Rheumatoid Arthritis

What we need in very early arthritis It's easy to think that in our current world that we've done it all for rheumatoid arthritis, that there's nothing left to be done after b/tsDMARDs have become relatively widespread and accessible. If we aren’t satisfied that we’ve done all https://t.co/v8T3JQwuhM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Korean Health claims data study of 35,133 newly Dx, seropositive #RA pts (2011 to 2020) & 1,386 (3.9%) were Dx w/ new-onset stroke (CVA). Signif. lower risk of CVA w/ SSZ (aOR: 0.79) or HCQ (aOR: 0.83), but Increased risk w/ glucocorticoids (aOR: 1.71) & tocilizumab (aOR: 3.47) https://t.co/rPaj6cH74K
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Using Veterans Affairs data (2006 - 2020) on RA-ILD patients, a target emulation trial showed no difference in mortality or respiratory hospitalization comparing RA-ILD Rx w/ either RTX, abatacept, tocilizumab, tofacitinib. Does this mean? they Dont Work or the Do Work? https://t.co/MkQmKsE3WQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
EULAR 2025 – RA Panel Discussion Leading experts in rheumatology dive into the latest advances, treatment strategies, and emerging research in rheumatoid arthritis. Don’t miss this in-depth panel as they unpack key findings from EULAR 2025 and discuss what’s next for RA care. https://t.co/hoxz0zWieN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
UK study of 17472 newly Dx #RA pts (10997 MTX, 4,540 csDMARDs; 13680 steroids-CS) w/ 1307 Serious Infx (SI) (3/100PY) & 311 SI deaths. MTX signif decr. SI (adj HR 0.72) & CS no effect HR 0.99. SI assoc w/ age, smoker, comorbidity, seropositive, high DAS28. 1 DAS unit incr SI https://t.co/Zmsuaf7Rw3
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Persistent Burden in Early RA Despite Disease Control: insights from CareRA Trials Advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly the treat-to-target strategy and the introduction of effective disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), have improved https://t.co/cMiF6POKGS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Global burden of dz study - UN statistics show post-Menopausal women (PMW) are 20% of all women in 2021 (vs 13.7% 1990). From 1990 to 2021, the prevalence of MSK Dz in PMW significantly risen, especially for RA, OA, and gout. https://t.co/HdkopkxLdv https://t.co/wsGhg0P1tL

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Survey of 154 Saudi established #RA pts on MTX >3mos; 64% claiming #MTX intolerance & 36% w/ MTX Intolerance Severity Score (MISS) >6. But MTX intolerance was NOT related to dose or route of administration, meal or time of day. These were not new MTX starters https://t.co/6KWGcZvx4o
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Why is RA Difficult to Treat? Dr. Jonathan Kay shares his perspective on five posters presented at EULAR 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. Posters reviewed: POS0027, POS0028, POS0185, POS0030, POS0163 https://t.co/Ad4hVN21MJ https://t.co/d0BfQWjjL0

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Does Abatacept Buy You Time Off RA? Dr. David Liew reports on abstract OP0325 presented at the 2025 EULAR meeting in Barcelona, Spain. https://t.co/t8NLvPjcju https://t.co/bloTKQ87rv

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
How to properly use steroids in early RA Guidelines differ on the early treatment of RA – ACR suggests not to use glucocorticoids (GC) and EULAR updated recommendations for RA treatment presented at #EULAR2025 continued to suggest early treatment with MTX and glucocorticoids. https://t.co/FakKxRot0p
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
holding hands together support frail

What we need in very early arthritis

David Liew, FRACP

It's easy to think that in our current world that we've done it all for rheumatoid arthritis, that there's nothing left to be done after b/tsDMARDs have become relatively widespread and accessible. If we aren’t satisfied that we’ve done all we can for our RA patients, how can we make their

