Opioid Deaths are Down (2.28.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Opioid deaths are down, IL-33 levels are up and Weight loss is in the news again this week!
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An Unusual Consult for Myopathy
Presentation by Dr. Kelsey Lemmen, at the Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposia - Feb 2025
https://t.co/DYlzee6qcs https://t.co/nUxTC9roF9
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA grants priority reviews to:
- Nicalizumab (J&J; FcRn antibody) for use in Myasthenia gravis.
- Upadacitinib (AbbVie; JAK inhib) for use in GCA
- Namistat (BI: PDE4B inhib) for use in Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Inalizumab (Hansen; anti-CD19) for use in IG4 rel Dz
-… https://t.co/dsg9vZASrk https://t.co/8t2USASmm8
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
JAMA Case: A Woman With Painful Digital Ulcers - What would you order next?
- chest CT w/ myositis-specific autoAb panel
- dsDNA
- SCL-70 & Centromere Abs
- muscle biopsy https://t.co/t0WCIMtZg2 https://t.co/M1jBhnclLl
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Misdiagnosis of Dermatomyositis
JAMA Dermatology reports a retrospective cohort study from Johns Hopkins reviewing mimic of dermatomyositis (DM), suggesting that DM and especially clinically amyopathic DM (CADM) are commonly and initially misdiagnosed as inflammatory skin disease (ISD).
The study was undertaken to
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JAMA Case: A Woman With Painful Digital Ulcers - What would you order next?
- chest CT w/ myositis-specific autoAb panel
- dsDNA
- SCL-70 & Centromere Abs
- muscle biopsy https://t.co/9T8mNDdJTs https://t.co/pTphzcuZKF
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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 mortality. A new study suggests a risk prediction… https://t.co/v20ZCVZUQE https://t.co/GmWWQDpWUU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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
Valentine RNL 2025 Review (2.14.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from RheumNow Live 2025 held in Dallas, TX on Feb. 8-9, 2025.
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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 )
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).… https://t.co/7oRyxrFpar https://t.co/wA06Kzsdqg
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
QD Clinic - Treating Overlap with ILD
Polyarthritis, ILD, Dermatomyositis - how to treat?
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/2dcFVgu8z6
https://t.co/CsIpdS8hyd https://t.co/I92p5U3UTp
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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Nipocalimab, a mAb that blocks FcRn, was granted a Priority Review from the FDA. J&J has submitted Biologics License Application (BLA) for the treatment of antibody positive (anti-AChR, anti-MuSK, anti-LRP4) myasthenia gravis based on Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study.… https://t.co/6sVbrgTBvF https://t.co/9a1dBWz87R
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Retrospectively review of 165 #EGPA pts, GI manifestations were assoc w/ Eosinophils > 19.5%, weight loss, & myalgia; & included abdominal pain (78%), diarrhea (40%), N/V (33%); GI hemorrhage (27%), ulcers (17%), obstruction (10%), & pancreatitis (6%) https://t.co/EzsGcFs2l2 https://t.co/mQrgjTG6NV
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Bah Humbug Vitamin D (12.20.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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ICYMI: JAKi in inflammatory myositis?
#ACR24 will showcase nearly 3000 abstracts. With the expanding use of JAK inhibitors, there will be some interesting presentations for off label use. There have been some uncontrolled data that tofacitinib reduced inflammatory myositis… https://t.co/8XOYOsDsD4 https://t.co/MF0EGO0BJz
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Nailfold video-capillaroscopy (NVC) study of 76 dermatomyositis (DM) pts - 74% had anomalous NVC patterns (diminished density, abnl morphology). NVC abnl pts had more Raynaud's, and cluster 1 were more likely to develop ILD.https://t.co/OC7jNHdFMn https://t.co/cCCO70Xzoh
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ICYMI: JAKi in inflammatory myositis?
Abstract 1731 is a small RCT of baricitinib in inflammatory myositis comparing early start baricitinib to later start.
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Don’t Buy Guitars (12.6.2024)
This year at ACR24, the RheumNow faculty and reporters were prolific, generating >800 Tweets, 56 written articles, 117 Videos and 28 podcasts – all in 4 days! You can best review and learn ACR24 by A) Rheumatology Roundup; b) Topic Panel videos; and c) Topic podcasts.
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ACR24 take homes
➡️#Inflammatory #myositis
#Upadacitinib improved MDA5 ILD
#Baricitinib 4mg/d good in myositis delayed start #RCT
#Tofacitinb ➡️help for skin, calcinosis, rash in case series
➡️RCT ongoing
JAKi is ‘jacked’ in muscles 💪🏿
#ACR24 @RheumNow @ACRheum
1731 0348
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
The #scleroderma-like pattern on NVC is observed in pts with #dermatomyositis and MCTD
It consists of a combination of giant capillaries, some microhemorrhages, severe capillary loss and angiogenesis
@RheumNow #ACR24 @rheumarhyme https://t.co/WO9BOYn4ir
sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
#MDA5 #dermatomyositis assoc #ILD
May do better w
#tofacitinib vs #CNI in 515 pts
Too bad they didn’t do a pragmatic RCT as we do t know the reasons for prescribing each #Rx
But impressive survival w #tofa
#ACR24 @ACRheum @RheumNow abst1736 https://t.co/HLJknSYcNJ
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( 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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