SATISFACTION (2.27.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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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 )
Systematic Review of Targeted Rx for Systemic Sclerosis: from 32 RCTs & 2036 pts Rx w/ 23 targeted agents. Guselkumab had greatest effect on mRSS, followed by tofacitinib, inebilizumab, & baricitinib. For FVC, B-cell Rx (belimumab, RTX) had highest efficacy https://t.co/cXTQ2TWyHZ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Nice simple overview of SCLERITIS. https://t.co/ndnfi6nZuA https://t.co/bzkOgupk7C
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Early: BITE compassionate use CD19×CD3 T cell engager blinatumomab in 5 antisynthetase myositis & BCMA×CD3 teclistamab in 5 scleroderma pts, all Tx refractory. Both showed rapid clinical, serologic, histologic benefits, with cytokine release syndr as AE of concern https://t.co/CTppiWim0a
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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Shortened Leukocyte telomere length (PBL-TL) is assoc w/ systemic sclerosis–ILD. Study of PBL-TL in 244 SSc vs 314 controls, found signif shorter PBL-TL in SSC. Short PBL-TL was assoc w/ ILD & Pulm HTN, more lung related hospitalizations, but not w/ Raynauds, skin or vascular dz
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Best of 2025: ERS/EULAR guidelines for CTD-related interstitial lung disease
The European Respiratory Society (ERS) and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) have published clinical practice guidelines for the evaluation and management of connective tissue diseases (CTD) associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) in two simultaneous publications in
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Nerandomilast FDA Approved for Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis
The FDA has approved nerandomilast (Jascayd), a PDE4b inhibitor, to treat adults with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Nerandomilast was approved to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IFP) in October 2025.
PPF is a a life-threatening, progressive lung condition, leading to
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Telling You Where to Go (12.19.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com. Who would've thunk - a PsA FMF connection? Labs to diagnose SSc-ILD? IgA-RF may be important or RZV may not work in JAK inhibitor treated patients?
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Reefer Madness (12.12.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and regulatory reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. B cell drugs in SLE and ITP, biomarkers in GCA & PSS and great videos by APPs.
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APPs in the news (12.5.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from https://t.co/V10S4oVFsv, including info on scleroderma, dermatomyositis and malignancy, rheumatologist and APP salaries concerns.
https://t.co/znsjhTqTEv https://t.co/F0eu5w232C
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
APPs in the News (12.5.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com, including info on scleroderma, dermatomyositis and malignancy, rheumatologist and APP salary concerns.
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Hematologic Malignancies Increased in Systemic Sclerosis
Swedish national study found that among a cohort of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients a two-fold increase risk of hematological malignancies was seen.
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Organ Involvement with Behçet’s
A review of patient data from the International AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance (AIDA) Network registry identifying those with mucocutaneous Behçet’s disease (BD) may progres to major organ involvement (MOI)m especially at later stages. https://t.co/jqM4IZuobe
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Abstract 1563: Ongoing Phase 1/2 trial of Rese-cel CAR-T in systemic sclerosis
🔹Pt with severe skin involvement showed improvement in mRSS (42→34), PFTs & nailfold capillaroscopy at 6 mo
🔹Grade 2 CRS, no ICANS or DLT reported
Early but exciting findings
@RheumNow #ACR25
Akhil Sood MD, MS @AkhilSoodMD( View Tweet )
Dr. LRoss presents the SCTC SSc Heart Involvement classification criteria
♥️Criteria score >/= 11pts
🔸SN 77.8%; SP 95.9%
🔸OR 82.6
Huge endeavor towards standardization of SHI to help improve patient outcomes in the future 👏👏
#ACR25 @RheumNow https://t.co/QrgYlksjZB
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sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
#1725 Functional NOTCH4 variants contribute to vasculopathy & fibrosis in SSc, particularly in African-American patients
NOTCH4 hyperactivation disrupts angiogenesis & drives EndoMT; inhibition (including with FDA-approved Nirogacestat) restores vascular repair @RheumNow #ACR25
Mrinalini Dey @DrMiniDey( View Tweet )
Sun et al. Telitacicept in SARD-ILD (pSS, ASS, RA). 25 patients. Improvements in CT, PFTs, 6MWT. @RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#1361 https://t.co/q679LOaOyL
Richard Conway @RichardPAConway( View Tweet )
Who with #SSc-ILD will progress?
progression is non linear - can stabilize and worsen
Search for Predictive biomarker
For clinical care & enriching RCTs
Maybe #KL6 🤷♀️
Maybe IP-10, MIG
No strong #biomarker
Depends on what is used
#ACR25 @RheumNow @ACRheum
Abst#0882 #0883 https://t.co/lyTRUEY9SI
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Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Don’t forget
👇
#lcSSc Pts can get and progress #ILD
1/3 of #limited #cutaneous #systemic #sclerosis #scleroderma GET ILD
From #EUSTAR
>14% progress
Esp +Scl70
Remember to screen #CREST Pts
& allow these Pts into lung disease trials
#ACR25 @RheumNow @ACRheum abst#0879 https://t.co/X15tUgClzN
Links:
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Pregnancy risk in Sjögren’s & scleroderma
Meta-analysis (n=4,820) shows ↑ risk of miscarriage in Sjögren’s (RR 1.8) & ↑ preterm birth in SSc (RR 2.4).
Calls for preconception counseling & multidisciplinary high-risk OB care.
@RheumNow #ACR25 Abstract #1398
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
Rheumatology’s Blind Spot: The Persistent Exclusion of Older Adults
As the population ages globally, rheumatologists are caring for an increasingly older patient population more than ever before. In RA alone, nearly 40 percent of patients are now aged 65 years or older. Yet the evidence guiding our treatment decisions continues to come from studies that rarely
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ACR Convergence 2025 Sheds Light on Disparities, Age-Related Trends, and Epidemiology in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
ACR Press Release
At ACR Convergence 2025, new research explored critical disparities and epidemiologic trends shaping outcomes in autoimmune rheumatic diseases across diverse populations and age groups. Studies presented at the meeting highlighted issues ranging from kidney transplant outcomes in lupus to
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#Cancers esp #hematologic & #lung are ⬆️in Pts w #inflammatory #rheum #diseases
Odds ratios of hem malignancies are wide
& risk stratification is imp
Are we doing a good job?
🤔skin cancer screening ??- not as per general standards
Abst#0172 #ACR25 @RheumNow @ACRheum https://t.co/Uve9knXD3o
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Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Recent Blogs
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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Will the results of two recent large scleroderma lung studies finally inform us on how to manage interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis?
Winning is everything – in football and in medicine. Rheumatologists have achieved many successes but still struggle to win against a handful of rheumatic foes. This retrospective examines past wins and losses and helps us to look ahead to a new season.
Podcasts
EULAR 2021 - Day2a00:38:00
