Decrease of infectious complications in outpatients with autoimmune diseases from 2019 to 2020 under the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-centre, retrospective cohort study in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To examine how the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has changed infectious complications in outpatients with autoimmune diseases. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, record-linked cohort study and questionnaire about lifestyle changes in patients who visited our department in 2019 and 2020. RESULTS: We surveyed 1316 outpatients in 2019 and 1284 in 2020. The most common underlying diseases were rheumatoid arthritis (842 vs. 814) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (126 vs. 127). No significant difference in median age (66 vs. 67 years), respiratory comorbidities (30.4% vs. 32.0%), or corticosteroid use (42.2% vs. 44.3%) was found between the years. Immunomodulating agents were used more in 2020 (33.1% vs. 39.7%, p < .001). Total number of infections (28.0/100 vs. 19.4/100 person-years), pneumonia (3.6 vs. 1.6), influenza (2.1 vs. 0.1), and nonviral dermatological infections (3.8 vs. 2.1) were significantly lower in 2020. No significant difference was found for herpes zoster (2.2 vs. 1.8), urinary tract infections (3.3 vs. 3.8), or gastrointestinal infections (2.9 vs. 3.0). According to the questionnaire, 75% of the respondents became more conscious about wearing masks and 81% began to use hand sanitizer during the pandemic. CONCLUSION: Under the COVID-19 pandemic, some infectious complications have decreased in outpatients with autoimmune diseases.

The efficacy of mizoribine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and its correlation with renal function.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the correlation between the efficacy of mizoribine (MZR) and the factors that might effect MZR concentration: renal function and dosage and administration of MZR in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The efficacy of MZR treatment was prospectively evaluated in 97 RA regardless of dosage, at the 14 participated institutions. The Disease Activity Score 28-CRP3 was used to assess RA activity. The renal function was evaluated based on the serum creatinine and serum cystatin-C (Cys-C). The patients were followed up for 24 weeks. RESULTS: The patients with a mean age 66.2 years included 18 male. The renal function assessment showed increased creatinine in 16.4% of patients and increased Cys-C in 54.5%, suggesting the higher sensitivity of Cys-C to detect impaired renal function than creatinine. In patients with good or moderate response according to the European League against Rheumatism classification criteria, the Cys-C was significantly higher compared with those with no response. MZR treatment was significantly more effective in patients with an arithmetic product of the single MZR dose used and Cys-C of 179 or more. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of MZR may increase in proportion to its single dose, or increased Cys-C level in patients with impaired renal function.

A concomitant case of giant cell arteritis and microscopic polyangiitis with hemoperitoneum by rupture of the gastroepiploic artery.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) mainly involves large-sized arteries, while microscopic polyangiitis (mPA), characterized by pauci-immune necrotizing vasculitis, mainly affects small-sized vessels. We report a very rare concomitant case of GCA diagnosed by temporal artery biopsy and mPA with a high titer of myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia, and suspected rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. The patient died by sudden rupture of the gastroepiploic artery (medium-sized vessel), which may have been triggered by GCA and/or mPA.

Clinical efficacy of belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and headache. A report of two cases.

Intractable headache, one of the manifestations of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is difficult to diagnose and decide on an appropriate treatment. In addition to conventional therapy based on the type of headache, the treatment should be conducted considering the disease activity of SLE rather than the headache. We report two patients with intractable headache who were successfully treated using belimumab therapy. The headaches in both patients were relieved after 2 weeks of belimumab administration. The neutralisation of B lymphocyte stimulator and reduced production of cytokines from B lymphocytes might contribute to the early effects. The potential benefits of using belimumab as an additional immunosuppressant for treating intractable headache complicated with SLE have been discussed.

Two cases of rheumatoid arthritis complicated by organising pneumonia successfully treated with tofacitinib therapy.

Organising pneumonia (OP) complicated by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a rare type of interstitial lung disease, is sometimes refractory and resistant to immunosuppressive therapy. We report for the first time two cases of refractory OP with RA for which tofacitinib, an inhibitor of Janus kinase, was highly effective. Two women, aged 84 and 65 years, developed refractory OP during treatment for RA with biologics, certolizumab pegol, and etanercept. A moderate amount of prednisolone was effective in both cases; however, recurrences were observed with reduced glucocorticoid dosage. When tofacitinib was administered, OP and RA were well controlled. Thus, the glucocorticoid dosage was successfully tapered low enough until no side effects were observed. Tofacitinib therapy may be a treatment option for refractory OP.

Spontaneous Regression of Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm Following Sepsis by Serratia marcescens: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Spontaneous regression is rare in patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). An 85-year-old man presented with pancytopenia and skin lesions, and the bone marrow exhibited 79.6% CD4+, CD56+, CD123+, and TCL-1+ abnormal cells, with a normal karyotype; he was thus diagnosed with BPDCN. While being followed without chemotherapy, he was admitted due to sepsis induced by Serratia marcescens, which was successfully treated with antibiotics. Notably, his blood cell counts improved, and the skin lesions disappeared. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spontaneous regression of BPDCN with a decrease in tumor cells in the bone marrow following sepsis.