Incredibly exciting to be hosting our NIH P30-funded VERITY/Brigham Course in Rheumatology Clinical Research this week! 23 early investigators attending in person here in Boston to hone their grants and analyses. Another 50+ online attendees for the didactic portion Grateful for this community!

Target trial emulation: biologics or JAK vs RTX in RA-ILD -- abatacept (n=694), JAKi (156), IL-6i (389), or TNFi (734), PS-matched =# RTX; no significant differences (HR 0.74-1.09 NS) in outcomes of resp hosp, lung transplant & death. ABA & JAKi had less death www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Phase 3b TOGETHER-PsA trial of ixekizumab + tirzepatide in comorbid overweight or obese adults with psoriatic arthritis showed clinically meaningful improvement of psoriatic disease, physical function, weight reduction, and quality-of-life, with no new safety concerns A&R doi.org/10.1002/art....

Head over to 👇 tourneytopia.com/AJKD/NephMad... and submit your #NephMadness Bracket

In patients with SLE without advanced lupus nephritis, obinutuzumab plus standard therapy was superior to placebo plus standard therapy in conferring and sustaining a clinically meaningful reduction in disease activity over 52 weeks. Full phase 3 ALLEGORY trial results: nej.md/4smEuWW #MedSky

Editor’s Picks Spotlight Investigating Factors Associated With RSV Vaccination and Breakthrough Infection Among Patients With SARDs 📖 www.jrheum.org/cgi/content/... @jeffsparks.bsky.social 📽️ Watch the video interview youtu.be/GnAghCae-hY #RSV #Vaccination

Earlier and more frequent immune suppression is used in scleroderma-associated ILD (from EUSTAR data) but there are still care gaps with still significant mortality in SSc-ILD and lack of prediction regarding who will progress Editorial in A&R @jeffsparks.bsky.social

Research Article Investigating Factors Associated With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccination and Breakthrough Infection Among Patients With Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases 📖 www.jrheum.org/cgi/content/... @jeffsparks.bsky.social #RSV #Vaccination

Very happy to share our latest paper about the current state and next steps needed to make screening for ILD in some subgroups of patients with RA. Lots to weigh for pros and cons, and more research work in progress. Thanks to our team and Lauren O'Keeffe for leading www.jrheum.org/content/earl...

Randomized phase 2 trial of pirfenidone (PFD) or placebo along with MMF in SSc-ILD ACR Open Rheumatology doi.org/10.1002/acr2... key findings ↓

ATTENTION all early investigators: FREE 2026 VERITY/Brigham Course in Rheum Clinical Research will be held in Boston on Apr 7-10, 2026 Hone your research/grant/career with Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard faculty. Funded by NIAMS Apply here by Dec 16: www.verityresearch.org/verity-cours...

Excited to share the results of the TeMPO (Treatment of Meniscal Problems in Osteoarthritis) trial, published today in NEJM: www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.... A labor of love from the #BWH #oracore team, with partners in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. 879 randomized with the COVID in the middle!

In a cohort of patients screened for lung cancer with low-dose CT, patients with rheumatoid arthritis had higher prevalence of 'positive screen', fibrotic lung changes, & bronchiectasis. About 1 in 4 had a positive screen; 1 in 20 had lung cancer AC&R doi.org/10.1002/acr.... #Medsky #Oncsky

In a cohort of pts receiving CAR T cell therapy for hematologic cancer, pre-existing autoimmune disease was not associated with increase in major toxicity. Findings offer reassurance for CAR T cell cancer treatment in pts with pre-existing autoimmunity ACR Open Rheumatology doi.org/10.1002/acr2...

