Proton pump inhibitors and risk of severe COVID-19 in older people.

INTRODUCTION: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a viral respiratory infection that can cause systemic disorders and lead to death, particularly in older people. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) increase the risk of enteric and lung infections. Considering the broad use of PPIs in older people, the potential role of PPIs in COVID-19 could be of dramatic significance. The objective of our study was to evaluate the link between PPIs and severe COVID-19 in older people. METHOD: We performed a retrospective cohort study, including all patients aged ≥65, hospitalised for a diagnosis of COVID-19. Epidemiological, clinical and biological data were extracted and we performed an Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighing method based on a propensity score. RESULTS: From March 2020 to February 2021, a total of 834 patients were included, with a median age of 83 and 52.8% were male. A total of 410 patients had a PPIs prescription, 358 (87.3%) were long-term PPIs-users and 52 (12.7%) were recent PPIs-users. Among PPIs-users, 163 (39.8%) patients developed severe COVID-19 versus 113 (26.7%) in PPIs-non users (odds ratio (OR) = 1.59 [1.18-2.14]; P < 0.05). Moreover, the double dose PPI-users had a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 (OR = 3.36 [1.17-9.66]; P < 0.05) than the full dose PPI-users (OR = 2.15 [1.22-3.76]; P < 0.05) and the half dose PPI-users (OR = 1.64 [1.13-2.37]; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study reports evidence that the use of PPIs was associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 in older people.

Benralizumab for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

BACKGROUND: Benralizumab is effective in the treatment of eosinophilic asthma and is being investigated for the treatment of other eosinophil-associated diseases. Reports on the use of benralizumab for the treatment of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) are limited to case reports and small case series. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre, retrospective study including EGPA patients treated with off-label benralizumab. The primary endpoint was the rate of complete response defined as no disease activity (Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score=0) and a prednisone dose ≤4 mg/day. Partial response was defined as no disease activity and a prednisone dose ≥4 mg/day. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients were included, including 31 (46%) who had previously received mepolizumab. The use of benralizumab was warranted by uncontrolled asthma in 54 (81%), persistent ear, nose and throat (ENT) manifestations in 27 (40%) and persistent glucocorticoids (GCs) use in 48 (74%) patients. Median (IQR) follow-up after starting benralizumab was 23 (9-34) months. Thirty-three patients (49%) achieved a complete response, 24 (36%) achieved a partial response and 10 (15%) did not respond. Among the 57 patients who initially responded, 10 (18%) eventually required further line treatments. GCs were discontinued in 23 patients (38%). Prior mepolizumab use was associated with a higher rate of primary failure (26.7% vs 5.4%, p=0.034) and less frequent GCs discontinuation (14.8% vs 55.9%, p=0.001). Vasculitis flares occurred in 7 patients (11%) and were associated with histological evidence of vasculitis and/or antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies positivity at benralizumab initiation (p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Benralizumab appears to be an effective treatment for refractory asthma or ENT manifestations in EGPA and allows GC-sparing. However, its efficacy was lower after prior failure of mepolizumab.

Activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ syndrome: Update from the ESID Registry and comparison with other autoimmune-lymphoproliferative inborn errors of immunity.

BACKGROUND: Activated phosphoinositide-3-kinase δ syndrome (APDS) is an inborn error of immunity (IEI) with infection susceptibility and immune dysregulation, clinically overlapping with other conditions. Management depends on disease evolution, but predictors of severe disease are lacking. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to report the extended spectrum of disease manifestations in APDS1 versus APDS2; compare these to CTLA4 deficiency, NFKB1 deficiency, and STAT3 gain-of-function (GOF) disease; and identify predictors of severity in APDS. METHODS: Data was collected from the ESID (European Society for Immunodeficiencies)-APDS registry and was compared with published cohorts of the other IEIs. RESULTS: The analysis of 170 patients with APDS outlines high penetrance and early onset of APDS compared to the other IEIs. The large clinical heterogeneity even in individuals with the same PIK3CD variant E1021K illustrates how poorly the genotype predicts the disease phenotype and course. The high clinical overlap between APDS and the other investigated IEIs suggests relevant pathophysiological convergence of the affected pathways. Preferentially affected organ systems indicate specific pathophysiology: bronchiectasis is typical of APDS1; interstitial lung disease and enteropathy are more common in STAT3 GOF and CTLA4 deficiency. Endocrinopathies are most frequent in STAT3 GOF, but growth impairment is also common, particularly in APDS2. Early clinical presentation is a risk factor for severe disease in APDS. CONCLUSIONS: APDS illustrates how a single genetic variant can result in a diverse autoimmune-lymphoproliferative phenotype. Overlap with other IEIs is substantial. Some specific features distinguish APDS1 from APDS2. Early onset is a risk factor for severe disease course calling for specific treatment studies in younger patients.

