Scleroderma/Raynauds

Puzzle pieces

ICYMI: Clinical and Therapeutic Challenges in Connective Tissue Disease and ILD

Mrinalini Dey, MD

Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) represent a challenging intersection of systemic autoimmunity and progressive respiratory impairment. Research presented at EULAR 2025 continues to highlight the importance of CTD-ILD and the evolving landscape of therapeutic

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JAMA Clinical Challenge - 34-yoF with Forearm Pain and Stiffness. 1 yr of progressive skin tightening over forearms, tibia, LOM of fingers & elbows. Denied DM, Raynauds. Worse after tennis, better w/ steroids. Increased ANA, eosinophils, CRP, aldolase - your Dx? https://t.co/5VrE4OpZ4N
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
SCLERODERMA Pt education page from JAMA Dermatology https://t.co/hILqCeUnE2 https://t.co/QPKLqTQfPj

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Promising role of Fc neonatal receptor blockade in autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof, MRCP(UK), PhD

During EULAR 2024, we learned about a novel mechanism of action therapy, nipocalimab in Sjogren’s disease (SjD). This is an anti-neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) mAb that reduces circulating IgG, including autoantibodies, by selectively blocking the interaction of IgG with FcRn. A year on at EULAR

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Lung,AI,Pleura

A new mechanism of action in SARD-ILD

Aurelie Najm, MD, PhD

Nerandomilast, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4B, orally administered, is a new mechanism of action to treat lung fibrotic diseases. FIBRONEER-ILD, the Phase 3 RCT of Nerandomilast in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis, was 

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#CAR-T in active #scleroderma #diffuse open label @sclerodermaUM presented improvement in #nailfold #capillary patterns Suggesting #vascular recovery Hope is for lungs, skin and survival to improve but These are ▶️ Early days ?risk OP0338 #EULAR2025. @RheumNow @eular_org https://t.co/QhmO6gekXk

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Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Management and prognosis of RP by @Lupusreference 1. Pts with mild disease respond to GCs 2. NSAIDs/colchicine good alternatives 3. Most common biologics used: TNFi and IL6i 4. Consider CYP in life threatening dz/ICU pts 5. Dynamic CT assess tracheal collapse. 6. PET-CT can ≠ https://t.co/PNUecMZvkT

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Adela Castro @AdelaCastro222( View Tweet )
Is #PDE5i protective in development of #SSc #ILD? Maybe 444 w ILD of >4000 #EUSTAR Pts over 1 to 2 yrs f/u #immunesuppressive use maybe or not 🤷‍♀️channeling bias Reduction in new #ILD in #scleroderma PDE5i ✅ Immunesuppression ? @RheumNow #EULAR2025 @eular_org #OP0334 https://t.co/6dtLfybkRV

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Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Should we screen for #lung #cancer in #SSc high risk Pts? When >10 yrs? Greek cohort of SSc since 1995 Disease duration 12 yrs, smoking lung ca group ⬆️58% vs 29% ⬆️dcSSc ⬆️immunosuppression OR >4X lung ca if dcSSc, IS Less #DU #PO0940 @RheumNow @eular_org #EULAR2025 https://t.co/L2zEkP8pAc

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Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
#digital #ulcers in #scleroderma🎯 Retrospective #iloprost vs #selexipag 👇 BIG advantage of oral #prostacyclin receptor #agonist vs iloprost healing faster ⬇️ulcers Selexipag used in iloprost failures; ⬇️IV access WOW! RCT needed #OP035 #EULAR2025 @RheumNow @eular_org https://t.co/6y9LwIlQkd

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Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
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Predictors and Outcomes in Systemic Sclerosis

EurekAlert!

The VEDOSS project has previously shown that 70% of patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon and at least one red flag – systemic sclerosis (SSc)-specific antibodies, puffy fingers, or an SSc pattern on nailfold capillaroscopy –will fulfil the 2013 ACR/EULAR SSc criteria within 5 years.

