Myositis

Rituximab or Azathioprine for EGPA Maintenance? A French study has shown that rituximab is more effective than azathioprine at maintaining remission in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) on chronic prednisone. https://t.co/UrHqPBVibn https://t.co/cpusNcpYWd

Rituximab or Azathioprine for EGPA Maintenance? | RheumNow

Impact of Myositis in Scleroderma Patients Systemic sclerosis (SSc) may have overlap features such as myositis. When present, myositis in SSc is associated with an increased risk of cardiac involvement and a shift in mortality away from ILD towards a greater cardiac risk. https://t.co/dsGOXvdEuK

Article

Impact of Myositis in Scleroderma Patients

Jack Cush, MD Oct 20, 2026

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) may have overlap features such as myositis. When present, myositis in SSc is associated with an increased risk of cardiac involvement and a shift in mortality away from ILD towards a greater cardiac risk.

Article

Troubles with ‘Gut Feelings’ (10.16.2026)

Jack Cush, MD Oct 16, 2026

Dr. Jack Cush reviews this week's news from RheumNow.com, including: placebo trumps controversial therapies, the dynamics of disease activity, fuse the big toe, and patients don’t appreciate being told “it's all in your head”!

Singapore center study of 119 IIM pts (DM 57%; ASyS 23%, OM 15%), IMNM 4%). MDA5 Abs seen in 35% DM. Vs ASyS, MDA5-DM had signif more Skin Sxs (ulcers, papules, Gottrons, heliotrope, periungual erythema). MSK Sxs equal & higher CK levels in ASyS MDA5. 79% DM-ILD were MDA5+ https://t.co/hWaaeLUYkz

Article

Treatment Landscape for Dermatomyositis Is Evolving

MedPage Today Oct 12, 2026

After years of inactivity, therapeutic development for dermatomyositis has begun to move forward with several new therapies and therapeutic strategies.

"This is a very exciting time for the field because we're finally going to get some new treatments, and I think it will be helpful in

EBR Journal Club: Brepocitinib in Dermatomyositis (VALOR) The EBR Journal Club Companion applies my adapted version of the JAMA approach to critical appraisal. Each review covers four domains: Does this apply to my patients? What is the risk of bias? How great are the benefits https://t.co/UoCQM4GtwL

Metanalysis of IVIG in scleroderma (11 studies, 363 pts) showed IVIG to be safe; signif improvement in skin by mRSS (SMD −0.59; p 0.0019) & GI Dz (SMD −0.73; p 0.0012; I2 = 0%). W/ inflam myopathy signif reduction in CK (SMD −0.53; p<0.001) https://t.co/h53FrACCgA https://t.co/Y60ZfmnJgC

Frontiers | Efficacy and safety of intravenous immunoglobulin in systemic scler…

EBR Journal Club: Brepocitinib in Dermatomyositis (VALOR) The EBR Journal Club Companion applies my adapted version of the JAMA approach to critical appraisal. Each review covers four domains: Does this apply to my patients? What is the risk of bias? How great are the benefits https://t.co/KUB7fpmdbf

Metanalysis of IVIG in scleroderma (11 studies, 363 pts) showed IVIG to be safe; signif improvement in skin by mRSS (SMD −0.59; p 0.0019) & GI Dz (SMD −0.73; p 0.0012; I2 = 0%). W/ inflam myopathy signif reduction in CK (SMD −0.53; p<0.001) https://t.co/h53FrACCgA https://t.co/qavoD3Vren

Frontiers | Efficacy and safety of intravenous immunoglobulin in systemic scler…

Article

EBR Journal Club: Brepocitinib in Dermatomyositis (VALOR)

Michael Putman, MD, MSCI Oct 06, 2026

The EBR Journal Club Companion applies my adapted version of the JAMA approach to critical appraisal. Each review covers four domains: Does this apply to my patients? What is the risk of bias? How great are the benefits and harms? And what didn’t they show me? Feel free to use this in your own

Article

Remission – Believe it or Not (10.2.2026)

