Sjögren's Graduates (8.22.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports, FDA approvals, drug safety, and more from this week.
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Review of cancer-associated myositis (CAM) & assoc myositis-specific or myositis-associated autoantibodies. 2017 meta-analysis 5 studies & 4538 pts w/ DM or PM, the cancer risk (SIR) for DM = 4.66, but PM = 1.75. Cancer risk ^^ w/ Low serum KL-6, TIF1γ, NXP2, HMGCR Abs https://t.co/xsOt4wPIXB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
High cancer risk in myositis patients linked to autoantibodies- TIFF1g, NXP2, HMGCR. https://t.co/CECO78ESHi
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Anti-MDA5 DM is assoc w/ rapidly progr ILD & mortality risk. 26 MD5+ DM pts (age 56.6 yrs; 7/26 male) Sxs: Gottrón’s (81%), ILD (73%), periungual erythema (69%), heliotrope (61%), V-sign (42%), arthritis (42%), weakness (38%), mechanic’s (35%), Raynaud’s (19%). 7/19 RP-ILD died https://t.co/ugbmKlXsBp
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Uncertainty with immunosuppressive for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
A current Cochrane review suggests a continued unmet need regarding the status and utility of targeted immunosuppressant and immunomodulatory treatments for the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). Overall there has been little progress since the previous Cochrane review (2012) that found
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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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🧬 Myositis-Specific Autoantibodies (MSAs) – 2025 Update
MSAs aren’t just diagnostic—they predict phenotype, prognosis, & treatment response.
👇 Infographic #RheumTwitter #Myositis #MedEd @IhabFathiSulima @DrAkhilX https://t.co/91U5s88AdB
Aravind Palraj @Rheumat_Aravind( View Tweet )
NHANES, Numbers, & Risk (7.18.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com along with interesting case questions from "Ask Cush Anything".
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Hmmm Really? (7.11.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week - some obvious, other new thoughts and some - hmmm, reallly?
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Is the term polymyositis obsolete?.. now being replaced by dermatomyositis, necrotizing myopathy, inclusion body myositis, antisynthetase syndrome & overlap myositis. Full read overview of inflammatory myositis & new treatments from Joint Bone & Spine https://t.co/X46sptp1Ax https://t.co/QqyMv6fkVS
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Review of 104 irAE pts rx w/ JAK inhib. (82% tofacitinib). Checkpoint inhib was for Lung (20%), gastric (17%) & melanoma (16%). JAKi indications: myocarditis (70%), myositis (33%), hepatitis (24%). JAKi potentially effective esp in irAE pts unresponsive to cytokine Rx. https://t.co/8ezpAOzpRh
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ICYMI: Clinical and Therapeutic Challenges in Connective Tissue Disease and ILD
Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) represent a challenging intersection of systemic autoimmunity and progressive respiratory impairment. Research presented at EULAR 2025 continues to highlight the importance of CTD-ILD and the evolving landscape of therapeutic
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Full read overview of MDA-5 Dermatomyositis (DM) - pathogenesis, findings, & Rx. MDA-5 DM is a rare, aggressive amyopathic form with distinctive skin findings & rapidly progressive interstitial lung dz. Rx includes Hi dose steroids, calcineurin inhib & IV CTX (maybe JAKi, MMF)
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
What ‘CAR’ to drive?
#CAR-T buzz was at #EULAR2025
In multiple #rheumatic #diseases
#SLE
#Scleroderma
#Sjogrens
#myositis
Even #axial #SpA
Who - active, not a lot of damage
Which target 🎯
Which priming regiment
What will results be compared to?
Who will pay?
@RheumNow
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria for #ASyS, the new acronym of Antisynthetase Syndrome
🔺️Do not apply if patient is positive for other antibodies like SSA
#EULAR2025
@RheumNow https://t.co/AD5tTipBtt
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )
EULAR 2025 – Day 3 Report
Highlights from today included presentations on imaging in vasculitis, a debate on whether to treat high risk pre-clinical RA, and EULAR Recommendations on a) Treatment of interstitial lung disease (ILD); b) Physical Activity in people with arthritis; and c) EULAR disease activity score for
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Clinical and Therapeutic Challenges in Connective Tissue Disease and ILD
Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) represent a challenging intersection of systemic autoimmunity and progressive respiratory impairment. Research presented at EULAR 2025 continues to highlight the importance of CTD-ILD and the evolving landscape of therapeutic
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#EULAR2025 Abstr#OP0002 Promising new mode of action therapy for #myositis. Phase 2 RCT of efgartigimod (FcRn-i; coformulated with recombinant PH20) showed improvement in TIS & other key endpoints vs PBO at Wk24. Injection reaction common (23%). Will proceed to Phase 3 @RheumNow https://t.co/SuMolfcDkS
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
Retrospective multicentre study of 122 anti-synthetase syndrome pts - 14 (11%) had cancer associated myositis (CAM). The CAM SIR= 5.4 (elevated vs gen. pop. p < 0.0001). These pts were older, often +Hx cancer, lower CK levels, less weakness, worse survival. CAM cluster= older https://t.co/nuKg3P89a8
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Vitamin D Headlines (5.9.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and lupus highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com. Triple positivity, the gut and CRPS, and hope for better outcomes with Vitamin D therapy.
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International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Group (IMACS) reached a consensus on ‘anti-synthetase syndrome’ as the preferred nomenclature and "ASyS" as the preferred abbreviation for the ‘anti-synthetase syndrome. https://t.co/TuTzVVZzZO https://t.co/qs5f1qATKi
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Immune Checkpoint Inhib causing Myasthenia Gravis w/ poor outcomes - 16 ICI Rx pts (9 Lung CA, 7 other tumors) Dx w/ MG; 11 w/ overlap myositis. Mean onset @ 49d. All Rx wp steroids, 6 immunosuppressives, 5 plasma exchange; only 2 complete resp. 6 deaths re: MG complications https://t.co/re73lh2Xfs
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Review of SARCOPENIA - a loss of muscle mass and function, with significant implications on physical performance. More common in RA, SSc, SpA, SLE, FM, myositis, and vasculitis https://t.co/tCXdoEn9xR https://t.co/Oi91niMn5M
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Immune Checkpoint Inhib causing Myasthenia Gravis w/ poor outcomes - 16 ICI Rx pts (9 Lung CA, 7 other tumors) Dx w/ MG; 11 w/ overlap myositis. Mean onset @ 49d. All Rx wp steroids, 6 immunosuppressives, 5 plasma exchange; only 2 complete resp. 6 deaths re: MG complications https://t.co/PUc6kIE7FW
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Review of SARCOPENIA - a loss of muscle mass and function, with significant implications on physical performance. More common in RA, SSc, SpA, SLE, FM, myositis, and vasculitis https://t.co/tCXdoEn9xR https://t.co/PvtmVCv2QJ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Recent Blogs
Winning is everything – in football and in medicine. Rheumatologists have achieved many successes but still struggle to win against a handful of rheumatic foes. This retrospective examines past wins and losses and helps us to look ahead to a new season.
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