COVID-19

FDA has approved baricitinib (Olumiant) for the Treatment of Certain Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 who require supplemental O2, mechanical ventilation, ECMO. Rec dose: 4-mg once daily for 14 days or until hospital discharge https://t.co/RiEp01tc0v https://t.co/f3RvUAzdRp

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
May 16, 2022
Study of 198 RMD pts, vaccinated 91% JAKi and 80% MTX mono pts were Ab+ for spike protein. Adjusting MTX or JAKi did not significantly alter the immunogenicity (S1 spike Abs). DMARD adjustments w/ COVID-19 VAX may not be needed. https://t.co/ebw172M5I4 https://t.co/vjXqTbuD5t

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
May 16, 2022
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Methotrexate Monitoring (5.13.2022)

Jack Cush, MD
May 13, 2022

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Bad news for digitial ulcers in Systemic sclerosis, Readmissions in Lupus and Thrombocytopenia in APL patients.




  1. Risk factors for readmission among 132,400 #SLE hospitalizatiions included

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Canadian study of 6012 Pregnancies w/ +COVID-19 PCR test shows Preg pts increased risk of hospitalization (RR 2.65) & ICU adm (RR 5.46) vs gen population and higher risk of preterm birth vs preg women without COVID (RR 1.63) https://t.co/6UAaa0Jf8j https://t.co/aLQbxZArmq

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
May 05, 2022
FDA update on Paxlovid - for use pts need to have: - COVID test + - Mild-mod dz @ risk for severe COVID - High risk comorbidity - potential interaction w/ statins, OCPs, HIV meds - Dose adjust (nirmatrelvir) w/ CKD - Dose 3 tabs bid x 5d - Watch LFTshttps://t.co/oSqwlKijXq https://t.co/3Yx1C23QSz

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
May 05, 2022
RUXCOVID phase 3 RCT ruxolitinib (5mg bid x 14d) + plus standard care in 432 hospitalized COVID-19 showed no benefit over placebo in day 29 primary outcomes (death, respiratory failure (invasive ventilation), or ICU care. https://t.co/eyAit2uOLi https://t.co/R9rA1A4dm5

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
May 04, 2022
"Belt & Suspenders" strategy - both COVID-19 vaccination & PrEP (Evusheld) needed to prevent SARS-CoV-2 in moderately to severely immunocompromised pts (transplant, cancer, immunodeficiency) and active poorly controlled autoimmune Dz https://t.co/RmflniD7rD https://t.co/K7pmQtqcOb

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
May 03, 2022
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$30 Billion and Counting (4.29.2022)

Jack Cush, MD
Apr 29, 2022

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports and takes viewer questions this week.

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FDA approved 1st drug for kids with COVID-19. Veklury (remdesivir) get an expanded indication in Peds >28days old & wt > 3 kg who has SARS-CoV-2 & are Hospitalized, or Not hospitalized & at high risk for severe COVID-19 or death https://t.co/7Hn4CwKjxv

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Apr 25, 2022
COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake and Perceptions in Rheumatic Patients Putman et al has reported vaccine survey results from the C19-GRA in Lancet Rheumatology showing the uptake and vaccine hesitancy among people with rheumatic diseases (RMD).https://t.co/fIHAhpvVho https://t.co/6tFbQd0vJQ

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Apr 22, 2022
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Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for COVID-19 (4.22.22)

Jack Cush, MD
Apr 22, 2022

Dr. Jack Cush discusses the news and recent journal reports from last weeks RheumNow.com, and answers viewer questions from #ACA - Ask Cush Anything.

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vaccine,mRNA,Covid,vial

COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake and Perceptions in Rheumatic Patients

Jack Cush, MD
Apr 21, 2022

Putman et al has reported vaccine survey results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (C19-GRA) in Lancet Rheumatology showing the uptake and vaccine hesitancy among people with rheumatic diseases (RMD).

Survey data from 7005 vaccinated and unvaccinated, adult RMD respondents from 102

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COVID,vaccinate,injection,green

Evusheld as Protective Therapy in High Risk COVID-19 Patients

Jack Cush, MD
Apr 21, 2022

A single dose of the monoclonal-antibody AZD7442 (combination of tixagevimab and cilgavimab) has been shown to be safe and effective as prophylaxis against COVID-19 infection in high risk individuals who tested positive for COVID-19. 



