[Analysis of clinical characteristics of 35 inflammasomopathies cases].

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics of inflammasomopathies, enhance the recognition of those diseases, and help to establish the early diagnosis. Methods: The clinical manifestations including fever, rash, systems involvement as well as laboratory results and genotypic characteristics of 35 children with inflammasomopathies diagnosed by the Department of Pediatrics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: A total of 35 cases of inflammasomopathies were diagnosed, and 20 of them were boys while 15 were girls. Inflammasomopathies patients have early onset, the age of onset as well as diagnostic age were 1 (0,7) and 7 (3,12), respectively. Among those patients, 10 had familial mediterranean fever, 3 had mevalonate kinase deficiency, 15 cases had NLRP3 gene associated autoinflammatory disease, 4 cases had NLRP12-associated autoinflammatory disease, 2 cases had familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome 3, and 1 case had familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome 4. A total of 34 cases (97%) showed recurrent fever, 27 cases (77%) had skin rashes, while 11 cases (31%), 10 cases (29%), and 8 cases (23%) were presented with lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and growth retardation, respectively. In terms of systemic involvement, there were 18 cases (51%), 12 cases (34%), 8 cases (23%), and 5 cases (14%) with skeletal, neurological, auditory, and renal involvement, respectively. Central nervous system involvement was seen only in NLRP3 gene associtated autoinflammatory diseases (12 cases), sensorineural deafness was seen in NLRP3 gene associtated autoinflammatory diseases (6 cases) and NLRP12 gene associated autoinflammatory diseases (2 cases), and abdominal pain was observed in familial Mediterranean fever (5 cases), mevalonate kinase deficiency (1 case) and NLRP12 gene related autoinflammatory diseases (1 case). In the acute inflammatory phase, the acute phase reactants (erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)) of 35 cases (100%) were significantly increased. There were 21 cases received ferritin examination, and only 4 cases (19%) showed an increase of it. In terms of autoantibodies, among all 35 patients, 4 cases (11%) were positive for antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Conclusions: Fever, skin rash, and skeletal manifestations are the most common clinical features, accompanied with increased CRP and ESR, and negative results of autoantibodies such as ANA. The clinical manifestations of those diseases are complex and diverse, and it is prone to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

[A report of clinical characteristics of 2 Chinese pedigrees with haploinsufficiency of A20 and literature review].

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with haploinsufficiency of A20 (HA20). Methods: The clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, treatment, outcome and genetic analysis of 4 cases with HA20 hospitalized in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were analysed.Further literature review was done after searching articles in PubMed and Wangfang databases with the key words "HA20" "A20 haploinsufficiency" "TNFAIP3" up to the date of September 2019. Results: The 4 patients were a father and a daughter, as well as a mother and a daughter. Their phenotypes were quite variable, but all of them have been suffering from recurrent oral ulcer since childhood. Elevation of C-reactive protein (13-33 mg/L) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (21-60 mm/1h) were found in these 4 patients, and there was positive antinuclear antibody in proband 1.The father in pedigree 1 and the 2 patients in pedigrees 2 have been diagnosed with Behçet disease and the proband 1 with undifferentiated connective tissue disease. The 2 patients in pedigree 1 have developed Hashimoto's thyroiditis. After gene sequencing analysis, it was found that all the 4 patients have heterozygous nonsense mutations in TNFAIP3 gene, that is, c.811C>T, p.R271X in pedigree 1 and c.133C>T, p.R45X in pedigree 2.The diagnosis of HA20 was eventually established when sequencing results and their clinical manifestations were both compatible with this disease.A total of 21 articles were retrieved, all in English, with a total of 91 cases from 39 families (including the 4 cases reported in this paper). HA20 was reported more often in female (57, 64.8%). Most patients develop symptoms from childhood, but as many as 53.4% (47 cases) are not correctly diagnosed until adulthood. Oral ulcers, genital ulcers, periodic fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, rashes, and arthritis are the primary manifestations.Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common autoimmune diseases that HA20 patients coexist with. Laboratory tests were characterized by significantly elevated inflammatory markers and low to moderate titers of autoantibodies in some patients.Most HA20 patients were reported to have nonsense mutations or shift mutations of TNFAIP3 gene, which leads to truncation of A20 protein, and only a small number of patients have missense mutation. In terms of treatment, anti-TNF treatment and anti-interleukin 1 is believed to be an effective and the most optimal therapy. The treatment effect is variable and requires long term observations. Conclusions: The clinical phenotypes of HA20 are complex. For patients with both autoinflammatory and autoimmune characteristics, family history should be inquired in detail and gene sequencing should be performed if necessary.