Jack Cush, MD Oct 02, 2026

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

Article

Scleroderma-Specific Autoantibodies in Early Systemic Sclerosis

Jack Cush, MD Sep 22, 2026

Prognostication is tenous in early scleroderma, especially in those with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). dcSSc has associated with substantial morbidity and disease-specific mortality. Analysis of an early SSc registry shows that anti-RNA

OL study of tofacitinib in 20 juvenile DM pts w/ calcinosis cutis (11 boys; age 10.4 yrs; CC x 31 mos). Calcinosis assessed by CT scan showed decr Agatston score from 6,349 to 4,007. No SAE. https://t.co/UDLLwce3mp https://t.co/BflewkO0RM

Tofacitinib for Calcinosis Cutis Associated With Juvenile Dermatomyositis: An O…

Article

Added IVIG is Effective in Myositis

Jack Cush, MD Sep 15, 2026

A small randomized controlled trial demonstrates that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) added to cortocosteroids lead to greater and faster improvements in patients with newly

Article

A Day of Infamy (9.11.2026)

Jack Cush, MD Sep 11, 2026

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on Rheumnow.com - including obesity, disappointing durability with GLP-1 drugs, AI diagnoses and worries about CV risk in ANCA-associated vasculitis. And take this week's RheumIQ quiz

Leeds study of 44 patients idiopathic inflamm myopathy (IIM) pts Rx w/ rituximab showed a 70% response 4-6 mos post RTX. Responders had higher TIS (50·0 vs 17·5). Using highly sensitive flow cytometry, @ 2 wks responders had lower #s memory B cells & Plasmablasts. Is there a role https://t.co/HTxOIxkezs

FDA Approves Brepocitinib to Treat Dermatomyositis The FDA and Priovant recently announced approval of brepocitinib (Lisraya), a JAK1/TYK2 inhibitor, for the indication of adults with dermatomyositis (DM). This is the first oral (once daily) agent approved for DM. https://t.co/blsl1365XS

FDA Approves Brepocitinib to Treat Dermatomyositis The FDA and Priovant recently announced approval of brepocitinib (Lisraya), a JAK1/TYK2 inhibitor, for the indication of adults with dermatomyositis (DM). This is the first oral (once daily) agent approved for DM. https://t.co/JoE0p3UfSf

Article

FDA Approves Brepocitinib to Treat Dermatomyositis

Jack Cush, MD Aug 31, 2026

The FDA and Priovant recently annouced approval of brepocitinib (Lisraya), a JAK1/TYK2 inhibitor, for the indication of adults with dermatomyositis (DM). This is the first oral (once daily) agent approved for DM.

39 studies compared Juvenile systemic sclerosis (jSSc) & adult SSc. 935 jSSc vs 15,451 aSSc pts; jSSc had more diffuse cutaneous dz (70% vs 41%), more overlap myositis (33% vs. 5%), arthritis (33% vs 18%), digital ulcers (51% vs 20%), less renal crisis (0% vs 6%) & lower https://t.co/PYuvyaPdxA

Article

NME: New Molecular Entities (8.28.2026)

Jack Cush, MD Aug 28, 2026

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com. Take this week's RheumIQ and test your knowledge!

Article

Brepocitinib Skin Outcomes in Patients With Dermatomyositis

Jack Cush, MD Aug 26, 2026

A secondary analysis of the VALOR trial has shown that the TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor brepocitinib was effective at cutaneous disease activity outcomes, delivering rapid, clinically meaningful, and remission-level control of cutaneous dermatomyositis (DM).

39 studies compared Juvenile systemic sclerosis (jSSc) & adult SSc. 935 jSSc vs 15,451 aSSc pts; jSSc had more diffuse cutaneous dz (70% vs 41%), more overlap myositis (33% vs. 5%), arthritis (33% vs 18%), digital ulcers (51% vs 20%), less renal crisis (0% vs 6%) & lower https://t.co/vflarmwSyv

SLE & Dermatomyositis rashes maybe classically red or violaceous in Whites,but different in people of color, where erythema often appears brown/violaceous, Gottron papules can be mistaken for "dry skin." This delays dx, especially in anti-MDA5+ RP-ILD, where rash may be the https://t.co/DIe2OJhZIc