Rheumatoid Arthritis

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 )
puzzle.RA_.jpg

Persistent Burden in Early RA Despite Disease Control: insights from CareRA Trials

Mrinalini Dey, MD

Advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, particularly the treat-to-target strategy and the introduction of effective DMARDs, have improved the management of inflammation in RA. However, improved inflammatory markers do not always translate into a resolution of patients’ symptoms or

Read Article
Jokes Aside: The Impact of Laughter in RA Dr. Aurelie Najm reports on POS0685, 'The Impact of Social Frailty and Physical Function on Laughter Frequency in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients from a Multicenter Observational Study (T-FLAG)', presented at EULAR 2025 in Barcelona, https://t.co/z3tvqQmH96
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Cancer risk in rheumatoid arthritis: anything new? There is still a question I have a hard time answering with certainty when people living with rheumatoid arthritis ask me: Is there a higher risk of cancer that comes with the disease? Or with the treatments? So many https://t.co/6rbZg5Fr2k
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
EULAR 2025 – Day 2 Report Day 2 was a full agenda for those attending EULAR 2025 in Barcelona with sessions on the management of RA, Behcets, Lupus and Hand Osteoarthritis. Clinical overviews on MAS, Ehlers-Danlos, Difficult to treat RA and PsA offered a wide variety of options https://t.co/rys0pA6D6j
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
nurse,appointment,vitals

Nurse-Led Treat-to-Target Clinics

Jack Cush, MD

New studies shared at the 2025 annual EULAR congress in Barcelona highlight the benefits that nurse-led care can bring for both patients and healthcare systems.

Read Article
steroids.prednisone.pills_.jpg

How to properly use steroids in early RA

Janet Pope, MD, MPH, FRCPC

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. We do know that it is not easy to get a significant minority

Read Article
Increased Risk of VTE in RA: Lessons Learned from 40 Years of Data Dr. Mrinalini Dey reports on abstract OP0070, "Trends in Incidence and Predictors of Incident Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study", https://t.co/JykR4Mxb9L
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
question mark

Methotrexate and Leflunomide combination in RA/PsA: Is it safe?

Aurelie Najm, MD, PhD

I asked the EULAR twitter sphere how they feel about combination of methotrexate (MTX) and leflunomide (LEF). The opinions are differing so far, with 50% reporting prescribing this combination often while 50% are worried of side effects. Several abstracts presented this year are providing

Read Article
The Impact of Biologics on Methotrexate Adherence Dr. Aurelie Najm reports on abstract POS0563, 'Methotrexate biochemical adherence significantly reduces in new starters of biologic/targeted DMARDs: Results from the Biologics in Rheumatoid Arthritis Genetics and Genomics Study https://t.co/t7DEsJW35v
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RA Care Should be Guided by Need—Not Age Dr. Jiha Lee reports on abstract POS0627, "Examination of Clinical Outcomes by Treatment Duration of Biologics and JAK inhibitors in Nonagenarian Rheumatoid Arthritis," at EULAR 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. https://t.co/zKHXZSVLJy https://t.co/w6CkRy2yIA

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
hand stopping falling dominos

Toward Long-Term Prevention of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Are We Closer?

Jonathan Kay, MD

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. At EULAR 2025, several oral presentations explored this objective, highlighting data

Read Article
2025 EULAR/ACR Risk Stratification Criteria for At-Risk Arthralgia A collaborative EULAR/ACR expert panel has established criteria for arthralgia patients at risk (clinically suspect arthralgia) to progress to chronic rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Risk stratification of CSA https://t.co/STmuNO3c2Z
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
In the United States, IL-6R inhibitors have continued to help PMR patients get off steroids. Hopefully more use and more options mean that, in the future, PMR patients get no more steroids than PsA or RA patients #EULAR2025 POS0948 @RheumNow https://t.co/JT7gFDC5rl

Links:

David Liew @drdavidliew( View Tweet )
-Difficult to treat RA is a heterogeneous concept -Risk fx: younger onset, high disease activity,erosive disease, comorbidities, depression. -Study in a Spanish cohort with D2T 2/2 inefficacy showed Rituximab, JAKis, and IL-6i had longer survival (hence better tx options). -The https://t.co/ZCZcX9FRfb

Links:

Adela Castro @AdelaCastro222( View Tweet )
In BIODOPT study (RA, PsA, axSpA), disease activity-guided tapering of biologics (incl. biosimilars) maintained QALY (Δ0.008, NS) while lowering biologic costs (Δ€–1,979 [95%CI –3,798;–161]) & total hospital costs (Δ€–1,936 [95%CI –3,753;–119]) over 18mo. Supports https://t.co/CJUpfU2oRA

Links:

Antoni Chan MD (Prof) @synovialjoints( View Tweet )
Late-Onset Disease: Different Age, Different Rules? We’re seeing more patients develop rheumatic diseases for the first time in their 60s, 70s, or beyond. But are these truly the same diseases we see in younger adults, or do they behave differently, shaped by age-related https://t.co/ubVRhhRGxG
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
#EULAR vs #ACR #RA #recommendations Do you agree that #ERA pts should receive #glucocorticoids @RheumNow #EULAR2025 @eular_org

Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )

ARIAA study: longer-term data now High-risk ACPA+ clinically suspect arthralgias abatacept for 6mo, then stop altogether Really impressive long-term effect also noting success of APIPPRA, abatacept flicks off some very early RA, at least for a while #EULAR2025 OP0325 @RheumNow https://t.co/AeRrUKPPiK https://t.co/jtynyD0ioO

Links:

David Liew @drdavidliew( View Tweet )
Highlights @eular_org #EULAR2025 RCTs + in CTD/RA #ILD w #PPF LB0003 Lots of #CAR-T studies in #SARDs Lots of bDMARDs in #SLE #APS #IgG4 #SjD Neurostimulation 👇 ⬇️inflammation ⬇️pain #RA #fibromyalgia #EULAR2025 @RheumNow @eular_org

Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )

Why do we need RA treatment recommendation updates? We keep on getting new data, for our keystone disease so today Josef Smolen and colleagues present the new 2025 EULAR recommendations #EULAR2025 @RheumNow https://t.co/OdHL8CAIKv

Links:

David Liew @drdavidliew( View Tweet )
67% of HCPs knew of EULAR’s CVD risk guidelines in RMDs—but few could apply them. ✅ Only 13% linked SLE control to CVD risk 🚫 0% picked correct BP/statin use in RA/AS/PsA Barriers? Time, knowledge, and local guideline gaps. POS0410-HPR @RheumNow #EULAR2025

Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )

“That is why this task force continues to say: nothing is better than methotrexate and glucocorticoids to start” - Josef Smolen, on RA treatment #EULAR2025 @RheumNow https://t.co/AbkgWS8tvH

Links:

David Liew @drdavidliew( 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
×