[Spondyloenchondrodysplasia with immune dysregulation: a case report and literature review].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of spondyloenchondrodysplasia with immune dysregulation (SPENCDI). Methods: The clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, treatment and genetic analysis of a patient diagnosed with SPENCDI who was admitted to the Department of Pediatrics in Peking Union Medical College Hospital in October 2016 were analyzed. Then literature review was done after searching articles in PubMed and several Chinese databases with the key words "spondyloenchondrodysplasia with immune dysregulation" up to the date of November 2017. Results: A 12-year-old girl was admitted to local hospital for complaint of "recurrent fever over one month" in October 2016. She was diagnosed with type Ⅱ autoimmune hepatitis for abnormal liver function, elevated immunoglobulin G, positive anti-liver-kidney microsomal antibody and medium to severe interface hepatitis verified by liver biopsy. Systemic lupus erythematosus was also suspected based on positive antinuclear antibody and anti-dsDNA antibody, decreased complements, reduced white blood cells and hemoglobin. Methylprednisolone and azathioprine were started based on the diagnosis. However, she experienced mycoplasma pneumoniae and suspected fungal infections during the treatment. Detailed history revealed the history of developmental retardation since birth, and cerebral palsy diagnosed when she was 2 years old. She also underwent surgery at the age of eight for eversion of her right foot. Based on the abnormal findings of immune system, skeleton and nervous system, certain primary immunodeficiency disease was speculated. Gene sequencing was performed, which revealed compound heterozygous mutations in ACP5 gene (NM_001111035.2) (c.798dupC, p. S267Lfs*20, paternal; c.716G>A, p. G239D, maternal). With X-ray of the vertebrae showed multiple platyspondyly, the diagnosis was corrected as SPENCDI and type Ⅱ autoimmune hepatitis. Then she was treated with prednisone (60 mg/d) and mycophenolate mofetil (1.5 g/d). All symptoms resolved on 3-month follow-up, with normalized activity indexes of autoimmune hepatitis and systemic lupus erythematosus. A total of 25 articles (1 Chinese, 24 English) were reviewed, with 74 SPENCDI patients reported. The most common manifestations were skeletal abnormalities (74/74, 100%), autoimmune diseases (47/74, 63.5%), dwarfism (45/74, 60.8%), and nervous system symptoms (25/74, 33.8%). A few patients with simple spondyloenchondrodysplasia were treated with growth hormone, and those who with autoimmune diseases were treated with immunosuppressants, all of whom were improved to certain extent. Conclusions: Vertebral and metaphyseal dysplasia, nervous system symptoms, and strong predisposition to autoimmune diseases are the hallmarks of SPENCDI. SPENCDI should be considered in dwarf with or without autoimmune diseases or nervous system symptoms.

[Stimulator of interferon genes-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy: first case report in China].

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment efficacy of the first reported case of a Chinese boy with stimulator of interferon genes (STING) associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI). Methods: Sanger sequencing of the gene TMEM173 was performed based on systemic evaluation and clinical analysis of a highly suspected SAVI child admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital. A literature search (search terms included 'STING''SAVI''autoinflammatory diseases' and 'interferonopathy') was conducted using Chinese literature database, EMBASE and PubMed to include recently published SAVI studies (searched from January 2010 to December 2017). Results: A 14-year-old boy who had a history of chronic dry cough along with decreased activity tolerance after birth presented with growth retardation, chilblain lesions on the ear, telangiectasia of multiple skin areas and long clubbed fingers. His C-reactive protein was 21 mg/L, erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 78 mm/1h, and IgG was 22.16 g/L. The high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) revealed interstitial lung diseases and echocardiography showed pulmonary artery hypertension, with a level of 61 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). Genetic mutation of TMEM173 (c.463G>A, p.V155M) was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. His activity tolerance increased to some extent after treatment with tofacitinib at a dose of 5 mg twice a day. Our review yielded 8 publications (8 English and 0 Chinese) . To date 20 cases have been reported worldwide, who mostly presented with skin and lung involvement as well as growth retardation. Conclusions: SAVI has been included within the spectrum of interferonopathy, which is a kind of autoinflammatory diseases as well. Typical clinical features include chilblain skin lesions, interstitial lung disease, growth retardation, elevated IgG levels, and increased inflammation markers. Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors may offer benefit for SAVI patients.

[Three cases with familial Mediterranean fever misdiagnosed as juvenile idiopathic arthritis].

Objective: To explore the key points of diagnosis and treatment of familial Mediterranean fever(FMF). Method: The clinical data of 3 cases with FMF misdiagnosed as Juvenile idiopathic arthritis(JIA)seen from January 2014 to June 2016 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively collected. The clinical manifestations, gene mutation characteristics, treatment and prognosis were also evaluated. Result: Two cases were male and 1 was female. The mean age of onset was 17 months (3 months to 36 months), while the average age of diagnosis was 6 years and 8 months (24 months to 11 years). All the 3 cases presented with periodic fever, red rash and arthritis.Two of them suffered from anemia, 2 of them showed lymphadenopathy, and 1 of them presented with hepatosplenomegaly. All of the 3 cases were diagnosed as JIA by excluding infectious diseases and neoplastic diseases and respondiug poorly to anti-infection treatment, but they benefitted little from glucocorticoids and a variety of immunosuppressive therapy. The mutations of MEFV gene were found in 3 cases by gene detection, and all of them were complex heterozygous mutations. Four reported pathogenic mutations were found: R202Q, E148Q, L110P, P369S. All the 3 cases are currently receiving oral colchicine (in accordance with the initial dose of children under the age of 5 recommended ≤ 0.5 mg/d, 5 to 10 years old children 0.5-1.0 mg/d, 10 years old children and older children 1.0-1.5 mg / d) , and the symptoms were significantly improved. Conclusion: The familial Mediterranean fever can be characterized by repeated remittent fever, red rash, arthritis, and is easy to be confused with JIA in clinical manifestation.In this paper, 3 cases were diagnosed as complex heterozygous MEFV gene mutation by gene analysis.During the 6 months follow-up, all of the 3 patients responded well to colchicine.