Spondyloarthritis

Study of 305 newly Dx axSpA pts (age 38 yrs; 55% male, Dx delay 6yrs, 75% B27+). Clinical Dx, without Xray/imaging in 12%, 5% developed sacroiliitis during 8 yr F/U. r-axSpA mostly male w/ ^CRP https://t.co/zGjb3uSkjP https://t.co/3bdGAvKXAm

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pediatric eye uveitis

Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases Following Uveitis

Jack Cush, MD

A Korean insurance claims data study showed children and adolescents diagnosed with uveitis have a 7-fold increased risk of developing an immune-mediated inflammatory disorder (IMID).

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Another IL-17A inhibitor (Vunakizumab) for active Ankylosing Spondylitis Vunakizumab, a novel anti–interleukin (IL) 17A monoclonal antibody, was studied in patients with active radiographic axial spondyloarthritis [r-axSpA] and found to be effective and tolerable. https://t.co/y0mw7tRWbs
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Meet the RheumNow #EULAR2026 Reporting Team Delivering real-time insights from the forefront of rheumatology: 🩺 Dr. Antoni Chan (@synovialjoints) 🩺 Dr. Mrinalini Dey (@DrMiniDey) 🩺 Dr. Jiha Lee (@JihaRheum) 🩺 Dr. Aurelie Najm (@AurelieRheumo) 🩺 Dr. Janet Pope https://t.co/zpIeGWpL6P
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Influential Rheumatoid Factors (5.8.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

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

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HLA-B27 in PsA: assoc w/ earlier onset, axial Dz, enthesitis, systemic inflammation. Study of 333 CASPAR PsA pts - 12% HLA-B27 positive--earlier onset (43 v 49), axial (46 v 24%), enthesitis (33 v 18%). No signif differences in sex, dactylitis, uveitis, Rx responses, https://t.co/ALP6AnygSf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
French prospective study of pregnancy in 94 RA & 124 SpA pts. RA more likely to flare 1st 6 mos postpartum (62 v 43%), while SpA remained stable in preg & postpartum. bDMARD continuation during pregnancy was more frequent in SpA; 55-60%restarted bDMARD postpartum. https://t.co/usKHS4wYbN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Prospective study of 305 Consecutive newly diagnosed axSpA pts (55% male; Dx delay 6 yrs; 75% B27+). 56% w/ r-axSpA more male w/ hi CRP. nr-axSpA had more inflam LBP, +FHx SpA. SpA Dx made without sacroiliitis in 12%; only 2/38 later developed sacroiliitis https://t.co/xPlGwZ7Kjk https://t.co/2TBQALvxsG

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
lectures

Great Lectures; Great Presentations

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush lectures on giving a great presentation; based on 40 years of lecturing in Rheumatology.

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Are uveitis and psoriasis independently associated with greater spinal radiographic progression in ankylosing spondylitis? Test your knowledge in the latest RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/N5rfozh757 https://t.co/PjY1iuLv0X

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TRACE study of 90 axSpA pts Rx w/ either TNFi or secukinumab (150 or 300 mg)- at wk 56, 59% achieved clinical-remission & 43% achieved w56-MRI-remission (SPARCC) w/ benefits by wk 4. Predictors of clinical remission: ASDAS & BMI (@wk16); none @wk56 https://t.co/CEsAeRMvUE https://t.co/SfSAm3u4IM

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Comorbidity burden, uveitis, & psoriasis independently assoc w/ greater spinal radiographic progression in AS. Study3,441 pts (75% male; 84% B27+). Progression greater w/ 2+ comorbidities & uveitis, & PSO https://t.co/7Zh5SlMKc0 https://t.co/lmonP5YrcV

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Follow the Money (4.23.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush follows the money and all the news that fits the Rheumatology Gab for this past week. 