Abs 2662 McDermott @jeffsparks.bsky.social 🔎 Target trial emulation to address the Q of whether guidelines like ACR and CHEST are appropriate for conditionally recommending RTX over other biologics for RA-ILD? 📊 Data source: Medicare 👨‍👨‍👦 Study pop: RA ILD #ACR25

NEW RESEARCH—Risk factors for interstitial lung disease in early rheumatoid arthritis and external validation of screening strategies: a cross-sectional analysis of the prospective SAIL-RA cohort in the USA bit.ly/3L1F0t5 @jeffsparks.bsky.social

Excited to share the baseline results of our SAIL-RA cohort investigating lung health in early rheumatoid arthritis. Prevalence of ILD in early RA (median duration 8 months) was 11%. Strong associations with age and moderate/high RA activitity linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2665991325001584

Obinituzumab aka ‘Obi’ is now FDA approved for lupus nephritis finance.yahoo.com/news/fda-app... #lupus

🆕 Collaboration with RheumNow 🔵 3-Part Series on Interstitial Lung Disease Part 2: Diagnosis & Subtypes of #ILD 👩🏻‍⚕️ What to look for on Physical Exam 🧪 Serologic Testing & Diagnostic Workup 🫁 Differentiating ILD Subtypes on Imaging #RheumSky #PulmSky #MedSky #InterstitialLungDisease

Happy to have compiled this review on the role of the intestinal mucosa in RA and SpA with my friends @kknoop.bsky.social‬, Joyce, Mario, and Kentaro. We challenge the "leaky gut" hypothesis and why we shouldn't use that term that oversimplifies how our microbiome shapes immunity.

Alu expression in dermatomyositis muscle tissue doi.org/10.1002/art.... Characterizing a cohort of patients with SpA spectrum disorders initially presenting as PMR doi.org/10.1002/art.... Patients with RA-associated lung disease at increased risk of serious infection doi.org/10.1002/art.... ↓

New content online:

ICYMI in our May issue—Survival in patients with rheumatoid #arthritis and recently diagnosed early-stage colorectal, lung, or prostate #cancer receiving TNF inhibitors bit.ly/3Q9Or8N Plus, linked Comment by @jeffsparks.bsky.social & @nasingh.bsky.social bit.ly/42XQnsw #Medsky #Rheumsky

EULAR/American College of Rheumatology Risk Stratification Criteria for Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Risk Stage of Arthralgia doi.org/10.1002/art.... Published simultaneously in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases #Medsky #Rheumsky

⏰ It’s Today! 3:15, Charter 3 🗣️ BSR SARD-ILD Guidelines working group! 👋🏽 me - management 👋🏽 Muhammad Nisar - monitoring 👋🏽 Nazia Chaudari - screening 🪑 Clive Kelly @cliveryton Come join us!! #ILD 🫁 🖐️!! #BSR2025

Thank you to the #NephMadness Selection Committee members who helped us develop the teams in each region: - @jordybc.bsky.social - Mehmet Sever - @thenestor.bsky.social - @jeffsparks.bsky.social - Mariana Murea - @lawdishu.bsky.social - Swee-Ling Levea - Babak Orandi - Susan Samuel

#NephMadness 2025 Champion: CAR-T for Autoimmune Diseases bit.ly/NM25Champ @nephrosparks.bsky.social @annaburgner.bsky.social @kidneywars.bsky.social @jrkott27.bsky.social @catochita.bsky.social

The final results of #RheumMadness 2025 are out! Read more about the panel's choices on our website, plus our list of thank you-s to all our collaborators who make this possible! sites.duke.edu/rheummadness/ Thank you all for another great year!

Research Article Serum Biomarkers of Pulmonary Damage and Risk for Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis–Associated Interstitial Lung Disease 📖 www.jrheum.org/cgi/content/... @jeffsparks.bsky.social #biologicalmarkers #rheumatoidarthritis #interstitiallungdisease

Never played #RheumMadness ? Think you don't have enough time to submit your bracket? Think again. Submit with two simple steps: 1. Watch the 2-minute explainer video below 2. Head over to the tournament website and submit a bracket (IT'S FREE) 26.5 hours left! tourneytopia.com/RheumMadness...

Only 1.5 days left to submit your #RheumMadness bracket! Next up on our countdown: SGCAPS + MSKUS prediction tool for #giantcellarteritis, by fellows from MCW. Read it here: sites.duke.edu/rheummadness...

