Added IVIG is Effective in Myositis
A small randomized controlled trial demonstrates that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) added to cortocosteroids lead to greater and faster improvements in patients with newly
Chinese 52 wk study of XKH004, a novel, SC, humanized anti-17A/F in 323 active AS pts Rx q4 wks vs PBO. @ Wk 16, XKH004 was superior for ASAS40 (45.4% vs 19.4%; P<0.001), improved to 66% by wk 52. https://t.co/f7w41m4QZy https://t.co/5MPm388kau
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
In 2022, Overweight & obesity affect 65.8% of Swiss PsA pts (vs gen pop.= 43%) and has increased since 2007. Obesity was assoc w/ elevated CRP (56% vs 37%), Inc Pt global assess (3.2 vs 2.8), & MD global (2.5 vs 2.1) & lower EQ-5D-3L(0.7 vs 0.8). https://t.co/xPoy4dgvlD https://t.co/aeB5N6LgCd
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
JAMA: Review of Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis
This JAMA narrative review is a follow-up to their 2018 publication, informed by 123 articles (46 RCTs, 28 cohort studies, 11 systematic reviews/meta-analyses, 15 guidelines) covering epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and https://t.co/6Fiu9iLF5I
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Early RA Referral Clinics Work!
An outcomes study from the Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic (EAC) has shown substantially less diagnostic delay and better long-term outcomes when patients are referred to EAC compared to usual referrals.
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TriNetX retrospective EHR study showed VTE in #RA not incr by taking JAKi. Pts undergoing THA/TKA Rx w/ JAKi (n 284) vs TNFi (n 288). VTE- 17 JAKi (6%) vs 11 TNFi (3.8%)- nonsignif incr (RR 1.57) https://t.co/OM5ipieQtr https://t.co/ng8b9EkWmT
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
QD Clinic: Weight Loss Changed the Course of RA
Dr. Bella Mehta, New York, presents this case which highlights that obesity may be a target for disease modification in rheumatoid arthritis, as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign, presented in September 2026. https://t.co/KNNS0cHmA4
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Weight Loss Improves Psoriatic Disease Substantially!
Even before the introduction of incretin therapy and bariatric surgery, many randomized and interventional studies (2019–2026) have consistently showed that weight loss produces clinically meaningful, dose-dependent improvement in both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
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A Day of Infamy (9.11.2026)
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
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RCT 451 chronic LBP in general practice shows 8-wk telehealth mindfulness reduced pain intensity and interference at 6 months compared with usual care, BUT changes did not meet the prespecified mean 1-point MCID between groups. Is it worth doing? https://t.co/H4oYTeq1is https://t.co/cozq7gGnYO
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
JAMA: Review of Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis
Smolen, Kerschbaumer, Aletaha, and Robinson have published a comprehensive review article of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in JAMA, noting significant changes to our understanding and treatment guidelines.
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Obesity in Axial Spondyloarthritis: what are we missing beyond the scale?
Obesity in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is not a minor comorbidity. Beyond the scale, there are several factors that need to be considered with obesity in axSpA.
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AI Diagnosing Rheumatic Disease?
MedPage Today
Prof. Valmed, a large language model (LLM) cleared by European regulators for medical diagnosis, outperformed human physicians for diagnosing rheumatologic conditions in terms of speed but not accuracy, a randomized trial showed.
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Cohort analysis shows autoimmune rheum Dz (AIRD) pts who recv COVID vax w/ boosters & updates were 41%, 71%, and 69% less likely to have COVID-related hospitalization (vs no Vax). If only initial vaccine series (without booster/updated vaccine), risk reduction was 5.6%. (n= https://t.co/NdEKKWdOAy
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Swedish study of 1097 #RA pts looked at modifiable healthy lifestyle habits (HLHs: EtOH use, smoking, physical activity). At Baseline, 56% had three HLHs , unchanged (58%) at Yr 3. Nonsmoking incr 77-83%, healthy alcohol from 85%-97%. but healthy PA decr 84-71%. Lifestyle modif. https://t.co/cDyQwiN6Ae
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
12 mos Danish study of 157 822 first-time semaglutide for obesity management (SOM) intiators. 77 483 discontinued treatment w/in 12 mos. (13% at 3 mo, 27% 6 mos, 39% @ 9 mos. D/C more likely in younger, men, low-income, on GI or psych meds, & pts with comorbididities. Few https://t.co/oJLnrxXFz0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Swedish Pt Registry of 4317 AAV pts showed GPA & MPA had signif incr risk of CV dz (HR 2.04) & thromboembolism (HR 2.45); males incr MI risk (HR 2.25) & females incr ischemic stroke risk (HR 1.64). Sibs had no excess CVD-TE risk. The highest CVD-TE risk occurred within 3 mos. of https://t.co/FdbIXoCZf0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Why does obesity worsen Rheumatic disease?
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
True or False: In a Korean National Health Insurance study, gout patients on allopurinol had a significantly higher risk of fractures, with the highest risk seen in those with low adherence.
Did you get it right?
Take this week's RheumIQ and see: https://t.co/UaXqHKWizt. https://t.co/7nILMVUeGw
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
NEW FROM EULAR: A real-world analysis of predictors of IBD in PsA.
🔎 In patients with PsA, signs and symptoms of IBD may appear before diagnosis, but do we know what to look for? Explore the poster: https://t.co/JX0Y0AQ07N
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact. https://t.co/zx9kjsiZfZ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Ro52 Abs in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). From 2,126 IIM China/Japan pts, Ro52 positivity was common (46%), esp in MDA5+ DM & anti-synthetase syndr (ASyS) & was assoc w/ high freq of ILD, rapidly progressive ILD, and poor prognosis. https://t.co/TA4gSnZax1 https://t.co/riYs5YJwQV
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
QD Clinic: The Weight Behind Delay in Diagnosis
Dr. Antoni Chan, London, discusses a case of a patient with ankylosing spondylitis whose weight delayed the diagnosis and treatment of AS. This QD Clinic is presented as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign, https://t.co/fDozAaX64j
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
“ABCDE” Approach to Difficult-to-Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
The proposed approach to D2T-RA is based on the EULAR definition (having failed 2 or more b/tsDMARDs). It is estimated that up to 20% of RA patients meet this D2T-RA definition and can be plagued by active or https://t.co/o39IREvjI4
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Treating Obesity is Disease-Modifying (9.4.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com. New drugs approved, new drugs halted and some drugs out of control. Ready to test your knowlege? Take this week's quiz!
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Cochrane systematic review of LBP Rx (8 RCTs, 501 cLBP pts) show that Lumbar supports may result in a small reduction in pain intensity if given w/ NSAIDs, but may offer little to no benefit for pain intensity & disability if used alone. Insufficient evidence to support their https://t.co/6Vq4CPXLvE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Recent Blogs
Nearly 25 years ago, while lecturing on best therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I loudly stated that hydroxychloroquine was “useless” and, deservedly, I was “boo-ed” off stage. My point then was that rheumatologists needed to be aggressive, if not overly aggressive, in treating all RA patients. And my view was that HCQ was representative of under-treatment. I have reconsidered the use of HCQ in RA substantially in the last few years, based on its merit.
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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”.
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Podcasts
EULAR 2026 Daily Podcast Day 2c
Are your patients with moderate to severe RA getting the appropriate dose? Sponsored by Genentech, Inc
