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Labs/Biomarkers

B Cell Depleters (2.21.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com

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CRP and Hidradenitis Supprativa

A post hoc analysis of 2 phase 3 randomized clinical trials (PIONEER I and II)  of adalimumab vs Placebo in patients with active Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) demonstrated more severe HS that was associated with elevated CRP had a higher BMI. Adalimumab was equally effective in patients

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Risk Prediction Modeling in MDA5 Dermatomyositis

Patients with Melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) positive dermatomyositis (DM) are complicated and prone to interstitial lung disease, poor prognosis, and a high

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Janet Pope @Janetbirdope #Disease #activity in #axSpA #ASDAS - a crude measure of activity in #ankylosing #spondylitis Is related to #radiographic #progression 👇 ⬆️ CRP May be more predictive #ClinicalPearl⁩ #RNL2025 https://t.co/34wrMuz9mO
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
MDA5 + Pts with #ILD in #dermatomyositis can improve! ⁦@RheumNow⁩ ⁦@ACRheum⁩ #RNL2025 Data from Christina Charles-Schoeman #ClinicalPearl Her pearls 👇 #DM is a #vascular #disease #CK is not reliable in chronic DM Neg Abs don’t r/o #myositis https://t.co/hxomz70aq5
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
#RNL2025 @RheumNow Dermatomyositis is VASCULAR disease -IVIG may help DM by blocking complement deposition on endomysial capillaries -CK levels not reliable Pruritus common in up to 86% of DM patients Dr. Charles-Schoeman, UCLA

Eric Dein @ericdeinmd( View Tweet )

QD Clinic - dsDNA without Lupus Insufficient Sxs to Dx SLE, but persistent dsDNA positivity - what to do? Features Dr. Jack Cush. QD Clinics - lessons from the clinic, sponsored by RNL2025 in Dallas, TX; Feb 8 & 9, 2025 Register at https://t.co/2dcFVgu8z6https://t.co/hCXRhTJB7G https://t.co/y3Tzh5bRLJ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Facing challenges in diagnosing idiopathic inflammatory myopathies? Check out our recent webinar to hear from Stanley J. Naides, MD, FACP, FACR, as he explores the role of autoantibody testing in autoimmune myositis diagnosis and phenotyping. Sponsored by LabCorp Rx. #Myositis… https://t.co/4jMevolO3k https://t.co/ObWPR8QFW2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Granzyme - a major driver of inflammatory & autoimmune diseases

EurekAlert!

Our immune system is armed with an array of defenses designed to detect and eliminate harmful threats. One of its most powerful defense mechanisms is the complement system—a group of proteins that patrols our body, ever vigilant for signs of infection or injury. Now, over 100 years after the

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QD Clinic - dsDNA without Lupus Insufficient Sxs to Dx SLE, but persistent dsDNA positivity - what to do? Features Dr. Jack Cush. QD Clinics - lessons from the clinic, sponsored by RNL2025 in Dallas, TX; Feb 8 & 9, 2025 Register at https://t.co/2dcFVgu8z6https://t.co/ov8THqrPyC https://t.co/jmtqxcWzJ0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Becoming Milder?

A 24 year, prospective study analyzing very early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in three consecutive eras suggests that RA has evolved since 2005, demonstrating less seropositivity, inflammation, and erosions but is characterized by more comorbidity, smoking and corticosteroid use.

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SLE subphenotypes predisposed by distinct genetic risk loci. Multicenter 10 yr genotyping study on 1462 SLE pts (56% w/ lupus nephritis & 43% not LN) found significantly higher polygenic risk scores (PRS); significant LN variants included HLA, TNFAIP3, BLK, & STAT4.… https://t.co/zvYGct9aqG https://t.co/obgkHbXNWA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Screening for #RA-Machine learning algorithm applied to primary healthcare pts shown to correctly identify early RA based on 11 features (RF, CRP, ESR, SUA, HB, PLT, AMS, age, SJC TJC, deformity) w/ 96% specificity, 96% sensitivity, 96% AUC. https://t.co/Q25yvDwdJZ https://t.co/CTESAl6hSf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Epidemiology of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) has incidence rates ranging from 0.2 to 2 cases per 100 000 person-years. https://t.co/tUWpijtKWX https://t.co/Mb66cZ1Aga
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Participation is Up! (1.31.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. We also have two call-in cases on "Ask Cush Anything".

Be sure to join in the fun at RNL 2025 next weekend - Gong Show Karaoke; what will you sing?

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Infectious Sacroiliitis

A large Chinese cohort study of patients with infectious sacroiliitis (SI) suggests that CT-guided biopsy of the sacroiliac joint is necessary to properly identify the infectious pathogen leading to SI.

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French cross-sectional study of pts on stable sc MTX x several yrs. Examined MTX polyglutamates (MTX-PGs) & disease activity in 34 RA pts (25 remission). + correlation between RA remission & high MTX-PG3 levels in pts w/ BMI <25. BMI may limit utility of PG3 levels… https://t.co/uped4oMkut https://t.co/4fmnDVHYYb
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Palmar fasciitis & polyarthritis syndrome (PFPAS). JAMA case 50yoM w/ progressive hand swelling, stiffness, thickening, erythema, hepato-splenomegaly. Skin Bx dermal fibrous tissue. WBC 152k, LDH 889, lead to CML dx made by BM Fx (myeloid-erythroid ratio 21 w/ myeloblasts). +… https://t.co/xtHbzAioss https://t.co/RfMrfntFtb
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
French cross-sectional study of pts on stable sc MTX x several yrs. Examined MTX polyglutamates (MTX-PGs) & disease activity in 34 RA pts (25 remission). + correlation between RA remission & high MTX-PG3 levels in pts w/ BMI <25. BMI may limit utility of PG3 levels… https://t.co/scFzVy7hhA https://t.co/sUQUHFbhaG
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Weak Data (1.24.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com, and features Dr. Charity Dean, the Keynote speaker at RheumNow Live 2025, and why she is an inspiration.

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Palmar fasciitis & polyarthritis syndrome (PFPAS). JAMA case 50yoM w/ progressive hand swelling, stiffness, thickening, erythema, hepato-splenomegaly. Skin Bx dermal fibrous tissue. WBC 152k, LDH 889, lead to CML dx made by BM Fx (myeloid-erythroid ratio 21 w/ myeloblasts). +… https://t.co/7gj3mvOSqs https://t.co/56tLd1jsNf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RA higher risk of Celiac Dz -- Rheumatic Dz administrative data review (2004–2013)compared 70,061 #RA w/ 276,895 controls, median F/U 9 yrs. (IQR 9–9). Celiac Prevalence higher in RA (171/70,061 = 0.24% vs 398/276895 = 0.14%; p < 0.001), more so in females w/ RA… https://t.co/SayZYvkZpV https://t.co/fcuyJ5sFk0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Fallen Angels (1.17.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com; and pays homage to colleagues who passed away in 2024.

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RheumThoughts: Overlap Syndrome with ILD How would you manage a patient with Overlap (anti-synthetase) syndrome, ILD, polyarthritis and myositis? https://t.co/4RyV1zkphe https://t.co/qTZ4JYlJmW
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Dazukibart Effective in Adults with Dermatomyositis

Lancet reports that the use of dazukibart, a selective monoclonal antibody against interferon B (IFNβ), was clinically effective in reducing disease activity in adults with active dermatomyositis (DM).

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