Both MAbs are neutralizing antibodies against SARS

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ICYMI: Copenhagen study of COVID & Rheum disease (AIRD) ▶️ COVID+ AIRD pts have 10x more hospitalizations (7% vs 0.7%) ▶️ Only RTX assoc w/ COVID hosp (adj OR 14.6) ▶️ IgG Abs increased if AIRD pt hospitalizedhttps://t.co/VtERRZsGb8 https://t.co/ZwdfNJaAS7

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Apr 18, 2022
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Male vs. Female Responders (4.15.2022)

Jack Cush, MD
Apr 15, 2022

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal Reports from the past week on RheumNow.com - including fellowship COVID-19 concerns, the limits of T2T in gout and the real odds of RA remission with your first biologic. 




  1. Downward Effects! Real world data from 22,934 UK #RA pts

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Despite COVID, revenues for half of top 20 pharma companies grew 10-40% in 2021 Revenues (billions) 1 J&J $97 2 Pfizer $81 3 Roche $62 4 Abbvie $56 5 Novartis $51 6 Merck $48 7 BMS $46 8 GSK $46 9 Sanofi $44 10 AZ $37https://t.co/rSovxIXOId https://t.co/GuKIBYoML6

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Apr 14, 2022
The value of COVID Vaccine after COVID infection - Vax Effx after COVID=445% after 2 doses & 58% after booster during Delta COVID. During Omicron, 35% effect after 2 doses and 68% after a booster dose - best protection conferred by booster https://t.co/VXi70r2nS3 https://t.co/Oeuet3pudD

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Apr 13, 2022
virtual online learning home office zoom

Consensus Best Practices for Virtual Care in Rheumatology

Jack Cush, MD
Apr 13, 2022

The Canadian Rheumatology Association’s (CRA) Telehealth Working Group (TWG) has developed a series of best practice statements for the virtual care in adult and pediatric rheumatology patients.

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NPF COVID-19 report from AAD mtg shows #PSA pts on systemic Rx were not at risk of hospitalization or severe COVID-1 based on US claims data. Also TNFi, IL-17, IL-23 Rx not affect on Vax Ab responses; less hosp (36%) w/ TNFi https://t.co/ekvu0mMvrn https://t.co/Qogm1Vx5hF

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Apr 13, 2022
Young,doctor,mask

ACR Fellow Training Subcommittee Report on Pandemic Experiences

Jack Cush, MD
Apr 11, 2022

Arthritis & Rheumatology has publish an ACR Subcommittee report on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected fellows and their training. 

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RheumNow Podcast – What You Do For & What You Do To the Patient (4.8.2022)

Jack Cush, MD
Apr 08, 2022

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week and discusses the use of fibroscan in RA, steroid hip injections in OA and famous quotes from a famous cardiologist.




  1. CorEvitas Registry study of173 Axial #PsA pts showed 6 mos of bDMARD/tsDMARD resulted

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FDA has granted a Priority Review for tocilizumab (Actemra) intravenous for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 adults receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental O2, mechanical ventilation, or ECMO. https://t.co/b4GSuvsElp https://t.co/oEGskAJVyd

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Apr 07, 2022
“Do as much as possible for the patient, & as little as possible to the patient.” (B Lown). JAMA review of Antithrombotics in COVID-19 says all hospitalized COVID pts with COVID-19 should recv anticoagulation with heparin; no proven value to anti-Plts Rx https://t.co/ZfaH4FiRy1 https://t.co/DW8BGKjfnX

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Apr 07, 2022
The striking and most welcome streak of US Covid hospitalizations going down every single day since mid-January continues, now well below the prior pandemic nadir, and even after facing BA.2 variant dominance in parts of the country weeks ago 👍 https://t.co/WUZUCb2TOK
Eric Topol @EricTopol( View Tweet )
Apr 05, 2022
15 RTX patients with no response to 2 doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine received a booster. Despite persistent B-cell depletion 7/15 had a response to booster vaccine #Vasculitis22 https://t.co/y8y8Bjnqtp
Richard Conway @RichardPAConway( View Tweet )
Apr 04, 2022

Recent Blogs

A Guide to Self Care of (Mild) COVID19

Kathryn H. Dao, M.D.
Jan 25, 2022
morbidity,covid,heart,lung,brain
There is guidance published on how to manage moderate to severe cases, but very few blueprints detail what to do with “mild” infection.  The first day, I developed congestion and cough, with a sore throat.  As the day progressed, I started to have chills, low grade fevers, and myalgias.  The postnasal drainage was overwhelming, and when I tried to swallow, it felt like swallowing broken glass.  Isolating in my room, I was left to deal with my symptoms.Read Post

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