Author | Lightnews

Kristen Young

@kristenyoung.bsky.social

2.4K followers 1.8K following 200 posts

rheumatologist & patient/advocate | #meded & #rheumatology, #rheumsky, #medsky

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Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · Nov 7

Looking to gather a list of all rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals!
Comment if I missed you!

#ACR24
#rheum

go.bsky.app/CEj2dcZ

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Reposted by Kristen Young

Shannon O’Mac @shannonomac.bsky.social · 3d

I’ve been struggling with plantar fasciitis for several months. (Ow)

Recently I started estradiol for perimenopause. Once I hit an effective dose, the plantar fasciitis disappeared overnight. I am 41. Never in my medical training had I ever learned about this.

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

The musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause

Fifty-one percent of humans are born with ovaries. As the ovarian production of estrogen diminishes in midlife and ultimately stops, it is estimated that more than 47 million women worldwide enter ...

www.tandfonline.com

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Reposted by Kristen Young

Rheum Cat @rheumcat.bsky.social · 3d

Not sure of mine but I bet @kristenyoung.bsky.social's is either "love that for you" or "that's my villain origin story" 😆

Candy✨ @labeautenoire3.bsky.social · 3d

What’s your favorite “chronically online” saying?

Mine, “we are so back”

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Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 3d

You’re not wrong about these… 🙃

Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 4d

👏🏼👏🏼 fantastic work!

Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 4d

Awww also favorite peoples!! Sad I missed you @drminidey.bsky.social

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Reposted by Kristen Young

Mithu Maheswaranathan, MD @mithurheum.bsky.social · 4d

🆕 Secrets & Pearls of #Rheumatology at #ACR25 | Part 1 by Dr. Janet Pope

🖐️ Cutaneous Pathology SLE/DM
🧴 Tips for SLE
💪 Cancer Screening in Myositis
🩸 Laboratory Testing
🥶 Raynaud's / Scleroderma
👀 Sjogrens Disease

#RheumSky #MedSky #Lupus #Myositis #Scleroderma #Sjogrens

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Reposted by Kristen Young

Rheum Cat @rheumcat.bsky.social · 4d

Today I got Jen Barton and @kristenyoung.bsky.social to formally meet #ACR25

Kristen Young presenting her poster to Jen Barton at ACR25

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Reposted by Kristen Young

Alison Bays, MD (she/her) @alisonbays.bsky.social · 4d

Plenary III, Abstract 1726: Mayo research shows arthritis from cancer immunotherapy is NOT the same as rheumatoid arthritis!
Key finding: It’s driven by overactive T cells, not autoantibodies. This means different treatments may be needed. #ACR25

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Reposted by Kristen Young

Alison Bays, MD (she/her) @alisonbays.bsky.social · 4d

Plenary III, Abstract 1727: New study in 41k postmenopausal women with osteoporosis reveals treatment gaps: 52% were at very high fracture risk, yet only 6% received anabolic therapies. Over half (51.7%) of these patients got oral bisphosphonates instead.

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Reposted by Kristen Young

Rheum Cat @rheumcat.bsky.social · 4d

Last #ACR25 poster session and lots of great posters left, including @kristenyoung.bsky.social

Abs 2184

acrabstracts.org/abstract/dia...

Diagnosing the Deficit: Addressing Gaps in Rheumatology Training for Internal Medicine Residents - ACR Meeting Abstracts

Background/Purpose: Rheumatologic diseases are common and complex, requiring internal medicine physicians to develop skills in musculoskeletal examination, diagnosis, and management. Despite this, exp...

acrabstracts.org

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Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 5d

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 my favorite people!!

Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 5d

@rheumcat.bsky.social

Reposted by Kristen Young

Rheum Cat @rheumcat.bsky.social · 6d

Thanks to @kristenyoung.bsky.social for these amazing friendship bracelets #ACR25

I’m wearing 3 friendship bracelets

One has cat beads
Another has a butterfly bead
The third says Opalite

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Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 6d

One key point made was to avoid treatments for chronic neuropathies that are more effective for acute neuropathies — timeline is important.

#ACR25

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Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 6d

Autonomic neuropathy is quite common in Sjogren’s disease - which can include:
• Postural hypotension/fixed heart rate
• Resting tachycardia/POTS
• Absent sweating
• Dry eyes
• Non-reactive pupils
• Hypotonic bladder
• Neurogenic impotence
• Gastroparesis, diarrhea, constipation
#ACR25

ANS Neuropathies
Up to 50%Various manifestations
Orthostatic intolerance v Vasomotor dysfunction
Secretomotor dysfunction
GI disturbance
Bladder dysfunction

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Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 6d

To be included in the guidelines: polyneurolathy decision trees and treatment recommendations.

