SATISFACTION (2.27.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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The prevalence of Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Australia is 26,788 (16,294 certain, 10,494 uncertain cases). Betw 2010-2022 incidence was 77-127/100,000 (certain cases). About half had received SLE care in an outpatient setting. Australia is 1/13 the population of USA https://t.co/n1sbFNPRbn
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA)in systemic sclerosis? Retro study of 165 SSc pts (20% diffuse, 33% ILD, 7% PAH); 51% centromere AB+; 29% topoisomerase I+, 12% RNA polymerase III+)-- 22% AMA-positive: assoc w/ GI vascular dz(OR 13.3), gastric antral vascular ectasia (OR 8) & https://t.co/FRhn9qIfOW
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
A month ago the FDA Granted Breakthrough Designation to Ianalumab for Sjögren Disease . The drug targets BAFF and depletes B cells. Two recent positive RCTs (NEPTUNUS-1, NEPTUNUS-2). Novartis expects a regulatory decision in early 2026 https://t.co/PXVjGG1Cmd https://t.co/0s5livw1bg
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Diagnosing and Managing GCA and Takayasu’s Arteritis
Giant-cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK) are both large-vessel vasculitides, but each brings its own diagnostic and management challenges. Many of the difficulties overlap because they are rare, https://t.co/ePJqcMjcBA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA)in systemic sclerosis? Retro study of 165 SSc pts (20% diffuse, 33% ILD, 7% PAH); 51% centromere AB+; 29% topoisomerase I+, 12% RNA polymerase III+)-- 22% AMA-positive: assoc w/ GI vascular dz(OR 13.3), gastric antral vascular ectasia (OR 8) & https://t.co/epMgfbj5uW
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Referral Rules to Live By (2.20.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. Highlights include referral rules, combination biiologics in psoriasis and don't use JAK inhibitors in pregnancy.
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RT @richardPAconway
Dr Sparks. RA-ILD is common. Pooled prevalence of 11% from recent meta-analysis. Less common than SSc or IIM, but more frequent than we think! #RNL26 https://t.co/mJSmMakSBM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ANA Pollution (2.06.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and regulatory news from this past week on RheumNow.com
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FDA vs. Amgen: At Odds Over Avacopan
MedPage Today
The FDA has requested that Amgen voluntarily withdraw avacopan (Tavneos), a treatment for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, but the company said it has no plans to pull the drug from the market.
Originally developed by ChemoCentryx, the oral
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Only a subset of incomplete lupus (ILE) will progress to SLE - betw 1 in 10 and 1 in 5. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/oo40Dumk4I
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Giant Cell Arteritis Outcomes in Canada
A retrospective cohort study of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) demonstrates relapses are common and seen in nearly half of patients, were common after treatment is stopped and is not effectively averted by methotrexate (MTX).
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Aortitis in Giant Cell Arteritis Treated with Tocilizumab
The The Tocilizumab in Giant Cell Arteritis Spanish Collaborative Group studied giant cell arteritis with aortitis, comparing the efficacy of intravenous vs. subcutaneously (SC) tocilizumab (TCZ) - demonstrating the superiority of SC TCZ.
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B Cells at the Brink in Sjögren Disease
The current issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology reviews the current understanding of the immunopathogenesis of Sjögren disease (SjD) and how this understanding has informed drug development for this systemic autoimmune disorder. https://t.co/zI7lQ5N54o
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
DMARD Responses in Localized Scleroderma
JAMA Dermatology has published the results of a juvenile localized scleroderma (JLS) trial showing that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and methotrexate (MTX) are equally effective in treating JLS, noting low flare rates and possibly better tolerability with MMF.
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🧬 PAPA Syndrome: When Sterile Inflammation Mimics Infection
(Pyogenic Arthritis, Pyoderma gangrenosum, Acne)
•A rare monogenic autoinflammatory disease
•Caused by gain-of-function mutations in PSTPIP1
🧠 Pathophysiology
•Mutant PSTPIP1 → increased interaction with pyrin https://t.co/tJ4INdgfky
Ravi Kumar @RheumattDoc( View Tweet )
What Is Restless Legs Syndrome? JAMA Patient Education handout. https://t.co/fCqArVxrSu https://t.co/WjFNWyr9Q2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Emergencies, Independence & Hemorrhage (1.23.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and reports from the past two weeks on RheumNow.Com
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Congratulations to Lupus Research Alliance 2025 Global Science Award Recipients 1) Drs. Deepak Rao & Alexandra-Chloe Villani at Harvard affiliates; & 2) Dr. Caroline Jefferies at Cedars-Sinai. Grants will support interdisciplinary, collaborative, & synergistic projects in SLE https://t.co/GcfuEty75b
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Spread of Psoriatic Disease from Skin to Joints
Approximately 20-30 % of all people who suffer from psoriasis also develop painful inflammation in their joints over time. If left untreated, PsA can lead to permanent damage to bones and joints. Why the disease progresses was https://t.co/UbGHFASKvc
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Anti-mitochondrial M2 Ab (AMA-M2) in 987 IIM pts-- 55 (6%) were AMA-M2 positive. AMA-M2+ had signif. higher rates of polymyositis (56% vs 23.5%), GGT, alk phos levels, & 3 fold more cardiac involvement (60 vs 13%) (arrhythmias, CHF, pulm HTN (31-56%), but no effect on survival https://t.co/8fQzgRfHr4
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
CASTLE Phase 1/2a CAR-T cell trial of 24 Tx refractory SLE, SSC, IIM pts w/ MB-CART19.1 (autologous CD19 CAR-T). Good safety (no CRS Gr 2 or higher or ICANS) @wk 24 & 22/24 achieved efficacy (9/10 SLE remission; 9/9 SSc no progression, 4/5 IIM major/mod response). All GC free on https://t.co/1BJidCuCeb
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Anti-mitochondrial M2 Ab (AMA-M2) in 987 IIM pts-- 55 (6%) were AMA-M2 positive. AMA-M2+ had signif. higher rates of polymyositis (56% vs 23.5%), GGT, alk phos levels, & 3 fold more cardiac involvement (60 vs 13%) (arrhythmias, CHF, pulm HTN (31-56%), but no effect on survival https://t.co/WYWeDpiYOh
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Best of 2025: ERS/EULAR guidelines for CTD-related interstitial lung disease
The ERS and EULAR have published clinical practice guidelines for the evaluation and management of CTD associated ILD in two simultaneous publications in the European Respiratory Journal and Annals of https://t.co/ceGCQjkmJV
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Sjogrens is a hot area in drug development: “Sjogren’s Syndrome Pipeline Insight 2025” report provides comprehensive insights about 20+ companies and 22+ pipeline drugs, including:
nipocalimab
VAY736 (ianalumab)
HZN-1116
AMG 329
R-2487 https://t.co/sVbyPLi2Um https://t.co/2URpGUsMk9
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Recent Blogs
I recently overheard a very good practicing rheumatologist complain, “why do I need yet another drug for psoriatic arthritis? I have more treatment choices than I have actual PsA patients who need a new or better drug”.
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Adult-onset Still's presents an interesting and diagnostic challenge when encountered. Here are 5 tips to improve your diagnostic acumen for this febrile disorder.
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I recently heard of a secondary school assignment wherein students were challenged to “bury” a word that was no longer useful or appropriate. Their exercise has now evolved into an unofficial RheumNow task force to retire diagnostic terms that have grown into misuse in rheumatology and medicine.
How did we decide which words should perish? And by what criteria? Who has the final say?
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ACR 2025 Daily Podcasts Day4b