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DESIR axSpA inception cohort study of 631 pts (no HTN), found no signif association between NSAID use & incident HTN. Over 10 YRs, 88 developed HTN (HR 1.01, 1.00–1.02) https://t.co/Gs9mPwthEj https://t.co/4sfpHmFTsu

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
TRACE study in 90 active axSpA, biologic-naïve, Rx w/ secukinumab 150 mg; @wk16 ASDAS remission in 30 (35%)& 55 incr SEC to 300 mg. By wk 24, 22% of 300 mg achieved ASDAS remission; but without signif change in MRI inflamm (SPARCC). Most MRI changes in 1st 4wks https://t.co/pMMtrxxDLh
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Prescribing Lessons (4.17.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

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

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Couldn’t attend https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2026? You can now watch the entire meeting On Demand. This high-impact program features leading experts discussing: • RA outcomes and pathogenesis • Obesity, inflammation, and rheumatic disease • Treatment decisions in Psoriatic https://t.co/A3wb3pzbl3

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Updated CRA/SPARCC Recommendations for Axial Spondyloarthritis The original CRA/SPARCC recommendations endorsed IL-17i and TNFi as equivalent second-line options for adults with active axSpA who fail an adequate NSAID trial. JAK inhibitors were reserved for patients with prior https://t.co/e1iLSksgYj
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colon.Crohns.jpg

JAMA Guideline on the Management of Crohn Disease

Jack Cush, MD

JAMA has published a current Clinical Guidelines Synopsis on the Management of Crohn Disease (CD) in Adults.

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Canada.maple.leaf

Updated CRA/SPARCC Recommendations for Axial Spondyloarthritis

Jack Cush, MD

In 2024, the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CMA) and the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) published a comprehensive set of 56 treatment recommendations for the management of axial spondyloarthritis. This first update is focused on the reassessment of IL-17i

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AXIS is an Intl prospective study of 409 psoriatic arthritis pts - found Axial involvement in 27.4% of pts. Axial PsA signif younger (45 vs 47.6 yrs) , male (56% vs 51.5%), more B27 positivity (22% vs 11%), inflammatory back pain (75% vs 43%), & ^CRP (53% vs 37%) https://t.co/XY5pf4BNNm
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Biologics

AFFINITY Study - Combination Biologic Therapy in Psoriatic Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

A pilot trial assessed the efficacy and safety of the guselkumab+golimumab (COMBO) combination versus guselkumab (GUS) monotherapy in active PsA (failing a prior tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi-IR) and showed superiority in ACR 50 responses but not

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Long-Term Bimekizumab Safety Data Adverse effects from bimekizumab through 2 years or more of treatment for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) were about as expected from shorter-term data, results from long-term extension studies indicated. https://t.co/hp2jVSGk8G
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
lumbar,spine,lbp,pain

Who Treats Spondyloarthritis Better?

MedPage Today

European nations may be winning at optimizing care for people with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), international survey data indicate. In data collected from physicians and patients in the U.S. and five European countries, American patients reported a greater symptom burden on average after

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Long-Term Bimekizumab Safety Data Adverse effects from bimekizumab through 2 years or more of treatment for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) were about as expected from shorter-term data, results from long-term extension studies indicated. https://t.co/AaJxewNQmQ
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Therapeutic Updates

5-Year Results of an IL-23 Inhibitor in Patients With PsA

AbbVie March 2026
Dr. Alvin Wells and Dr. Shikha Singla share their clinical perspectives on using an IL–23 inhibitor to manage patients with PsA throughout their treatment journey in the context of 5-year data from the KEEPsAKE trial program.
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Recent Blogs

Advanced Practice Rheum

Evaluation of Rheumatic Complaints

Jack Cush, MD
Eval of Rheum Complaints Cover Image
Dr. Cush provides a systematic approach to evaluating musculoskeletal and rheumatic complaints in clinical practice.
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A Brief History of Rheumatoid Arthritis Mimics

Robert Schoen, MD, MBA
books history
Imagine that 100 years from now, your great granddaughter, an eminent rheumatologist, reviews the history of rheumatoid arthritis mimics.
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A Domain-Based Approach to the GRAPPA Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment Recommendations

Laura Coates
heel enthesitis spur calcaneal

With their publication in June 2022 (1), the 3rd iteration of the Group for Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) Treatment recommendations for Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) may have set a record or sorts.

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