Rheumatologist at Institute for Rheumatic and Autoimmune Disease at Overlook Hospital, proud Hopkins alum, health care advocate, Eagles fan entering Giants land

Baltimore, MD
Joined November 2017
Congratulations to John J. Cush, MD, of @RheumNow, recipient of the ACR Distinguished Clinician Scholar Award. The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to clinical medicine, scholarship, and education in rheumatology. #ACR26
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Aggarwal #RNL26 @RheumNow Most common antibody in myositis? ANA 2/3 pts have myositis-specific antibody (MSA), 1/3 sero-neg Each MSA highly specific (95%), not sensitive. Overall Myositis Panel 70% sens Can help phenotype of disease, cancer risk/screening
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High CK: Truly abnormal? Non-Gaussian distribution - should not use 95% cut-off 97.5% cut-off preferred by gender, race, & ethnicity From exercise? Exercise can increase by 10-30x. Avoid exercise for 1 week & repeat Non-neuromusc causes: Endocrine, meds, MacroCK @RheumNow #RNL26
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Other options in AxSpA Filgotinib: not approved in US due to male repro concerns Brodalumab: warning for suicidality Izokipep: fusion protein, nanobody, similar efficacy to IL-17Ai, may be lower cost Sonelokimab, another IL-17A nanobody TYK2 - Deucr, zasocitinib @RheumNow #ACR26
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ADAS-CRP Score Formula looking at back pain, duration of morning stiffness, pt global assessment, peripheral jts, and CRP Low or high disease activity - no moderate range to encourage getting to disease control TICOSPA did not show clear T2T benefit #RNL26 @RheumNow
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Blakewell: There is not one agent that is superior between TNF, IL-17, JAKi Patient characteristics and manifestations can help make decision Some meds clearly shown to be not helpful @RheumNow #RNL26
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Advances in SpA #RNL26 @RheumNow Uveitis: Adalimumab, bimekizumab, and upadacitinib reduce uveitis flares in SpA Ada and MTX have data for efficacy in non-infectious posterior uveitis (NIPPU) Brepocitinib study ongoing for NIPPU
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Arthroplasty in AxSpA #RNL26 @RheumNow Effective surgery - 10 yr survival 90% THA, 88% TKA Higher complications at 2 yrs- jt infection, dislocation, fx Incr risk of MI, CVA, DVT, PE, UTI, wound, AKI, phnumonia, sepsis, transfusion, falls Higher infection risk continuing biologi
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Knee involvement in AxSpA #RNL26 @RheumNow 15-50% of pts Adults <50yr - 2.7x higher risk of AxSpA Risks of large jt involvement: Early age of AxSpA RIsk for THA - male Risk for TKA - obesity & smoking, h/o THA Decreased risk with b/csDMARD
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Complications of SpA #RNL26 @RheumNow Hip involvement common in AxSpA - 10-60%, up to 40% of pts with minimal symptoms THA risk: 3-4x higher in r-axSpA Xr-ay: concentric jt space narrowing (not superolateral), collar of osteophytes at head-neck junction (not marginal osteophytes)
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Update of 2025 ASAS-SPARTAN Revised Classification Criteria for AxSpA @RheumNow #RNL26 Notes must exclude mimics MRI findings involve active & structural lesions, not just bone marrow edema Difficult to meet clinically without any imaging criteria (xray or MRI) Pub pending
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AxSpA Imaging @RheumNow #RNL26 Xray SI jt - 1st line in most pts, but young pts short duration can consider MRI as 1st-line Challenge in imaging: SI jt edema in athletes/postpartum Mimics like osteitis condensans ilii - diff by anterior localization, absence of erosions
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Poddubnyy at #RNL26 @RheumNow: "Treating spondyloarthritis is easy, the challenge is when the diagnosis is not correct" PROCLAIR Study: mean diagnostic delay 5.7 yrs Prevalence of axSpA in pts w chronic back ~5% ASAS endorses early referral recommendations for higher risk pts
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Can you predict Allopurinol Hypersensitivity (AHS-SCAR) with HLA screening? #RNL26 @RheumNow Not completely - only 2/3 predictable by HLA-B*58:01 screening Others like HLA-A*34:02 also associated, but unable to commercially test for Treatment: Marked response to JAK inhibitor Rx
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Terkeltaub on improving gout in real world #RNL26 @RheumNow -Earlier switch to 2nd line febux -More T2T ULT gout clinic -Broader colchicine PPx -Better co-manage links to metab, CVD, renal dis -Phamacogenomics (eg HLA-B58:01) -ULT, drug pipeline TRUST: primary care T2T ULT trial
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Where is gout in the real world? @RheumNow #RNL26 -Healthcare disparities -Failure of T2T -Poor urate control worsens CVD, mortality -Recent gout flare, gout dx, ULT initiation markedly increase CVD events
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DEPAR study: Early PsA patients have low rate of radiographic progression, esp if dx is controlled Kavanaugh: Are Xrays needed in PsA? - Changes minimal in PsA, only in few pt, seen w active synovit - Short trials won't see diff -Newer imaging modalities better @RheumNow #RNL26
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Upcoming H2H studies in PsA 2 studies of IL-17A/F vs IL-23 BE-BOLD: Bimekizumab v Risankizumab IZAR-2: Sonelokimab v Risankizumab in TNF failure Will provide useful info in differentiating new IL17 mechanism v IL23 #RNL26 @RheumNow
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IL-17 v IL-23 #RNL26 @RheumNow Axial domain- good IL-17 data as well IL-23 post-hoc data Both show data of prevention of damage Real-world data suggest IL-23 longer persistence Safety: higher candidiasis and IBD risks w IL17
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Super Bowl Battle: IL17 vs IL 23 in PsA? #RNL26 @RheumNow Andre Riberio Severe skin: IL17 & IL23 both show superiority over TNFi for plaque PsO IL17 quicker, IL23 show superior or non-inferiority skin Bimiekizumab (IL-17A/F superior to other IL17)
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