Remission – Believe it or Not (10.2.2026)
Dr, Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com
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Merck MSD announced positive results w/ tulisokibart (anti-TL1A) in MK-7240-012, Phase 2b DBRPCT in mod-severe hidradenitis suppurativa. Wk 16 HiSCR50 responses were 72% (hi dose), 64% (mid dose), 52% (low dose) vs 35% PBO. https://t.co/cvBH0fvCnI https://t.co/jo7JaXMItZ
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"No person has the right to rain on your dreams."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
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The GLP-1 Opportunity Cost in Rheumatology
There is no doubt it is an incredibly exciting time to be tackling obesity-related diseases, like many rheumatic diseases appear to be, to some extent.
https://t.co/49EscdPOTG https://t.co/c0kSgOXZy7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Treatment for Obesity and Inflammation, but at what Cost?
https://t.co/v87FxQqrAv https://t.co/Oonrexyp0F
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QD Clinic: Managing Muscle and Fat Loss with GLP-1s
Dr. David Liew, Melbourne, presents this QD Clinic as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign presented in September 2026.
https://t.co/t9uD7TGKjZ https://t.co/BzE1m04E2s
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Mediterranean Diet Lowers Incident Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has published the results of the SUN Project study, showing that long-term adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) was associated with a substantially lower risk of https://t.co/9GhEwXuCEI
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Petri SLE Pearls: An Update
At the CCR West 2026 conference in Huntington Beach, California, Dr. Michelle Petri updated her Petri Pearls. Some are derived from new data, while others are from her extensive experience caring for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). As always, her observations and wisdom have
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Ambient AI in Rheumatology Practice: Less Typing or Less Human?
Ambient AI documentation is being adopted as a tool for clinical documentation, with the potential to improve efficiency and patient interaction. This may be particularly well suited to rheumatology, where visits often involve complex, longitudinal histories, multiple high-risk medications, and
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GCA international survey of 155 specialists (rheums 51%; ophthal 33%). w/ GCA dx, ASA started in only 15%; w/ 69.5% uncertain. w/ visual loss, 93% Rheums, 85% Ophthal Rx w/ IVGC, followed by oral. Uncertainty for IV versus po GC seen in 68.5% https://t.co/sWZQv8yw3u https://t.co/08tdXxDve8
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VA/DoD 2025 Obesity Guidelines
Annals of Internal Medicine has published the updated 2025 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guidelines on adult Overweight and Obesity management. This effort involved a multidisciplinary panel https://t.co/ukuKGCHhOf
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Obesity as a Risk Factor for Rheumatic Diseases
https://t.co/zTEHDbTGjb https://t.co/1JuGAfL5oK
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The Need for Weight Loss and Weight Gain in the ILD Clinic
https://t.co/UaKW9GPJTN https://t.co/QGYblSxbfP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The GLP-1 Opportunity Cost in Rheumatology
There is no doubt it is an incredibly exciting time to be tackling obesity-related diseases, like many rheumatic diseases appear to be, to some extent. However, deep down, a part of us must dread adding yet another conversation to a crowded consultation. One of two things has to happen: we
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Supervised Physiotherapy Wins after ACL Repair
The Annals of Internal Medicine has shown that chronic knee symptoms following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery is significantly lessened by a program of physiotherapist-supervised exercise therapy with education compared to single education and self-directed
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Link Between Obesity and Psoriatic Arthritis
Obesity is an incidental comorbidity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). It is a modifiable, mechanistically active driver of disease onset, severity, and treatment failure. A new comprehensive review in RMD Open (Madsen et al., 2026) synthesizes 49 studies suggesting that weight management belongs in
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Retrospective study from India on 157 juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) pts - 44 (28%) had calcinosis. They had a long Dx delay (12 mos), were NXP2+ in 41%, & high risk for Lipodystrophy (39% vs 5%). 39% improved while 61% had static/progressive Dz https://t.co/z5gvqzZV6C https://t.co/9WlzPDZ74w
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Lifestyle and Incretin Therapy Advice for Rheumatologists
As GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists become standard co-management tools for obese patients with RA, PsA, axSpA, and gout, this JAMA Insights perspective by Kushner, et al. reframes lifestyle counseling as an adjunct to https://t.co/9dfmKLuJF7
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Prednisone Primer for Patients
The Washington Post published a patient overview on "what Prednisone does to your body".
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The weight is off, the DMARDs are off - now what?
That promised land of substantive weight loss comes within it the illusion of better disease control and, for inflammatory arthritis patients, the possibility of reducing the burden of regular medicines - often driven by the patient, with or without telling you. It is a dream worth aspiring to
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Mediterranean Diet Lowers Incident Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has published the results of the SUN Project study, showing that long-term adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) was associated with a substantially lower risk of incident rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but not psoriasis.
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RHEUM Survey>> Should rheumatologists run dedicated obesity clinics? Answer here>> https://t.co/O1DEKQLnYg
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Bringing TOGETHER-PsA Into Clinical Practice
When Ms. RS came into my clinic for a new patient evaluation, she was suffering from highly active skin disease, joint swelling, pain and poor mobility. Her body mass index was 46, indicating class III obesity. A treatment plan focused solely on her inflammatory disease without addressing her
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Retrospective review of 33 referred pts w/ Recurrent fever w/ MSK & skin Sxs, assessed by NGS. NLRP1 had FMF-like Dz; NLRP recurrent fevers w/ mucocutaneous; NLRP12 periodic fevers w/ MP/EN rash; NLRC4 episodic systemic inflammation GI Sxs & atypical skin rash https://t.co/Ll2V0Uzfio
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Rheum Survey: Beyond weight loss, How will GLP-1 drugs benefit rheumatic pts?
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Therapeutic Updates
5-Year Results of an IL-23 Inhibitor in Patients With PsA
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Dr. Alvin Wells and Dr. Shikha Singla share their clinical perspectives on using an IL–23 inhibitor to manage patients with PsA throughout their treatment journey in the context of 5-year data from the KEEPsAKE trial program.
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A JAKi in GCA: Phase 3 Results Through 2 Years
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Listen as rheumatologists Dr. Anisha Dua and Dr. Ben Boone discuss the latest efficacy and safety results over 2 years from a Phase 3 trial in GCA, including remission, flares, and glucocorticoid use in patients continuing vs withdrawing a JAKi"
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Sjögren’s Disease – What Are You Missing?
Sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
What could you be missing in Sjögren's disease? Explore hypothetical patient cases with atypical presentations, systemic manifestations, and overlooked symptoms. Gain expert insights and practical tips for clinical assessment from Dr Shereen Mahmood and learn how the ESSDAI can help you measure disease activity.
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Recent Blogs
The costs of GLP-1 agonists must come down in order to make these treatments available to the people who need them - including many people with rheumatologic diseases.
When it rains it pours, but when it comes to grief, it’s like the rains that just won't let up.
Just too many deaths this past month. All devastating, all my immediate sphere. All hard to fathom. How can something so inevitable be a recurring, unwelcome, unsolvable bad dream?
I lost my father when I was 15, my sister was 20 and my mother when I was in medical school. And I've done this many, many times since.
A few years ago, when I would see a patient with rheumatic disease and increased BMI, I would often document it as obesity as a comorbidity, recommend weight loss and exercise, and then move on. My approach has changed.
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Podcasts
Obesity & Inflammation: Understanding the Impact on Rheumatic Disease
Systemic Burden of Gout Part 1
Gout Lessons from the Clinic Part 2
