Pregnancy

Pregnancy-Related Deaths in the US A CDC cross-sectional national study showed an increase in pregnancy-related deaths in the US from 2018 to 2022, with highest rates among American Indian, Alaska Native women, and non-Hispanic Black women. https://t.co/H1s649GyiL https://t.co/MXnrQrAcrT

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Pregnancy-Related Deaths in the US

Jack Cush, MD

A CDC cross-sectional national study showed an increase in pregnancy-related deaths in the US from 2018 to 2022, with highest rates among American Indian, Alaska Native women, and non-Hispanic Black women. 

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Disease activity during Pregnancy in Rheumatoid arthritis and Spondyloarthritis A prospective French study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients showed that most maintained stable disease activity during pregnancy, but over one-third flared and https://t.co/MaWx6AZ0JF
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Disease activity during Pregnancy in Rheumatoid arthritis and Spondyloarthritis A prospective French study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients showed that most maintained stable disease activity during pregnancy, but over one-third flared and https://t.co/3k6ZJTybAb
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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ERA, APPs, & Alpha GAL (3.21.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.  Listen in for 2 new case questions - Ask Cush Anything.

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Systematic review of colchicine and pregnancy in #FMF pts included 25 studies. Miscarriage was not increased w/ colchicine in FMF (RR 0.87). Birth defects were similar to unexposed pts (range 0.6% to 4.0%). Colchicine showed no effects (men/women) on fertility. 1 study reported… https://t.co/axiH9jhEJr https://t.co/oBpew71fZw
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Prgnancy,outcome

Disease activity during Pregnancy in Rheumatoid arthritis and Spondyloarthritis

Jack Cush, MD

A prospective French study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients showed that most maintained stable disease activity during pregnancy, but over one-third flared and required major changes in treatment.

The aim of this study was to analyze disease activity and

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Pregnancy is 🔥 inflammatory Hard to interpret MRI of SI joints in setting of pregnancy Ideally, don't score MRI during pregnancy or 1 year afterwards, would be affected by the pregnancy If needed for clinical eval, focus on structural lesions like erosions #RNL2025 @RheumNow

Eric Dein @ericdeinmd( View Tweet )

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Drug Naming Games (2.7.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, regulatory and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.

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QD Clinic - ANA Negative Lupus Pregnant ANA negative SLE (?) patients with Sjogrens and FM - what to do? Features Dr. Jack Cush. QD Clinics - lessons from the clinic, sponsored by RNL2025 in Dallas, TX; Feb 8 & 9, 2025 Register at https://t.co/2dcFVgu8z6… https://t.co/RyCdiadn4H https://t.co/EvWcQ6KIxQ

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Infertility linked to post-childbrith onset of systemic autoimmune disease Women who experience infertility but do not use fertility treatments have a higher risk of developing a group of conditions called systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) in the nine years after a… https://t.co/NJf44KJ2Hc https://t.co/W4rhsDHoqB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
pregnant, pregnancy, mother, fertility

Infertility linked to post-childbrith onset of systemic autoimmune disease

EurekAlert!

Women who experience infertility but do not use fertility treatments have a higher risk of developing a group of conditions called systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) in the nine years after a naturally conceived birth compared to women without fertility problems.

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Treat-to-Target Improves Fertility in Women with RA https://t.co/q9IMI5UHGO https://t.co/uhqaRXeBRX

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
pregnant woman

ICYMI: Reproductive Issues in axSpA: Fertility and Pregnancy

Sheila Reyes, MD

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) affects young patients with symptom onset occurring in early adulthood. Apart from pain and quality of life, reproductive issues also arise because patients who are diagnosed with the disease are also in their reproductive age. Two interesting abstracts about

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Improving fertility in women with RA For women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the journey to motherhood brings unique challenges, such as longer times to conception and infertility rates twice as high as those without RA. Factors like high disease activity, regular use of… https://t.co/9QXgeB7ftB https://t.co/mVUabSdLNE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Treat-to-Target Improves Fertility in Women with RA Dr. Richard Conway discusses abstract 1647, presented at #ACR24 https://t.co/vC0CA0lN4M https://t.co/Dfo7iBYwcU

