Secukinumab in Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a common disorder of the elderly that responds well to glucocorticoids (GC), but is plagued by an inability to wean off of GCs.
Insights into Sjögren’s Disease - A Rheum Survey
Key Rheumatologist Takeaways on Sjogren’s Disease:
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Brepocitinib Skin Outcomes in Patients With Dermatomyositis
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).
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JAMA Review: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic autonomic disorder affecting an estimated 0.1%–1% of the US population, with peak incidence at ages 13–29 and a striking 90% female predominance.
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Rheum Scholarship (8.21.2026)
Dr. Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow; talking about lumbar belts, scholarships and misdiagnosis.
https://t.co/T6uggKb8n7 https://t.co/HJCMQqghaE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Age-specific Incidence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Epidemiologic estimates on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis are limited. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Lupus Registry network of population-based SLE registries has assessed and reported age-specific incidence of SLE
Guidelines for Adult-Onset IgA Vasculitis
A EUVAS-sponsored expert panel of 37 specialists across rheumatology, nephrology, dermatology and pathology has published evidence-based guidelines for adult-onset IgA vasculitis (IgAV), which behaves very differently in adults compared to usually self-limited childhood form.
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Registry Data Shows Liver Risk With Avacopan
MedPage Today
A new study may add fuel to the fire already burning around avacopan (Tavneos), approved in 2021 to treat anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), which the FDA wants drugmaker Amgen to pull from the U.S. market.
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Glucocorticoids: Use vs.Toxicity
This review article addresses the recognition, prevention and management of glucocorticoid toxicity in rheumatic patients.
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Rheum Scholarship (8.21.2026)
Dr. Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com; talking about lumbar belts, scholarships and misdiagnosis.
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JAMA: Review of Shoulder Pain
JAMA Internal Medicine (Haas et al, 2026) has published a clinical overview to the approach, diagnosis and management of Shoulder Pain.
https://t.co/xYSahFksx9 https://t.co/kTIml2mD6k
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
A Tribute to Thomas A. Medsger Jr., MD (1936–2026)
The rheumatology and scleroderma communities mourn the loss of Dr. Thomas A. Medsger Jr., who died August 15, 2026, in Pittsburgh, at age 89.
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RHEUMATOLOGIST Survey Q> For Sjogrens disease, what therapy do you most commonly use? Click here: https://t.co/XJEsqoSlbn https://t.co/FvlOqwl2aD
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Rheum Survey >> What therapy do you most commonly use to treat Sjogrens disease? Answer here: https://t.co/XJEsqoSlbn
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA confers a 50–100% excess risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared with the general population, with adjusted hazard/odds ratios ranging from 1.3–2.2 across large cohort studies (Vojinovic, Askling, Antovic; Rheumatology, 2026).
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2026 Medscape report on Nurse practitioners shows nearly half of NPs are burned out, and for 1 in 6, that exhaustion has curdled into something heavier: both burnout and depression. Worse, 63% of NPs don't believe relief is in sight https://t.co/G8N5YgOKyA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Joint Pain Prevalence is not Declining
A current report from the national NHIS survey shows that over half of US adults diagnosed with arthritis reported moderate to severe joint pain.
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JAMA: Review of Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain affects 16% of adults annually and is the third most common musculoskeletal presentation in primary care. This new review reframes the diagnostic and therapeutic approach, moving away from pathoanatomic labels (rotator cuff tendinopathy, impingement, bursitis) toward the umbrella
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Rheum Survey >> What therapy do you most commonly use to treat Sjogrens disease? Answer here: https://t.co/XJEsqoSlbn
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Efgartigimod Efficacy in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy
Today Argenx announced the results of their Phase 3 "ALKIVIA" study; demonstrating efficacy and safety of subcutaneous efgartigimod for Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy (IIM, AKA inflammatory myositis).
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Can Effective Psoriasis Therapy Prevent Psoriatic Arthritis?
A review article assesses and integrates mechanistic, imaging, and clinical evidence to examine whether effective treatment of psoriasis may modify the future risk of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
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Doubting RS3PE (8.14.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles this week where RheumNow featured info on cancer, deadly viruses, AI rules, poetry and good moons rising.
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2026 PGY1 match for non–US citizen international medical graduates (IMGs) has reached a 5-year low; yet US health care relies heavily on non–US-born MDs. In US, there are 6300 Rheumatologists - 46.9% US born USMG; 5.4% US born IMG; 11.2% non-US born USMG; 36.5% non-US born IMG https://t.co/cwx5ugBaVE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ZEUS Trial: IL-6 Inhibition Fails to Cut Cardiovascular Events
The phase 3 ZEUS trial (published in JAMA Dec. 2025) tested the IL-6 ligand inhibitor ziltivekimab in over 6,000 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and elevated hsCRP—a population enriched for an inflammatory driver of risk.
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Lupus Nephritis
Sponsored by RheumNow
View our six video perspectives on lupus nephritis, including Management of CKD in Lupus Nephritis.
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Women in Rheumatology: Gender Issues in Disease and Management
Sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb
Nine videos discussing gender differences in axSpA, PsA, Vasculitis, Lung Disease, Osteoporosis, Disparities in Healthcare, and Rheumatologic Activity and Treatment, are now available.
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Recent Blogs
At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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Podcasts
Better Gout Management
