Teaching You How to Think… (8.15.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and press clippings from the past week on RheumNow. Positive results in a Sjogren's trial, to PT or not to PT, and aphorisms to live by.
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Retrospective UK study of CPRD dataset (2012-2023) found 22 829 incident CTD Dx (81% F). Over time incidence SLE & Systemic Sclerosis fell, Sjogrens & MCTD stable, & IIM rose 3.23–4.31/100K. IIM had highest mortality (28/1000 py), followed by SSc, SLE, MCTD; lowest SjD (9.7)
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Repurposing & Pipeline (8.8.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, reports, pipeline and drug repurposing on this week’s podcast.
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Pipeline of drugs being developed for Scleroderma by these companies - Bayer, Novartis, GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene Corp., Johnson & Johnson, Prometic, Cytori arGentis - either as fusion proteins, peptides, small molecule, mAb, Polymern& Gene therapy https://t.co/dWRcQ1a3GU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
CKD & Osteoporosis Rx Revisited (7.25.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and FDA updates from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Clinical Associations with Anti-RNA Polymerase III Antibodies
A systematic review of anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies (ARA) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients finds ARA positivity in only 9% of SSc patients, but come with a higher risk of many potentially worrisome https://t.co/p1KVUFPJvN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
US CDC study of age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) from 1990-2020, there were 39,496 deaths related to scleroderma (SSc) & and 5,163 from SSc w/ renal failure. Deaths lower in males (22%) than females w/ renal failure (78%). Mortality rate of SSc w? renal failure was https://t.co/OT3BHt3E85
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Clinical Associations with Anti-RNA Polymerase III Antibodies
A systematic review of anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies (ARA) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients finds ARA positivity in only 9% of SSc patients, but come with a higher risk of many potentially worrisome outcomes.
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NHANES, Numbers, & Risk (7.18.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com along with interesting case questions from "Ask Cush Anything".
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Hmmm Really? (7.11.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week - some obvious, other new thoughts and some - hmmm, reallly?
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ICYMI: Clinical and Therapeutic Challenges in Connective Tissue Disease and ILD
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
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Promising role of Fc neonatal receptor blockade in autoimmune rheumatic diseases
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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A new mechanism of action in SARD-ILD
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
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
Links:
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
Links:
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
Links:
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
Links:
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
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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Clinical and Therapeutic Challenges in Connective Tissue Disease and ILD
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
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
Links:
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 )
Recent Blogs
Will the results of two recent large scleroderma lung studies finally inform us on how to manage interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis?
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