#ACR25

Polyneuropathy Decision Tree
Comprehensive neurological examination
Electrodiagnostic studies
Findings consistent with small fiber neuropathy (NCS)
EMG normal
Epidermal nerve fiber density with punch skin biopsy

Findings consistent with amyloid
Fat pad and/or minor salivary gland biopsy

Findings consistent with vasculitis, neoplasm, amyloid or other infiltrative process
Nerve and muscle biopsy
Findings consistent with vasculitis
Assess serum cryoglobulins
or surrogate markers (positive RF,
low C4)

Findings consistent with inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy,
ganglionopathy, neoplastic diseases, or infection

Lumbar Puncture

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Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 6d

Now at the Sjogren’s disease peripheral nervous system guidelines session presented by Dr Hal Scofield and Dr. Arun Varadhachary

Starting with aligning neurology and rheumatology nomenclature.

acrjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

#ACR25

Sjögren's Disease
Peripheral Nervous System Guidelines
R. Hal Scofield, MD
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma City VAMC
Arun S. Varadhachary, MD, PhD
Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine
Sjögren's

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Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 6d

2025 ACR Lupus Guideline - Overview presented by Dr. Lisa Sammaritano.
Key take aways:
• HCQ should be standard therapy
• Use GC with precision
• Introduce immunosuppressive therapies early
• Use shared decision-making when considering treatment decisions

#ACR25

Why taper to ≤ 5 mg pred/d?
Strong recommendation
GULP study:
127 SLE pts starting pred 25 mg/d
(w/HCQor IS) within 12 mo. of SLEd (2yr f/u)
Daily Prednisone doses
Calcome in patients with newly
aosocclve oourtea وgoy
20
Patients (%)
31
80 mp 4
47
12
Time (months)
= ‹5 mgld
24
135 bul 25 mg/d
• No difference in relapse rates (p=0.706) when tapering to <5 mg/d vs. not tapering < 5 mg/day (46.4%).
• Every month on pred <5 mg/day → lower damage accrual (IRR: 0.96; p=0.007)
• Never tapering pred <5 mg/day → higher risk of GC-related damage (OR 5.9;
p=0.014).
•Tapering pred <5 mg/day was achieved + maintained in half of newly diagnosed patients with SLE.

Hydroxychloroquine Recommendations:
• Routinely treat with HCQ unless
ACR
Convergence
Where Rheumatology Meets
contraindicated. (S)
• Continue therapy indefinitely, even if sustained remission. (C)
• Aim for long-term average daily dose goal of ≤5 mg/kg (C)
• Preferred over >5 mg/kg to minimize retinal toxicity
• Use of short courses of higher dose (5-6.5 mg/kg/d) therapy may be necessary at initiation of treatment, to maintain disease control, or during pregnancy.
No recommendation regarding utilization of HCQ levels
S: strong recommendation C: conditional recommendation

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Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 6d

Bumping the Bluesky starter pack with a bunch of rheumatology content… if you are looking for people to follow on Bluesky you can easily follow along with rheumatology content by hitting “follow all” on the starter pack.

#ACR25

Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · Nov 7

Looking to gather a list of all rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals!
Comment if I missed you!

#ACR24
#rheum

go.bsky.app/CEj2dcZ

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Reposted by Kristen Young

Rheum Cat @rheumcat.bsky.social · 7d

It’s my friend Max Konig on bispecific T cell engages for autoimmune disease #ACR25

Title slide
Still a packed room
Max Konig is on the podium behind the lectern

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Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 7d

There is hybrid - but the best was the live streaming option, which they no longer have. The lectures are slightly delayed for posting.

Reposted by Kristen Young

Rheum Cat @rheumcat.bsky.social · Sep 27

Countdown to #ACR25, the big rheumatology meeting in Chicago at the end of October.

Sharing some abstracts publicly available at www.acrabstracts.org along some themes of interest to me.

(Remember to mute #ACR25 if you don't want to be inundated with rheumatology posts!)

🩺 🧪

ACR Meeting Abstracts

Browse and search abstracts from the ACR/ARHP Annual Meetings. Also view session dates and times.

www.acrabstracts.org

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Reposted by Kristen Young

Rheum Cat @rheumcat.bsky.social · 10d

#GCAN2025 cat content

"That's my cat Carmen devouring a textbook on gout" - Dr Terkeltaub

#ACR25

a gray tabby cat with her face in a textbook on gout

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Kristen Young @kristenyoung.bsky.social · 8d

A prelude to the perennial series: “Overheard at ACR”

#ACR25

Reposted by Kristen Young

Rheum Cat @rheumcat.bsky.social · 11d

#ACR25 attendees, make sure you review the "know before you go" page

For example, collecting CME credit for the meeting requires a pre-test to be done before the meeting starts!

rheumatology.org/annual-meeti...

ACR Convergence Resources

ACR Convergence 2025 takes place October 24–29 in Chicago. Explore attendee information, resources, and event details.

rheumatology.org

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