Mentshlichkeit* (8.7.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and recent journal reports on RheumNow.com.
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A Tribute to Daniel L. Kastner, MD, PhD (1951–2026)
The rheumatology, genetics and NIH communities mourn for Dr. Daniel L. Kastner, who died on July 28, 2026, in Bethesda, Maryland, at age 74. The following are declarations, tributes, and memories dedicated to this mensch of a man, titan of science, memorable mentor and humble physician.
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JAMA Case Quiz - A 57 yoF w/ #RA has a new vesicular rash. 9mos prior ETN change to ADA. Rash (painful, pruritic) started 2 wks ago. Exam: PIP swelling, & ulcerated plaques on neck, chest, & erythroderma on hands, CRP 15.0 mg/L , ESR 111 mm/h. What would you do? order?
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
3 Rx are FDA approved for hidradenitis supprativa (secukinumab, adalimumab, bimekizumab). New JAK1i Povorcitinib in STOP-HS1 and STOP-HS2 ph 3 PCTs (608/619 pts). Povo showed HiSCR50 ~42% vs PBO 29% @wk12. AE: acne, pharyngitis https://t.co/n3FJUOjNuo https://t.co/9YAmPqW44z
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Chikungunya Club Meeting (7.24.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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Seronegative RA Disease Activity (7.17.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and Gout features from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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RHEUM SURVEY>> Which Gout drugs lower the risk of cardiovascular death? Answer here: https://t.co/1OY1B3ET7B https://t.co/MRJP5OOtXb
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ICYMI: Updated CRA/SPARCC Recommendations for Axial Spondyloarthritis
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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ICYMI: 2025 Update: EULAR Recommendations on Rheumatoid Arthritis Management
The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) has updated their rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management recommendations, notably with fewer recommendations (total of 9, down from 11 in 2022 version), by merging and removing previous recommendations.
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2026 Guidelines for the Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis
ACR
New and updated clinical guidelines released today provide comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations for the management of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) for both adults and children. The effort includes an update to the 2019 ACR/SAA/SPARTAN treatment guidelines focusing on adults,
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Do You Zoster Vaccinate? (6.19.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and best ways to review EULAR 2026.
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A Disease Seeking Its Identity: Peripheral SpA, PsA, and the SPARTACUS Evidence
For years, peripheral spondyloarthritis has been managed with a cautious, stepwise approach: start with NSAIDs, escalate to conventional synthetic DMARDs, and only reach for biologics when everything else fails. The SPARTACUS trial, presented at EULAR 2026 in London, challenges that paradigm
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20% sample of elder RA Medicare pts (2009-2022) on TNFi who either stopped or tapered TNFi found 38% sustained de-escalation, while 62% re-escalated within a medianof 164. Re-escalation was more likely in Blacks, Hispanic/other, with a lower comorbidity burden. https://t.co/rEB3VdOii2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Kyoto U. cohort study of 55 relapsing polychondritis pts (503 Pt-yrs) Rx w/ TNFi, IL-6i or none -- Crude relapse rates were 46.9/100PYs NoBio, 22.4 TNFi, & 12.5 IL-6Ri. Adjusted relapses signif lower w/ TNFi (IRR 0.4) & IL-6Ri (IRR 0.2) vs no biologic. Estimates for hospitalised https://t.co/h6IcVWjqfp
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Increased VTE Risk with Baricitinib
The RA-BRIDGE and RA-BRANCH studies were presented as a late-breaking abstract at EULAR 2026. This was the pooled results from two large FDA post-marketing commitment safety trials — RA-BRIDGE (global) and RA-BRANCH (US-only) — comparing baricitinib at 2 mg and 4 mg daily against TNF
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True or False: Current guidelines for peripheral SpA recommend initiating treatment with TNF inhibitors before trying NSAIDs or conventional synthetic DMARDs. See if you got it right in this week's RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/6uiqJjYUVo https://t.co/9hHFjaGUdt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
EULAR 2026 Rheumatology RoundUp
It’s time for Rheumatology RoundUp from EULAR 2026 from London, UK. Drs. Artie Kavanaugh and Jack Cush review their choice presentations from the meeting, offering their perspectives on impact and applicability.
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Strike First: TNFi vs. Step-Up Therapy in Early Peripheral SpA
The approach to treating peripheral SpA has remained the same for a long time. The guidelines recommend starting with NSAIDs, escalating to conventional synthetic DMARDs, typically sulfasalazine or methotrexate, and https://t.co/iEqzp6FStv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Who does better in active #RA
b/tsDMARD naive?
Pt choice TNFi or JAKi
OR
Pt randomized to
TNFI or JAKi?
Strangely or not
PT choice did better
✅with satisfaction ~maybe expected
✅better retention on chosen #Rx
🤔unexpected
another arm in #RCTS?”
#EULAR2026 @RheumNow
OP0204 https://t.co/7qx5Rqq6a7
Links:
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
A bridge to uncertainty?
large #RCT of #baricitinib V #TNFi
In
Active #RA w #DVT/#VTE risk factor(s)
Sl more VTE, #infection #SIE on #Bar
NO increase #MACE
Sl ⬆️#malignancy
#VTE rate exceeded upper limit of a priori #CI
So is this good news or not?
#LB0009 @RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/CIfU7TL2TE
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
What’s new with the 2026 update of reco for vax in AIIRD?
Vaccinate as soon as possible
Non-live vaccines are safe
Hold MTX for upto 2wks to inc vax yield
Strong reco for RZV
Catch-up vax for HPV in SLE
Rotavirus vax for newborns exposed in utero to TNFi
@RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/RZbyvAcYRI
Links:
sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
Is the risk of uveitis comparable between infliximab sc and adalimumab in patients with r-axSpA and prior AAU?
Yes! POS 1347
Multicenter randomised open-label trial
N=56
#EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/kP7ropPkpC
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 LB0009 It’s like opening Pandora’s box! 2 Open Label RCTs Baricitinib vs TNF-i in RA & =>1 VTE risk:
-VTE:Non-inferiority of BARI wasn’t met (in line with JAK profile)
-No increase in MACE/Cancer (opposed to Oral-Surveillance: TOFA & =>1 MACE risk) @RheumNow #EULARBest https://t.co/nNwtJ3LbkD
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
LB0001: Bimekizumab SUPERIOR to risankizumab on ACR50 in active #PsA 49.1% vs 38.4% (p=0.0078). First ever H2H biologic superiority on joints in PsA. #Bimekizumab @RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/6waepYs9RK
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) @synovialjoints( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 LB0002 More great news for dual IL17A and -F blockade. An open label Phase II study of Sonelokimab, a novel IL-17A- and IL-17F-inhibiting Nanobody'-3 in #axSpA: clinical efficacy, improvement in PROM and imaging inflammation. Looking forward to the RCT phase @RheumNow https://t.co/Xtxa8fALzN
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
Therapeutic Updates
A JAKi After TNFi Failure in RA: SELECT-SWITCH at Week 12
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Dr. Christina Charles-Schoeman and Dr. Manish Jain are back to discuss treatment considerations after TNFi failure in RA. Join them as they review the latest data from SELECT-SWITCH, including post hoc results in primary and secondary nonresponders presented at EULAR 2026.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
A JAKi After Primary or Secondary TNFi Nonresponse in RA (SELECT-SWITCH)
Recent Blogs
Podcasts
ACR 2025 SpA Topic Podcasts Compilation 1
ACR 2025 Daily Podcasts Day2d
EULAR 2021 - Day2a00:38:00
