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Outcomes

Among 1074 #PsA tested annually, RF positivity was found in 16.1% overall (5.1% RF+ at baseline). RF+ rediced odds of MDA (OR 0.53) w/ incr risk of bDMARD discontinuation (OR 2.65) https://t.co/RS3BvufE7F https://t.co/cxKk2xZmoS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

COVID Virus Persistence with DMARD Use

MedPage Today

Drugs commonly used to treat systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) may keep the SARS-CoV-2 circulating after COVID-19 infection in patients with these conditions, with researchers documenting substantially increased viral antigen persistence compared with other post-COVID patients.

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Review of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Psoriasis

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have transformed cardiometabolic medicine and are now attracting intense interest in inflammatory disorders.

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True or False: Low-dose aspirin given at giant cell arteritis diagnosis is associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Put your answer to the test in the latest RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/XLPVoyCbLB. https://t.co/C5CSwuv5mF
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

FDA Targeting the Safety of Avacopan

The future of avacopan is up in the air. In April, the FDA issued a drug safety warning, previously requesting that Amgen to pull its rare disease drug Tavneos from the market. Now, there appears more pressure to remove it from the market.

The FDA’s concern is that the data, orginally

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EULAR Recommendations for Physical Activity in Arthritis

EULAR has published a 2025 update for physical activity recommendations for patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 

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Neoplasia and Autoimmune Disease

Malignancy rivals cardiovascular disease as a leading cause of death in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. Chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation can drive oncogenesis, while antitumor immune responses can trigger autoimmune phenomena (paraneoplastic syndromes, checkpoint

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Switch or Cycle - Upadacitinib vs Adalimumab in Refractory RA

After the first tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) failure, patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) responded by switching to upadacitinib, compared to cycling to a second TNFi, adalimumab.

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Arthralgia w/ HIGH ACPA level >3x ULN) has a 30–50% probability of being diagnosed with RA within 3–5 years https://t.co/iJTyMQM480

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Rheumatology Salaries 2025 Medscape has published its annual Physician Compensation report with physican salaries up roughly 3% and eight specialties earning more than $500,000 per annum. https://t.co/DNe42EsxRW https://t.co/aegcNm8Pla
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Does monotherapy work? network meta-analysis of 31 RCTs, 13 csDMARDs, Leflunomide, SSZ & gold were better than placebo & equal to MTX regarding annual xray progression scores. Evidence in favor BUT failed to study monoRx vs Combo Rx https://t.co/cMSZ4QHi5G https://t.co/o9ikhJu3UM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Mortality in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Story of Decline, Delay, or Plateau? Dr. Elena Myasoedova In this https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2026 podcast, Dr. Elena Myasoedova examines mortality trends in RA, exploring whether we are seeing continued decline, delayed impact, or a concerning https://t.co/yUob3Tv0tR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Follow the Money (4.23.2026)

Dr. Jack Cush follows the money and all the news that fits the Rheumatology Gab for this past week. 

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Chinese target emulation trial of MDA-5+, dermatomyositis w/ ILD. 106 Rx w/ UPA & 328 w/ TOFA. 6-month lung transplantation-free survival 72% vs 67% (UPA v TOFA). UPA non-inferior to TOFA in MDA5+DM-ILD https://t.co/BBAfbM06AM https://t.co/QP8YdX7CcH
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Twofold Mortality in SLE

Despite declining incidence of lupus, mortality for SLE was twice that of controls in this large incident cohort study.

Ethnicity is a strong predictor of incidence and outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. This population study used the UK Clinical Practice

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NSAIDs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

MedPage Today

At least some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can safely use common drugs for musculoskeletal aches and pains, a large study of insurance claims data suggested, contradicting a widespread concern that these products can trigger IBD flares.

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Rheumatology Salaries 2025

Medscape has published its annual Physician Compensation report with physican salaries up roughly 3% and eight specialties earning more than $500,000 per annum. 

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Do patients with chronic pain have double the rates of smoking compared to those without pain? Take this week's RheumIQ quiz to find out. https://t.co/rmB55KC7Zh https://t.co/ms3G9uBMd5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Aspirin Cardiovascular Prevention in Giant Cell Arteritis

A retrospective target trial emulations has shown that low-dose aspirin (ASA) given with a giant cell arteritis (GCA) diagnosis is associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), but a higher risk of GI bleeding.

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Weight-loss drugs may affect joints directly

EulrekAlert!

A new study from Aarhus University shows that the hormone GLP-1, which is mimicked in medication for diabetes and weight loss, is present in joint fluid. In the long term, this may open up new treatments for arthritis.

Rsearchers from the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus

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Leeds study of 63 pts w/ palindromic rheumatism (PR) progressed to Persistent IA (PIA) @ median 13.4 mos, hands predominating across flares. PIA developed in joints involved in PR flares in 71% of pts. @RA Dx, PR onset pts had signif higher swollen joints(4.1 vs 3.2) https://t.co/g2vjfVjDlK
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Retrospective observational study of IPAF (ILD w/ autoimmune) pts - from Mt Sinai ILD registry 791 - 14 Rx w/ rituximab vs 19 not. Betw group outcomes same: PFTs, O2 use, Infx, Resp admissions, mortality. RTX group recv more immunosuppressives. https://t.co/sle4a0JOFL https://t.co/rS69epQiif
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Simulation cost-effectiveness/QOL study compared Rx of psoriasis w/ biologics, phototherapy, or step-therapy Rx. Biologics had best QOL gains; step-therapy Rx similar w/ less variability & lower costs; phototherapy was cost-effective for payors. Pts had highest willingness to pay https://t.co/RyNooKhgQh
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Physician Use of Augmented Intelligence has Doubled A 2026 Physician Survey assessing AI and its use in Medical Practice has been published and follows earlier surveys on adoption and use. This is the third in a series of longitudinal surveys (prior waves 2023, 2024), enabling https://t.co/4QoMR17Ure
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Prescribing Lessons (4.17.2026)

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

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