Top Four and More (4.10.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com this week - including his top four favorite subjects.
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Predictors of Calcinosis Cutis in Systemic Sclerosis
Calcinosis cutis (CaC) is a common and disabling non-lethal manifestation in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study used SSc patients from the EUSTAR database to clinically characterize patients and identify risk factors for https://t.co/uXbcCa04Lv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Itch is common in Scleroderma (SSc) and not related to Dz duration. Study of 2173 Pts (~20K itch assessments), 87 F; mean age 55 yrs; 40% w/ diffuse SSc. Itch (moderate 4/10) seen in ~35% at all times https://t.co/QnT8d0xA5Z https://t.co/yEgB6ImDTi
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Predictors of Calcinosis Cutis in Systemic Sclerosis
Calcinosis cutis (CaC) is a common and disabling non-lethal manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study used SSc patients from the EUSTAR database to clinically characterize patients and identify risk factors for CaC development.
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Rheumatology Pitfalls (3.20.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the regulatory actions, 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 )
SATISFACTION (2.27.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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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 )
Recent Blogs
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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Will the results of two recent large scleroderma lung studies finally inform us on how to manage interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis?
Podcasts
EULAR 2021 - Day2a00:38:00