Read Article
Methotrexate and Leflunomide combination in RA/PsA: Is it safe? Save I asked the EULAR Twitter community about the combination of Methotrexate (MTX) and Leflunomide (LEF). Opinions are split, with 50% prescribing it often and 50% concerned about side effects. In my practice, https://t.co/SZjLaEH1h2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Rheumatoid arthritis incidence has risen to 17.9 million people globally -13.2% increase from 1990-2021. Fewer people are dying from RA, but disability-adjusted life Yrs have doubled. high sociodemographic index bore the heaviest burden. Smoking control policies is forecasted to https://t.co/YmWcinVdmE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Join Drs. John J. Cush and Dr. Arthur Kavanaugh for the EULAR Rheumatology RoundUp — a dynamic, fast-paced discussion capturing the most impactful highlights, late-breaking data, and clinical takeaways from EULAR 2025. Tune in live on X-Live, Facebook Live, or YouTube Live for https://t.co/fcrWbwOLTx

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ALTO: Long-term Outcomes of APIPPRA Dr. Mrinalini Dey interviews Professor Andrew Cope about abstract OP0004, on the long term outcome of APIPPRA patients - the ALTO study, at the EULAR 2025 meeting in Barcelona, Spain. https://t.co/9wVZSXbi6r https://t.co/fm77qDoTwm

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RheumNow Podcast square

Trends and Innovations from Barcelona (6.20.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights, trends and novel studies from EULAR 2025 in Barcelona from last week.

Read Article
EULAR 2025 – Day 4 Report Saturday was the final day of EULAR, and included several lectures, but mostly late breaking abstracts and new EULAR guidelines - notably on Rheumatoid Arthritis and another on Interstitial Lung disease in connective tissue disorders. https://t.co/ZJ1pHQJTbK
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Toward Long-Term Prevention of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Are We Closer? As earlier diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have resulted in greatly improved clinical outcomes, the focus of current research has now shifted to preventing the development of RA altogether. https://t.co/HGbXVLVuSC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
epilepsy,brain,seizure,CVA

Striking a ‘nerve’ in RA: understanding neuromodulation

Janet Pope, MD, MPH, FRCPC

Over the last 50 years, discoveries of connections between inflammation and the nervous system have been better understood.

Read Article
DMARD Combinations in RA Treatment Dr. Jiha Lee discusses abstract OP0195 presented at the EULAR 2025 meeting in Barcelona, Spain. https://t.co/lrZRDvWD0z https://t.co/PS4k2bCqet

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
heart in a puzzle

What would it take for JAKs to ROCK the boat?

David Liew, FRACP

JAK inhibitors have taken a beating over the last three years. The excitement and potential has been tempered by mounting cardiovascular safety concerns, but specifically in at-risk patients, compared to TNF inhibitors. So it is an intriguing idea to pair JAK inhibitors with something that might

Read Article
EULAR 2025 – Day 3 Report Highlights from Day 3 included presentations on imaging in vasculitis, a debate on treating high-risk pre-clinical RA, and EULAR Recommendations on ILD treatment, physical activity for arthritis, the EULAR disease activity score for antiphospholipid https://t.co/FAaj443wPX
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Introducing Polyrefractory RA: A New Frontier in Difficult-to-Treat RA At a EULAR 2025 session titled “What makes ‘Difficult-to-treat RA’ so difficult to treat? And what can we do?”, Drs. Paula David and Dennis McGonagle introduced the emerging concept of polyrefractory https://t.co/35cWYRehdd
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Several studies have shown predictive value to monocyte counts in RA responses. UK study of 246 #RA pts showed pretreatment absolute monocyte count [ORadj 9.56; 1.61-59.86, p = 0.01) predicted bDMARD nonresponse @ 6 mos. Replicates other reports! https://t.co/GqGj8R0wq1 https://t.co/HJ7wFBoxGE

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Recent Blogs

Hydroxychloroquine for Everyone

Jack Cush, MD
ra.hands2_.JPG
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. Read Post

Best of 2023: New ACR RA-ILD Treatment Guidelines – What Were They Smoking!?

Richard Conway, MBBChBAO, PhD
Lungs ILD
Rheumatoid arthritis related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is common, with symptomatic RA-ILD affecting approximately 8% of RA patients. There is a very limited evidence base supporting treatment and therefore the recent release of ACR guidelines is to be welcomed. However, the published guidelines appear discordant with the best available evidence base.  Read Post
×