Articles By Jack Cush, MD
2024 Rheumatology Year in Review
2024 was a year of surprising new growth in technology, with the expansion of new therapeutic options for many patients and clinicians. While these many advances offer new hope, they are countered by disappointments and gapping unmet needs in rheumatology. Below is my top 10 list (in no particular order) of 2024 developments and desires that may change rheumatologic practices.
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Cardiovascular and Fracture Risk with Denosumab Versus Bisphosphonates in Dialysis Patients
Annals of Internal Medicine has published a Japanese administrative claims database study showing that, compared with oral bisphosphonates (BIS), denosumab (DEN) lowered fracture risk by 45%, but increased the risk for major adverse cardia
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Are Combination Biologics Safe?
Although package inserts commonly warn against combining the use of biologic or targeted therapies, there is growing interest in such combination therapy for patients with problematic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID).
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Hydroxychloro-King (3.7.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory actions from the past week on RheumNow.com
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ED Utilization by Psoriatic and Spondyloarthritis Patients
A cohort analysis of ambulatory emergency department (ED) utilization by patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) demonstrated significant use for less urgent and nonurgent health issues, particularly in rural settings.
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A Review of Relapsing Polychondritis
A current review in the Journal of Thoracic Disease on relapsing polychondritis (RP), suggests that while this rare disorder may have an uncertain pathogenesis, its diagnosis and therapeutical management has improved.
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Normalizing Serologies Enhances Remission in SLE
Analysis of five phase III belimumab (BEL) trials reveals that normalizing serologies affords protection against severe and renal SLE flares, supporting the concept of treat-to-target to minimize risk in SLE.
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SOCS1 Insufficiency - a Rare Inborn Error of Immunity
Lancet Rheumatology has published a population study of the rare suppressor of cytokine signalling 1 (SOCS1) insufficiency - an inborn error of immunity affecting the negative regulation of cytokine and growth factor signalling.
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Early Hydroxychloroquine Slows Cutaneous Lupus Progression
A prospective study of patients with limited cutaneous lupus erythematosus shows that early introduction of hydroxychloroquine may prevent progression to systemic lupus erythematosus.
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Opioid Deaths are Down (2.28.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Opioid deaths are down, IL-33 levels are up and Weight loss is in the news again this week!
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