Doubting RS3PE (8.14.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles this week where RheumNow featured info on cancer, deadly viruses, AI rules, poetry and good moons rising.
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SLE & Dermatomyositis rashes maybe classically red or violaceous in Whites,but different in people of color, where erythema often appears brown/violaceous, Gottron papules can be mistaken for "dry skin." This delays dx, especially in anti-MDA5+ RP-ILD, where rash may be the https://t.co/Savx5IOTcG
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Review of CAR-T 29 trials in systemic sclerosis (SSc): 27/29 target CD19 (other CD20, BCMA), 20/29 autologous. Only 2 RCTs; 1 w/ RTX comparator. Most included CREST. Schetts largest series had 6 dcSSc w/ skin/lung improvements. Need fewer & larger multicenter RCTs https://t.co/Me28HbaFhR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Biomarker substudy from SENSCIS trial of nintedanib in SSc-ILD shows higher baseline KL-6 levels >1000 U/mL was assoc w/ greater FVC worsening; & decrease in CA-125 was assoc. w/ nintedanib responses. Epithelial cells are primary source of CA-125 in the lung https://t.co/7VJ2UDOKin
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Study of 154 anti-Ku Ab+ pts (51 IMMM, 46 SLE, 30 Sjögrens, 27 Sc) = 60 (39%) had ILD - 75% progressed; more rapidly in males. BUT Ku+ is rare <4%, not specific, without clear clinical implications. Ku is a myositis-assoc Ab (like Ro52/Ro60, U1-RNP, PM/Scl) https://t.co/MHz8mdqDqi
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Arrhythmias in Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease
A new review in the Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease (Tamirisa et al) synthesizes how SLE, RA, and SSc have an increased risk of arrhythmias and SCD attributable to shared immune pathways. These facts substantiate the https://t.co/j9AW26LE66
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Arrhythmias in Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease
A new review in the Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease (Tamirisa et al) synthesizes how systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic sclerosis have an increased risk of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death attributable to shared immune pathways.
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Chikungunya Club Meeting (7.24.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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EUSTAR scleroderma substudy propensity matched pts Rx w/ JAKi (n 38) vs 180 pts ea Rx w/ MMF, MTX, RTX. 1/3 had dcSSc. 23 AEs in 997 Pt-yrs. JAKi outcomes similar to comparators. JAKi Tx D/C in 39%, FVC stable, skin fibrosis improved (mRSS −1.8) & SJC decreased. No new
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Seronegative RA Disease Activity (7.17.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and Gout features from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Gout Cavalcade (7.10.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and regulatory decisions from the past week. July is Gout: More than Flares month.
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EULAR26: Reports on Systemic Sclerosis
https://t.co/knZZlMYlen https://t.co/0wul0yaw4m
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
EULAR26: Reports on Systemic Sclerosis
EurekAlert!
In an oral abstract presentation at EULAR 2026, results were shared from a longitudinal observational analysis of the EUSTAR database. The aim was to characterise organ involvement and disease progression – and time to these events – stratified by having a modified disease activity index (
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From BiTE to TriTE: Progress of T-cell Engagers in RMDs
The EULAR 2026 Congress in London showcased growing interest in T-cell engagers as a novel strategy to achieve deep B-cell depletion and drug-free remission in refractory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). Bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTE) aim to overcome limitations of
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NK Cells Without a CAR: AB-101 Is Neither CAR-T nor CAR-NK
Much of the meeting came for the next CAR T readout. AB-101 drew attention for a different reason. It depletes B cells by a completely different route.
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Day 2 Report from EULAR 2026
Day two at EULAR 2026 was jammed with sessions on advances in immune checkpoint inhhbitors (and irAEs), Lupus, Scleroderma, RA and IgG4 related disease. Here are a few of my favorites from Day 2
https://t.co/6KwtkMNLAf https://t.co/Toh4HNZFN5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Abstr LB0003
Off-the-shelf allogeneic NK cell therapy + rituximab in refractory RA, Sjögren disease, and systemic sclerosis. 31 patients. Outpatient administered.
RA at 6 months: 71% ACR50, mean CDAI change −36.8. SSc: 100% rCRISS25 response. SjD: 86% ClinESSDAI responders. https://t.co/60046jgYia
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) @synovialjoints( View Tweet )
Interesting data on the effect of AB-101 + RTX on refractory RA, SSc and SjD.
Curious about long term results and potential position in tx strategies
LB0006 @RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/opbh8yGmwO
Links:
sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
CAR-T without the CAR-T risks?
AB-101, an off-the-shelf NK cell therapy + RTX, delivered in refractory RA, Sjögren, and SSc (n=31): RA ACR50 71%, SSc mRSS -9.5, SjD ClinESS DAI -8.6 at 6 mo. Outpatient delivery without CAR-T associated AEs? @RheumNow #EULAR2026 LB0003 https://t.co/xi6ZdLwHcN
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
Improving Understanding in SSc
2026 EULAR Press Release
Systemic sclerosis is a rare connective tissue disorder characterised by autoimmune features with vascular manifestations, causing fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. EULAR is focused on systemic sclerosis as the rheumatic disease with the highest morbidity and mortality. New data
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5 years since Patient ID001: Progress on CAR-T Therapy in RMD
Five years on, are we closer to licensing of the first CAR-T therapy in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD)?
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#CAR_T cell therapy in #SSc
Promising results from the Breakfree-1 study
(Zola-cel) on safety and preliminary efficacy on pFVC in 26 patients
More data is needed
#HOT session Pr Oliver Distler
#EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/ZS1LnBLMu5
Links:
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )
Looking forward to CAR T cell therapy trials in #SSc
Phase 2 and 3 studies presented at
#HOT session by Pr Oliver Distler
#CAR_T
#EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/bmXZpF2wKg
Links:
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )
Many drugs in the pipeline for #Systemic_Sclerosis
In particular, stay tuned for:
🔺Nerandomilast (PDE4i) in ILD
🔺CAR T cells (obviously): big RCT trials planned
🔺Bispecific T cell engagers: Teclistamab
#HOT session Pr Oliver Distler
#EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/I7HQtfwuW0
Links:
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )
Digital Platforms and AI
2026 EULAR Press Release
EULAR works with the network of national organisations of People with Arthritis/Rheumatism in Europe (PARE) to ensure the voices of people with RMD are heard and have influence – creating powerful alliances that make a real difference. Artificial intelligence is another potential ally in that
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At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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How best do we communicate CV risk associated with RA to other members of the treating team, most particularly the primary care physicians? After some experimentation, I have come up with an approach that seems to work and which does not take up much time.
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Podcasts
EULAR 2026 Daily Podcast Day 2c
EULAR 2021 - Day2a00:38:00
