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Rheumatoid Arthritis

In RA, NO selective response with Seropositivity. Study of 28 eligible RCTs shows pts Rx w/ cs- or bDMARD that seropositivity did not predict better bDMARD response (ACR20 RRR ~1). Comparable resp in RF+ & RF- w/ TNFi or non-TNFi bDMARDs. https://t.co/AUWPgkzayt https://t.co/om9AYhNsQ9
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
JAMA Review of DMARD Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis JAMA has reviewed the "2022 EULAR Recommendations for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis With Synthetic and Biological Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs". https://t.co/fpAigPpKzv https://t.co/GkbqW2BxpA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Again, a High Mortality with Depression and RA Last week we reported on a Korean study showing a 66% elevated mortality risk in RA patients with depression. This week, a new report shows depression in RA increases the mortality risk by more than 5 fold. https://t.co/C7Z7djny4S https://t.co/J9B6DUqcIC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Ides of March (3.15.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush has advice for Caesar and the superstitious, and covers pregnancy, platelets, dialysis and vaccinations in Lupus.





  1. Dutch study of 586 RA pts on bDMARDs found more nonserious infections (NSIE) (77/100PYs) than serious infx (SIE)(1.3/100Pys). Upper respiratory

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Dutch study of 586 RA pts on bDMARDs found more nonserious infections (NSIE) (77/100PYs) than serious infx (SIE)(1.3/100Pys). Upper respiratory tract infections were most frequent with recurrence rate that remained stable over time https://t.co/zwELL2yevG https://t.co/GLbidGvjp3
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

US Trends in RA DMARD Use 2017-2021

A trend analysis of DMARDs shows that only half of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are taking DMARDs, and that the COVID-19 pandemic substantially affected DMARD use. Despite numerous DMARD advances and evolving treatment guidelines since 1990, older therapies are still commonly used and

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DANBIO #RA registry study: in 21,982 Rx starts (96K PtYrs) saw 1423 cancers w/ no overall increase in cancer risk with tocilizumab, sarilumab, abatacept, or rituximab (HRs from 0.7–1.1). No diff betw ABA vs TNFi (HR 1.41) nor HEME CA RTX vs TNFi (HR 0.09) https://t.co/mIEqALnnwI https://t.co/N1v3TzuBGm
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Again, a High Mortality with Depression and RA

Last week we reported on a Korean study showing a 66% elevated mortality risk in RA patients (n=38,487) with depression. This week, a new report shows depression in RA increases the mortality risk by more

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Mixed Long-term Effects of Calcium and Vitamin D in Postmenopausal Women https://t.co/u2cf5hmTAE https://t.co/A4kdwG6eRm
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

9 Facts about Leflunomide

Medscape has published an informative review of leflunomide, drawn from Dr. Eric Ruderman’s recent lecture on the subject at the February RWCS meeting in Maui.



Leflunomide was FDA approved in 1998 for rheumatoid arthritis, roughly around the same time infliximab and etanercept

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Depression and RA Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory approvals from the past week. https://t.co/nJZD4D2ByC https://t.co/ET3Xp9cK62
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

JAMA Review of DMARD Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis

JAMA has reviewed the "2022 EULAR Recommendations for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis With Synthetic and Biological Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs". 

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Increased Depression on Rheumatoid Arthritis A Korean nationwide cohort study found that both seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have a significantly higher risk of depression. https://t.co/9AtlBrDTUJ https://t.co/vKEhBfkHQD
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Starting MTX at higher or subcut. doses yields better ACR20 responses. Review of 12 trials & 1,566 pts, shows: - higher initial MTX 25 mg (but more GI AEs) - SC MTX more ACR20 resp (85% vs PO 77%) - MTX non-response, success w/ SC MTX https://t.co/01PuDpkUIF https://t.co/vXLWEp4srH
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
COVIDs Extended Risk for Rheumatic Disease Annals of Internal Medicine reports a large, binational study finding SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk for AIRDs that extends up to 12 months after infection. https://t.co/HjQ56hiiny https://t.co/vvC3iVqNyF
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Have a Rheumatology question or case for Jack Cush? Record it here and we'll feature it on an upcoming podcast. Tell us your name and where you practice rheumatology. https://t.co/a3XeAa2lcG https://t.co/dTZa2uQF97
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Polyautoimmunity in RA, Regardless of ACPA Positivity While it is believed that autoimmunity follows autoantibody positivity, a Danish study shows the incidence of polyautoimmunity to be similar in RA patients who are either ACPA + or -. https://t.co/7lmp1NB0XX https://t.co/onaEluzkGy
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Depression and RA (3.8.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory approvals from the past week.

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Increased Depression on Rheumatoid Arthritis

A Korean nationwide cohort study found that both seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have a significantly higher risk of depression. 



Depression is one of the most common comorbidities in rheumatic disease patients and it imparts a significant

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Polyautoimmunity in RA, Regardless of ACPA Positivity

While it is believed that autoimmunity follows autoantibody positivity, a Danish study shows the incidence of polyautoimmunity to be similar in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who are either anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)–positive or ACPA–negative. 



Data was

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19% Arthritis Prevalence in the USA

According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), in 2022, the prevalence of diagnosed arthritis in adults was 18.9% (women 21.5%, more than men 16.1%). These numbers are down since the CDC's MMWR report of 2019–2021, where is was estimated 21.2% of U.S. adults (53.2 million) had

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COVIDs Extended Risk for Rheumatic Disease

EurekAlert!

Annals of Internal Medicine reports a large, binational study finding SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk for autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) that extends up to 12 months after

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Sinusitis Linked to 40% Heightened Risk of Rheumatic Disease The common inflammatory condition sinusitis is linked to a 40% heightened risk of a subsequent diagnosis of rheumatic disease, finds research published in the open access journal RMD Open. https://t.co/hMlKxIDvlb https://t.co/eNEMuH4Tdc
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Can Biomarkers Improve Cardiovascular Risk Assessments in RA? The TARGET (Treatments Against RA and Effect on FDG PET/CT) trial showed that different treatment strategies equally benefited arterial inflammation (by FDG-PET) in rheumatoid arthritis. https://t.co/NTI57kTtAy https://t.co/idf4qTtKcw
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Can Biomarkers Improve Cardiovascular Risk Assessments in RA?

The TARGET (Treatments Against RA and Effect on FDG PET/CT) trial showed that different treatment strategies equally benefited arterial inflammation (by FDG-PET) in rheumatoid arthritis. A subsequent analysis of these patients showed several candidate biomarkers that may correlate with

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