Occurrence of focal myositis during Behçet's disease: The identification of a specific vasculitis-associated focal myopathy.

AIMS: This study aimed to report the association of focal myositis (FM) and Behçet's disease (BD) and to analyse the main characteristics of such an association. METHODS: This is a retrospective multicentre study of patients with BD and FM (BD + FM+ group) and those without FM (BD - FM+ group). Clinical, laboratory, radiological, pathological, treatment and outcome data were analysed. RESULTS: The BD + FM+ group included 10 patients; the median [interquartile range] age at BD diagnosis was 25 [16-35] years, and at FM diagnosis, it was 30 [26-42] years. The diagnosis of BD preceded FM in the majority of cases (n = 8/10). FM occurrence was associated with BD flare-ups in three cases. The creatine kinase levels remained normal or slightly increased. Histological analyses identified relatively preserved muscle tissue, associated with vasculitis (n = 5/6). All patients required treatment; most patients relapsed (n = 9/10). The BD - FM+ group included 35 patients. A comparison of the groups identified a trend towards a younger median age at diagnosis of FM among those with BD (p = 0.063) and more frequent focal muscle swelling in the BD + FM+ group (p = 0.029). The pathological analysis identified significantly less frequent muscle alterations in the BD + FM+ group (muscle fibre size heterogeneity, p = 0.021; necrosis, p = 0.007; and fibrosis, p = 0.027). BD + FM+ patients had a higher frequency of relapse (p = 0.003) and systematic treatment (p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: FM occurring during BD appears to be part of the systemic vasculitis process and presents as a vasculitis-associated focal myopathy with a specific clinico-histological pattern. Patients with this association require long-term follow-up and adapted management. This case series also highlights the need for research on BD diagnostic criteria in cases of FM.

Population designations in biomedical research: Limitations and perspectives.

In biomedical research, population differences are of central interest. Variations in the frequency and severity of diseases and in treatment effects among human subpopulation groups are common in many medical conditions. Unfortunately, the practices in terms of subpopulation labeling do not exhibit the level of rigor one would expect in biomedical research, especially when studying multifactorial diseases such as cancer or atherosclerosis. The reporting of population differences in clinical research is characterized by large disparities in practices, and fraught with methodological issues and inconsistencies. The actual designations such as "Black" or "Asian" refer to broad and heterogeneous groups, with a great discrepancy among countries. Moreover, the use of obsolete concepts such as "Caucasian" is unfortunate and imprecise. The use of adequate labeling to reflect the scientific hypothesis needs to be promoted. Furthermore, the use of "race/ethnicity" as a unique cause of human heterogeneity may distract from investigating other factors related to a medical condition, particularly if this label is employed as a proxy for cultural habits, diet, or environmental exposure. In addition, the wide range of opinions among researchers does not facilitate the attempts made for resolving this heterogeneity in labeling. "Race," "ethnicity," "ancestry," "geographical origin," and other similar concepts are saturated with meanings. Even if the feasibility of a global consensus on labeling seems difficult, geneticists, sociologists, anthropologists, and ethicists should help develop policies and practices for the biomedical field.