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Prgnancy,outcome

Improving fertility in women with RA

Jiha Lee, MD

For many women, the journey to motherhood brings a sense of anticipation and joy. However, for those with rheumatoid arthritis, this journey presents unique challenges. At ACR Convergence 2024, researchers discussed how advancements in reproductive medicine and RA management are paving the way

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Is Pregnancy Truly the Solution for RA? Pregnancy is perhaps the oldest treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and has been associated with a natural improvement in disease control in 50-75% of patients. Others, however, are not as successful with unchanged disease activity or… https://t.co/MesVIUl0fC https://t.co/760i5znmeu
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Reproductive Issues in axSpA: Fertility and Pregnancy axSpA affects young patients with symptom onset occurring in early adulthood. Apart from pain and quality of life, reproductive issues also arise because patients who are diagnosed with the disease are also in their… https://t.co/8tLFOvFqdO https://t.co/E3AOOCHTgu
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
If a mother has had TNFi during pregnancy, can a baby have a live oral rotavirus vaccine (usually at 2mo)? This claims data suggests no increase in diarrhoea Adds to similarly reassuring 🇨🇦prospective cohort data https://t.co/2Tz9zRhPjz Vaccinate away! #ACR24 ABST0806 @RheumNow https://t.co/66OIAR8W6l

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David Liew @drdavidliew( View Tweet )
Nice data from the OTIS Autoimmune Disease in Pregnancy Project re: certolizumab-exposed pregnancies: - spontaneous loss rate comparable to non-disease controls - no stillbirths - preterm similar to disease controls Plenty positive for CZP in pregnancy! #ACR24 ABST0805 @RheumNow https://t.co/XCRYsioxC0

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David Liew @drdavidliew( View Tweet )
A key practice changing study (I hope) from #ACR24 has been the preCARA study. Fertility increases with aggressive disease control. My video on this study is up now on @RheumNow https://t.co/Pf3rdTHbOJ

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Richard Conway @RichardPAConway( View Tweet )

In this systematic review & metaanalyis by Dr. RFarhat et al, tacrolimus whole blood levels decrease in the 1st & 2nd trimesters then increase back to pre-pregnancy levels postpartum. Needs further studies to guide dose adjustment. @RheumNow #ACR24 abs1535 https://t.co/5MovzPJoFc

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sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
Study on pregnancy outcomes in SLE with thrombocytopenia: Higher disease activity, pregnancy loss, and stillbirth rates Identified risk factors: Anti-β2GP-I positivity and higher SLEDAI score #ACR24 abst#1487 @RheumNow

Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )

Quaack etlal. PreCARA study (vs PARA, historical control). T2T in RA improves fertility - time to pregnancy 84 days vs 196 days. T2T strategy also led to less NSAIDs and prednisolone. @RheumNow #ACR24 Abstr#1647 #ACRbest https://t.co/vYCCUqpCLo https://t.co/PUHJOxgGbL

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Richard Conway @RichardPAConway( View Tweet )

Recent Blogs

Best of 2022: Myths & Misconceptions with Febrile Disorders

Rachel Tate, DO
Myth vs reality
Still’s disease and autoinflammatory disorders are rare conditions unified by recurrent fevers and inflammation of skin, joints, and other organs. While labs often support the diagnosis, these conditions are best diagnosed by genetic testing, or by specific criteria (in the absence of a genetic test). The following is a table that lists common misconceptions (myths) and their clarifying explanations. Read Post

Myths & Misconceptions with Febrile Disorders

Rachel Tate, DO
Myth vs reality
Still’s disease and autoinflammatory disorders are rare conditions unified by recurrent fevers and inflammation of skin, joints, and other organs. While labs often support the diagnosis, these conditions are best diagnosed by genetic testing, or by specific criteria (in the absence of a genetic test). The following is a table that lists common misconceptions (myths) and their clarifying explanations. Read Post
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