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Puzzle pieces

Clinical and Therapeutic Challenges in Connective Tissue Disease and ILD

Mrinalini Dey, MD

Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) represent a challenging intersection of systemic autoimmunity and progressive respiratory impairment. Research presented at EULAR 2025 continues to highlight the importance of CTD-ILD and the evolving landscape of therapeutic

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🔬 Proud to present our poster at #EULAR2025! 📌 Serum KL-6 and IL-18 as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Systemic Sclerosis-Associated ILD: A 24-Month Cohort Study KL-6 and IL-18 show promising roles in tracking ILD progression and lung function decline in #SSc 📍F.136 https://t.co/woTMnTkRKY

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Cristiana Sieiro Santos @cristianasieiro( View Tweet )
Delighted to present the @bmsnews data on #scleroderma #eular2025. Breakfree-1 data showing CAR-T is well tolerated with beneficial effects on skin and FVC and composite endpoint, the revised CRISS. https://t.co/E5jlYYHowM

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Dr. Dinesh Khanna @sclerodermaUM( View Tweet )
Nailfold Capillaroscopy correlated w/ cardiac ECHO in Systemic Sclerosis. NFC & ECHOs studied in 30 SSc pts. Systolic & diastolic dysfunction most common in late SSc NFC patterns. Cardiac dysfunction seen w/ low capillary density, avascular areas, cap neoangiogenesis https://t.co/pFBKjXqwfr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Uncontrolled pilot trial of frequency specific microcurrent treatment given to 17 pts w/ Raynaud’s & systemic sclerosis. Microcurrent Rx given for 45-60 min over 1-2d; w/ average improvement of 40% in hand function & Raynauds improvement ~18% p .016)- RCT needed!! https://t.co/4OUeODuj8Q
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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MTX Fails Knee OA (6.6.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com

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Systematic review of JAK inhibitor use in systemic sclerosis - 18 articles/87 SSc pts (80%F; ages 13–78 yrs). JAKi (83% tofa) mostly used for ILD & Skin Dz (45%) or GI+Skin Dz (39%). 87.5% improved, w/ 6% relapsed. Adverse events in 50% (20% infx). We need RCTs! This could be a https://t.co/VXFuHGpDjB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
🔺CTD-ILD radiological signs to look out for 👀 #CTD #ILD #UIP #NSIP #Fibrosis #scleroderma #systemicsclerosis #Sjogrens #Lupus By @IlliasulK https://t.co/hHupTz0bCy

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Dr Gurdeep S Dulay @gurdeep_dulay( View Tweet )
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Diagnosing Neuropsychiatric SLE (5.23.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com - including views on the vagus nerve, NPSLE and CAR-T mania.

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Review of SARCOPENIA - a loss of muscle mass and function, with significant implications on physical performance. More common in RA, SSc, SpA, SLE, FM, myositis, and vasculitis https://t.co/tCXdoEn9xR https://t.co/Oi91niMn5M

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Review of SARCOPENIA - a loss of muscle mass and function, with significant implications on physical performance. More common in RA, SSc, SpA, SLE, FM, myositis, and vasculitis https://t.co/tCXdoEn9xR https://t.co/PvtmVCv2QJ

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
JAMA Pt Education handout - Scleroderma https://t.co/UpK24WfyNF

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

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Osteoarthritis Risky Business (4.18.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and Journal reports from this week on RheumNow.com.  Osteoarthritis patients have unique risks and synovial fluid WBC numbers can tell you when to worry about septic arthritis in gout and pseudogout patients.

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Anti-muscarinic 3 Abs are assoc w/ severe GI Dz in systemic Sclerosis. 132 SSc pts (enrich for GI Sxs) - 39% had anti-M3R Abs; 25% high-titer M3R+. Hi titer M3R+ pts had more diffuse Dz (44% vs 23%), GI severity (91% vs 70%), RNPC3+ (18% vs 6%), U1RNP+(21 vs 2%) https://t.co/j8ZWFY4fgx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

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