Incredible honor to participate in this year's #NephMadness- the tournament my brother @nephrosparks.bsky.social helped found years ago My commentary about basketball (#Razorbacks), brotherhood, and RheumOnc / CAR-T Also make sure to participate in #RheumMadness- CAR-T team there too

#NephMadness 2025: CAR-T for Autoimmunity – Driving to the Championship Any my brother getting involved this year !!!! @jeffsparks.bsky.social ajkdblog.org/2025/03/21/n...

#NephMadness 2025: CAR-T for Autoimmunity – Driving to the Championship Awesome to have the Sparks brothers in Nephmadness! @nephrosparks.bsky.social @jeffsparks.bsky.social ajkdblog.org/2025/03/21/n...

#NephMadness 2025 Commentary by @jeffsparks.bsky.social: CAR-T for Autoimmunity – Driving to the Championship bit.ly/NM25SparksCo...

Patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases remain at risk for hospitalisation for COVID-19 infection in the Omicron era (2022–2024): a retrospective cohort study rmdopen.bmj.com/content/11/1...

#RheumMadness + #NephMadness podcast is up! CAR-T discussion starts at min 22:30 Find it here 👇 rheummadness.buzzsprout.com/1465681/epis... @jeffsparks.bsky.social @nephmadness.bsky.social

#NephMadness 2025: The PodCrawl buff.ly/p3xR3cg Podcasts: - @thecurbsiders.bsky.social - Life as a Nephrology Professional @nkf-professionals.bsky.social - GN in Ten - @rheummadness.bsky.social - @freelyfiltered.bsky.social - Poison Lab - Nephron Segment - Kidney Chronicles

#NephMadness 2025: CAR-T for Kidney Disease Region buff.ly/iEgImMW Teams: - CAR-T for Autoimmune Disease - CAR-T Side Effects Expert: @jeffsparks.bsky.social Writer: Yara Mouawad Execs: Dia Waguespack & @annaburgner.bsky.social

#NephMadness 2025 is here!!! ajkdblog.org/2025/03/01/w...

Our March issue is live! Including research on #ILD in #RheumatoidArthritis and #SystemicSclerosis, cardiovascular protection in #gout, and the burden of #arthritis in Australia, plus much more! www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... Cover by Sara Gironi Carnevale #Medsky #Rheumsky

At @science.org today, an important new way we can make major headway into immunologic and infectious diseases. Sequencing the lymphocyte B and T cell receptors and A.I. to accurately make the diagnosis! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp2407 A seminal study by @anshulkundaje.bsky.social et al

NIH indirects case update: Hearing ongoing now, and I'll try to live tweet some notable exchanges. Prior to more detailed arguments, Judge Kelley starts off with a few point questions to both sides: (I'm paraphrasing here)

The final region of #RheumMadness 2025 is out! Check out the scouting reports for the B-Cell Breakaway Region, including: -Obinutuzumab for #Lupus nephritis -CD19 CAR T cells in #Rheumatology -STRAP Trials on biopsy-guided Rx Scouting reports 👇 sites.duke.edu/rheummadness/

ICYMI, in our Feb issue—Association of nirmatrelvir–ritonavir with post-acute sequelae and mortality among patients who are immunocompromised with COVID-19 in Hong Kong bit.ly/3EIsLhH Plus, linked Comment by @jeffsparks.bsky.social & Zachary S Wallace bit.ly/4bcLdeI #Medsky #Rheumsky #IDsky

Looking forward to talking about hyponatremia with my wife and hospitalist extraordinaire Dr Mehta at the Duke Updates in Hospital Medicine Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head, SC in September More info here 👇 dukeupdatesinhm.com

Well, the news dump for NIH this weekend was a Saturday evening news dump. We are hearing about scores of talented scientists and staff being fired via email tonight.

NEW: The N.I.H. will cut about $4 Billion from federal research grants that support cancer, virus and heart disease research. #Project2025 called for the cuts to end subsidies to "leftist" university agendas. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/u...