe RA, worse outcomes, Xtra-articular manifestations, & blunted TNF inhibitor responses https://t.co/SVUJmrIy2F
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Study of 177 #SSc pts (116 w/ SSc-ILD vs 61 without ILD). SSc-ILD had more dcSSc, Raynaud’s & GI Dz. SSc-ILD predicted by triad of elevated NLR, PT, anti-SCL-70 (AUC of 0.879; sensitivity 82.6%; specificity 85.0%). NLR: neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio; PT: prolonged prothrombin https://t.co/iI6ZnZgJE7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Austrian 1K Paracelsus cohort study; from 9,665, 296 (3.1%) had RA. CKD prevalence was higher in RA vs controls (11.8% vs. 6.7%, p<0.001). Albuminuria was dominant renal dz in RA (6.8% vs 4.2%, p=0.027), but missed signif after adjustments (OR 1.43; 0.96–2.13) https://t.co/qf0IpZC50Q
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Disease Activity Criteria for Adult-Onset Still's Disease: EULAR Points to Consider

EULAR has published a "points to consider" (PtCs) guidance on the development of criteria for the assessment of the disease activity in adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD).

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Reefer Madness (12.12.2025) Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and regulatory reports from this past week on RheumNow. B cell drugs in SLE and ITP, biomarkers in GCA & PSS and great videos by APPs. https://t.co/SKEYlhTfLz https://t.co/mBX4GIQxKe
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Optimizing Hydroxychloroquine Blood Levels in Lupus

A large observational cohort study suggests that monitoring hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) blood levels is effective in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with a target therapeutic range (for HCQ level monitoring) of 750-1150 ng/ml.

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PSS & Biomarkers: Dutch international scleroderma trial of 21 pts showed that cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and collagen type IV alpha 1 (COL4A1) significantly correlated with modified Rodnan skin score; COMP were associated with mRSS change (r = 0.013) https://t.co/E7SgmIiYmn
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RHEUM Survey> In RA, seropositivity correlates best with what?

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Simple, low-cost strategy to Dx/Prognose GCA using CBC components NLR & PLR. 119 GCA vs 131 non-GCA pts - All CBC biomarkers signif assoc w/ ESR & CRP, but ESR/CRP did not predict mortality over time; YET mortality signif predicted by PLR, NLR, MLR (P value <  0.044) https://t.co/96Q7jDAiWt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RHEUM Survey> What is the Sensitivity of the ANA test?

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

I agree that multiple assessments are needed to Dx NP-SLE; but my order of preference (for Dx yield) is: A) Hx c/w cerebritis; B) imaging to r/o other causes; C) CSF IgG index w/ Q albumin

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

2018 NHANES population survey of 28,040 individuals, 4168 (14.32%) identified with sleep disorders, and 1589 (4.28%) had #RA. Thus, sleep disorders were significantly associated with increased odds of RA (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.46–2.13, P < 0.001). https://t.co/9O2MsLvwVe https://t.co/cBsm8Jt8Ks
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

B Cell Targeting in Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

EurekAlert!

The New England Journal of Medicine  has published a phase III clinical trial showing that a B cell targeting monoclonal antibody, ianalumab, was effective in more than half of the patients with primary immune

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British Society of Rheumatology Guideline for Monitoring DMARDs

The British Society of Rheumatology has published an update to their previous 2017 BSR/BHPR guideline regarding the use and monitoring of DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) used to treat systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). 

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Hematologic Malignancies Increased in Systemic Sclerosis

Swedish national study found that among a cohort of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients a two-fold increase risk of hematological malignancies was seen.

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CBC & Psoriasis - case–control study 60 pts: 30 PsA & 30 PSO pts showed that PsA showed elevated WBCs, neutrophils, monocytes & inflammatory markers (NLR, MLR, SII, SIRI, & decr PMR (all p < 0.001). NLR 100% Dx accuracy (AUC = 1.000). WBC > 6.7, MLR > 0.17, & PMR ≤ 503 were https://t.co/AB7iFiMuSM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
A New Disease Activity Score for Antiphospholipid Syndrome? APS is a systemic autoimmune disorder. It is characterised by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies and a broad spectrum of clinical features, causing obstetric as well as thrombotic, microvascular and https://t.co/G2xGtOPmwb
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Turkey Tryptophan (11.28.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and reports from this past week on RheumNow.com, including reports on FDA resurrections, FM seasonal worsening, and do you fight switch or swap biologics in PsA TNFi nonresponders?

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