Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis following COVID-19 vaccination: Results from a nationwide survey.

We conducted a national in-depth analysis including pharmacovigilance reports and clinical study to assess the reporting rate (RR) and to determine the clinical profile of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) in COVID-19-vaccinated individuals. First, based on the French pharmacovigilance database, we estimated the RR of PMR and GCA cases in individuals aged over 50 who developed their initial symptoms within one month of receiving the BNT162b2 mRNA, mRNA-1273, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and Ad26.COV2.S vaccines. We then conducted a nationwide survey to gather clinical profiles, therapeutic management, and follow-up data from individuals registered in the pharmacovigilance study. A total of 70 854 684 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered to 25 260 485 adults, among which, 179 cases of PMR (RR 7. 1 cases/1 000 000 persons) and 54 cases of GCA (RR 2. 1 cases/1 000 000 persons) have been reported. The nationwide survey allowed the characterization of 60 PMR and 35 GCA cases. Median time to the onset of first symptoms was 10 (range 2-30) and 7 (range 2-25) days for PMR and GCA, respectively. Phenotype, GCA-related ischemic complications and -large vessel vasculitis as well as therapeutic management and follow-up seemed similar according to the number of vaccine shots received and when compared to the literature data of unvaccinated population. Although rare, the short time between immunization and the onset of first symptoms of PMR and GCA suggests a temporal association. Physician should be aware of this potential vaccine-related phenomenon.

Dalbavancin in clinical practice: a particular place for the elderly?

We investigate dalbavancin efficiency and tolerance among elderly in Grenoble-Alpes 32 university hospital. Among the 65 patients who received dalbavancin, 51% (33) were considered as old. Patients presented mainly bones and joint infections (52%), surgical site infection 34 (31%), and infective endocarditis (IE) (8%). Clinical cure was confirmed for 79% of old 35 patients at 1, 3, and 6 months. Six adverse events (9%) were reported after 36 dalbavancin's administration, but each time in combination with other antibiotics. 37 Dalbavancin had a significant effectiveness and safety profile and represents a real 38 therapeutic option in the management of deep and complex infections of elderly patients.

Effect of Professional and Extra-Professional Exposure on Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Healthcare Workers of the French Alps: A Multicentric Cross-Sectional Study.

We aimed to report SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence after the first wave of the pandemic among healthcare workers, and to explore factors associated with an increased infection rate. We conducted a multicentric cross-sectional survey from 27 June to 31 September 2020. For this survey, we enrolled 3454 voluntary healthcare workers across four participating hospitals, of which 83.4% were female, with a median age of 40.6 years old (31.8-50.3). We serologically screened the employees for SARS-CoV-2, estimated the prevalence of infection, and conducted binomial logistic regression with random effect on participating hospitals to investigate associations. We estimated the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection at 5.0% (95 CI, 4.3%-5.8%). We found the lowest prevalence in health professional management support (4.3%) staff. Infections were more frequent in young professionals below 30 years old (aOR = 1.59, (95 CI, 1.06-2.37)), including paramedical students and residents (aOR = 3.38, (95 CI, 1.62-7.05)). In this group, SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was up 16.9%. The location of work and patient-facing role were not associated with increased infections. Employees reporting contacts with COVID-19 patients without adequate protective equipment had a higher rate of infection (aOR = 1.66, (95 CI, 1.12-2.44)). Aerosol-generating tasks were associated with a ~1.7-fold rate of infection, regardless of the uptake of FFP2. Those exposed to clusters of infected colleagues (aOR = 1.77, (95 CI, 1.24-2.53)) or intra-familial COVID-19 relatives (aOR = 2.09, (95 CI, 1.15-3.80)) also had a higher likelihood of infection. This report highlights that a sustained availability of personal protective equipment limits the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate to what is measured in the general population. It also pinpoints the need for dedicated hygiene training among young professionals, justifies the systematic eviction of infected personnel, and stresses the need for interventions to increase vaccination coverage among any healthcare workers.

[Prevalence and characteristics of serum autoantibodies in patients followed for infertility at Grenoble University Hospital]. / Prévalence et caractéristiques de l'auto-immunité sérique chez les patientes suivies pour infertilité au CHU de Grenoble.

INTRODUCTION: Fertility disorders in autoimmune diseases are well described. However, little is known about the presence of a humoral serum autoimmunity in case of infertility (antinuclear antibodies, ACAN or antiphospholipid, APL) without criteria of autoimmune disease. METHODS: We studied the prevalence, associated factors, and efficacy of immunomodulatory therapy in patients with unexplained infertility. Two groups were created retrospectively among patients followed in medically assisted procreation (PMA) for infertility: a group with serum autoimmunity (AI+) (ACAN, APL or anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies) and a group without serum autoimmunity (HAVE-). Clinical, biological, and therapeutic data were collected. RESULTS: The prevalence of autoimmunity was 33% among consultant patients. One hundred patients were seen in internal medicine consultation, 70 were included in the AI+ group and 30 in the AI- group. In the AI+ group, 76% had ACANs, 29% had anti-TPOs and 23% had APLs. There was a significant correlation between ACAN level and the presence of endometriosis (P=0.048). Immunomodulatory therapy was introduced for 68 of the 70 women in the AI+ group; pregnancy occurred in 28 patients (40%) during the treatment period, compared with 7 in the "AI-" group (23%), with a tendency to significance (P=0.09). In conclusion, there is an increased prevalence of serum autoimmunity in patients with fertility disorders, possibly with the efficacy of an immunomodulatory treatment to confront prospective therapeutic studies.

Dynamics of Epstein-Barr viral load after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and effect of preemptive rituximab therapy.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) displays oncogenic properties, particularly in the immunocompromised host. Notably, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients with a detectable blood EBV viral load (BEBVL) are considered at higher risk of post-transplant lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLD). Therefore, BEBVL is monitored after HSCT, and preemptive rituximab may be used in patients with high values. However, little is known about post-HSCT BEBVL dynamics, and the threshold that should lead to anti-CD20 therapy is poorly defined. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the post-HSCT BEBVL of 332 adult HSCT recipients in our center from 2005 to 2013, including the effect of rituximab. RESULTS: Detection of BEBVL >100, 1000, 5000, 10 000, and 50 000 copies/mL occurred in, respectively, 77.7%, 69.6%, 37.0%, 27.1%, and 7.5% of the patients after a respective median time of 9, 14, 15, 16, and 14 weeks. No BEBVL threshold was associated with an overall survival difference. Seventy-eight patients received rituximab, with a BEBVL decrease in most. Among patients with detectable BEBVL, long-term survival did not differ in rituximab treated and non-treated, except for patients with BEBVL ≥50 000. Only one case of PTLD was observed. CONCLUSIONS: BEBVL is frequently detectable after HSCT, but suggests no strong association with survival. Preemptive rituximab therapy threshold remains to be defined.