Outcomes

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 )
Rheumatoid,RA,nodules,damage

Complex Evolution of RA Management and Outcomes

Jack Cush, MD

FIRST is a Japanese longitudinal, real world, registry of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management and over the las 20 years has shown significantly improved outcomes, yet significant challenges and unmet needs remain.

FIRST registry is a multicenter cohort of patients with RA treated with

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EULAR Guidelines on Reproductive Health

MedPage Today

  • Many rheumatologic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus often strike women during their reproductive years, with drugs being the primary therapies.
  • Experts assembled by EULAR determined that most of the common
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Norwegian RevNatus Pregnancy study on 417 births in 350 women w/ axSpA: 86% (347) were breastfeeding @6wks, 70% @6mos, & 38% @12 mos. Non-breastfeeders more likely to have C-section (41 vs 20%), higher ASDAS-CRP (2.6 vs 2.2), CRP (5.3 vs 3.3), & VAS pain (41 vs 32) https://t.co/DI6owL5dof
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) longitudinal study analyzed 1075 #OA knees (1/pt) in 96 mo. MRI study to predict outcomes. Infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP volume & signal) predicted future knee replacement & long-term damage. IPFP correlated w/ cartil. volume & BM lesions; Not Sxs. https://t.co/Xsju7JdEVE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RHEUMATOLOGIST Survey: What are your contraindications tor renal Bx?

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Gout pts No-Shows after ED: Study of 159 gout pts w/ gout flare & ED visit - only 56 (35%) had an outpatient visit addressing gout within 6 mos. Higher odds w/ being married (OR 2.66), no comorbidities (OR 3.86), colchicine use (OR 2.7), being older (OR 1.44) https://t.co/tAorjwf8xX
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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FDA Approves Rinvoq for Giant Cell Arteritis

Jack Cush, MD

Based on the results of the SELECT-GCA study, the US FDA has approved upadacitinib (Rinvoq or UPA) for the treatment of adults with giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal arteritis. This is the 9th FDA approved indication for upadacitinib in the U.S. for use in rheumatology,

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Looking for the latest updates on treatments and disparities for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis? Join us at AWIR 2025 to learn from Maria Dall’Era, MD, Jean S. Engleman Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of https://t.co/QPyojkztCj

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Association of Women in Rheumatology @AWIRGROUP( View Tweet )
RHEUMATOLOGIST Survey: What are your contraindications tor renal Bx?

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Norwegian RevNatus Pregnancy study on 417 births in 350 women w/ axSpA: 86% (347) were breastfeeding @6wks, 70% @6mos, & 38% @12 mos. Non-breastfeeders more likely to have C-section (41 vs 20%), higher ASDAS-CRP (2.6 vs 2.2), CRP (5.3 vs 3.3), & VAS pain (41 vs 32) https://t.co/GhLtLqT0iS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) longitudinal study analyzed 1075 #OA knees (1/pt) in 96 mo. MRI study to predict outcomes. Infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP volume & signal) predicted future knee replacement & long-term damage. IPFP correlated w/ cartil. volume & BM lesions; Not https://t.co/VrLfiSGWGA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Metformin Effective in Osteoarthritis

MedPage Today

The diabetes drug metformin provided overweight/obese patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee with significantly greater pain relief than did placebo in a small randomized trial, researchers said.

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2024 Management of Familial Mediterranean Fever Recommendations

Jack Cush, MD

A EULAR/PReS combined task force has developed recommendations for the management of Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), the most common monogenic autoinflammatory disease worldwide. These evidence-based recommendations update the 2016 recommendations developed for rheumatologists and other HCPs

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Simplistic overview of Lupus Nephritis - causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of lupus nephritis. https://t.co/QkLXUQcSqo https://t.co/pGjCHmoelG

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Better Responses with Chronotherapy for Baricitinib A nonrandomized, open-label, controlled trial has shown superior efficacy when baricitinib was given at night (instead of day); attesting to the benefits of chronotherapy - selective dosing meant to target the body's diurnal https://t.co/jSrPdoOpmo
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Senescent "Zombie" Cells and Low Back Pain In a preclinical study led by McGill University researchers, two drugs targeting “zombie cells” have been shown to treat the underlying cause of chronic low back pain. The condition affects millions of people worldwide. https://t.co/UxHH3bMGkQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Metanalysis suggests MTX may be effective in knee OA. 6RCTs, 602 pts of MTX vs PBO, showed MTX significantly relieved pain (mean diff −0.44; P 0.0003) knee/hand OA; Functional improved for knee only, but no differences in quality-of-life outcome or adverse events https://t.co/lmBEnTLFHY
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Incr. neutrophils in RA synovium correlates w/ higher Dz activity and poorer Rx responses. Study of 55 #RA pts, 1/3 (17) enriched for synovial PMNs - these correlated w/ DAS28--CRP, synovial inflammation, and CD3+/CD68+ cell counts https://t.co/zz59w8MMUU https://t.co/R7Ruyab0wj

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Rheumatology: Believe It or Not (4/25/2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Should we believe the reviews and metanalyses?

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Hip replacement outcomes are not linked to OA severity, instead pts muscle quality before THA best predicts recovery after surgery. Imaging of 10 pts undergoing THA showed poor muscle quality predicted post-op performance/movement after surgery https://t.co/io0UXQl6n2 https://t.co/cFM7Fg10Zm

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Better Responses with Chronotherapy for Baricitinib

Jack Cush, MD

A nonrandomized, open-label, controlled trial has shown superior efficacy when baricitinib was given at night (instead of day); attesting to the benefits of chronotherapy - selective dosing meant to target the body's diurnal variations.

Chronotherapy implies that we may selectively

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Hip replacement outcomes are not linked to OA severity, instead pts muscle quality before THA best predicts recovery after surgery. Imaging of 10 pts undergoing THA showed poor muscle quality predicted post-op performance/movement after surgery https://t.co/io0UXQl6n2 https://t.co/eI7u6BTPYx

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Post-treatment Lyme Syndrome

EurekAlert!

Symptoms that persist long after Lyme disease is treated are not uncommon — a 2022 study found that 14% of patients who were diagnosed and treated early with antibiotic therapy would still develop Post Treatment Lyme Disease (PTLD). Yet doctors puzzle over the condition’s causes and how to

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2025 BSR Guideline for Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis

Jack Cush, MD

The British Society of Rheumatology has published its 2025 Guidelines for the Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA); addressing axial and extra-musculoskeletal manifestations including acute anterior uveitis, psoriasis and IBD.  They address the effectiveness and safety of

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Recent Blogs

Choice Overload (and the Way Out)

Jack Cush, MD
paint,choice,overload,color
I recently overheard a very good practicing rheumatologist complain, “why do I need yet another drug for psoriatic arthritis? I have more treatment choices than I have actual PsA patients who need a new or better drug”. Read Post

Multimorbidity in RA

Bryant England, MD, PhD
Bryant England
Multimorbidity is a little bit different than comorbidity, which may be a term that you're more familiar with. In comorbidity, we put rheumatoid arthritis as our focus, whereas in multimorbidity, we put the patient at the center of our focus. Read Post
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