Brandon Ko, NP, a pediatric rheumatology nurse practitioner at the University of New Mexico and Pediatric Chair for RhAPP, reviews the potential role of guselkumab in juvenile psoriatic arthritis. This medication review explores the current FDA submission for pediatric use, the clinical rationale behind extrapolating adult psoriatic arthritis data, and supporting safety and efficacy findings from pediatric plaque psoriasis studies. The discussion highlights where guselkumab may fit among existing treatment options for juvenile psoriatic arthritis, including TNF inhibitors, IL-17 inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, and other biologics, while addressing key considerations such as disease severity, treatment sequencing, and uveitis risk. Designed for rheumatology APPs and clinicians, this overview provides timely insight into emerging pediatric treatment options and what FDA approval could mean for patient care.

Welcome to the premiere of Across the Rheum, the official podcast of Rheum Connect, where cutting-edge science meets real-world clinical insight in rheumatology. Hosted by renowned rheumatologist Dr. Sergio Schwartzman, this new educational podcast launches with a three-part series exploring The Interleukin-23 (IL-23) Paradigm in Psoriatic Arthritis.

In Episode 1, the series sets the foundation with an in-depth discussion of IL-23 immunology and its role in the pathophysiology of psoriatic disease. Joined by expert guests Jessica Farrell, PharmD, and Dr. Monica Schwarzman, listeners gain a structured understanding of the IL-23/Th17 pathway, cytokine signaling, and how these mechanisms translate into targeted therapeutic strategies for psoriatic arthritis and related immune-mediated diseases.

Designed for rheumatologists, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, and clinicians involved in inflammatory arthritis care, this episode examines why IL-23 has emerged as a critical therapeutic target, the scientific rationale behind selective inhibition, and how evolving immunologic insights are shaping modern treatment decisions. The discussion also highlights key distinctions between IL-23– and IL-17–driven disease, implications for axial involvement, and the future of precision therapy in psoriatic arthritis.

This episode is cross-hosted on Arthros and the RhAPPcast, the official podcast of Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers, with sincere thanks to RhAPP for their continued partnership. Educational support for this activity is provided by Johnson & Johnson.

Subscribe to Across the Rheum to continue the series in Episode 2, where the conversation shifts to a detailed review of currently available IL-23 inhibitors, clinical trial data, and practical positioning in today’s rheumatology treatment landscape.

In this episode of RhAPPcast, host Amanda Mixon, President of RhAPP, is joined by pediatric rheumatology specialist and RhAPP board member Brandon Ko to spotlight hypophosphatasia (HPP) in children—an underrecognized inherited metabolic bone disorder that is frequently missed in clinical practice. The conversation reviews perinatal, infantile, and childhood-onset HPP, highlights subtle early warning signs like failure to thrive, delayed milestones, craniosynostosis, bone pain, recurrent fractures, and premature loss of primary teeth with intact roots, and explains why persistently low alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a key diagnostic red flag. Designed for rheumatology APPs and primary care clinicians, this episode offers practical steps to improve recognition, differentiate HPP from conditions like JIA and pain amplification syndromes, and support earlier evaluation and referral for appropriate testing.