Benralizumab for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a retrospective, multicentre, cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-5 (IL-5) inhibitors represent novel therapies for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of the IL-5 receptor inhibitor benralizumab in a European cohort of patients with EGPA. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients with EGPA from 28 European referral centres of the European EGPA Study Group across six countries (Italy, France, UK, Russia, Spain, and Switzerland) who received benralizumab as any line of treatment between Jan 1, 2019, and Sep 30, 2022. We assessed the rates of complete response, defined as no disease activity (Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score [BVAS] of 0) and a prednisone dose of up to 4 mg/day, in contrast to partial response, defined as a BVAS of 0 and a prednisone dose greater than 4 mg/day. Active disease manifestations, pulmonary function, variation in glucocorticoid dose, and safety outcomes were also assessed over a 12-month follow-up. FINDINGS: 121 patients with relapsing-refractory EGPA treated with benralizumab at the dose approved for eosinophilic asthma were included (64 [53%] women and 57 [47%] men; median age at the time of beginning benralizumab treatment 54·1 years [IQR 44·2-62·2]). Complete response was reported in 15 (12·4%, 95% CI 7·1-19·6) of 121 patients at month 3, 25 (28·7%, 19·5-39·4) of 87 patients at month 6, and 32 (46·4%, 34·3-58·8) of 69 patients at month 12; partial response was observed in an additional 43 (35·5%, 27·0-44·8) patients at month 3, 23 (26·4%, 17·6-37·0) at month 6, and 13 (18·8%, 10·4-30·1) at month 12. BVAS dropped from 3·0 (IQR 2·0-8·0) at baseline to 0·0 (0·0-2·0) at months 3 and 6, and to 0·0 (0·0-1·0) at month 12. The proportion of patients with systemic manifestations, active peripheral neurological disease, ear, nose, and throat involvement, and pulmonary involvement decreased, with an improvement in lung function tests. Six patients relapsed after having a complete response. The oral prednisone (or equivalent) dose decreased from 10·0 mg/day (5·0-12·5) at baseline to 5·0 mg/day (3·6-8·5) at month 3 (p<0·01), to 5·0 mg/day (2·5-6·3) at month 6, and to 2·5 mg/day (0·0-5·0) at month 12 (p<0·0001). 19 (16%) of 121 patients had adverse events and 16 (13%) discontinued benralizumab. INTERPRETATION: These data suggest that benralizumab could be an effective treatment for EGPA in real-life clinical practice. Further clinical trials are required to confirm the efficacy of benralizumab in patients with a higher baseline disease activity. FUNDING: None.

Antineutrophil Cytoplasm Antibody-Associated Vasculitides Valvular Impairment: Multicenter Retrospective Study and Systematic Review of the Literature.

OBJECTIVE: While myocardial impairment is a predictor of poor prognosis in antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV), little is known about valvular involvement. This study aims at describing the clinical presentation, management, and outcome of endocarditis associated with AAV. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study in centers affiliated with the French Vasculitis Study Group. We included patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), or eosinophilic GPA with endocardial impairment. A systematic review was then performed through PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception up to September 2020. RESULTS: The retrospective cohort included 9 patients (82%) with GPA, 1 (9%) with MPA, and 1 (9%) with unclassified AAV. Clinical presentation included acute valvular insufficiency (n = 7, 64%), cardiac failure (n = 3, 27%), dyspnea (n = 3, 27%), and no symptoms (n = 2, 18%). The aortic valve was the most frequently affected (n = 8/10, 80%), and vegetations were noted in 4 of 10 patients (40%). Six patients (55%) underwent surgical valvular replacement. No death from endocarditis was reported. The systematic review retrieved 42 patients from 40 references: 30 (71%) had GPA, 21 (50%) presented with vegetations, the aortic valve (n = 26, 62%) was the most frequently involved. Valvular replacement was required in 20 cases (48%) and 5 patients (13%) died from the endocarditic impairment. CONCLUSION: Endocarditis is a rare and potentially life-threatening manifestation of AAV. Acute valvular insufficiency may lead to urgent surgery. Implementing transthoracic echocardiography in standard assessment at baseline and follow-up of AAV might reduce the delay to diagnosis and allow earlier immunosuppressive treatment before surgery is needed.

Immune thrombocytopenia with clinical significance in systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective cohort study of 90 patients.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics, treatment and outcome of patients with immune thrombocytopenia with clinical significance (ITPCS) associated with SLE. METHODS: This retrospective multicentre study included SLE patients who experienced ≥1 ITPCS (defined as ITP with attributable bleeding disorders and/or a platelet count <30×109/l). Other causes of secondary thrombocytopenia were excluded. Major bleeding event (MBG) was defined as Khellaf score >8 and/or WHO score >2. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients were included, the median (range) follow-up duration was 80 (6-446) months. ITP was diagnosed before SLE in 25 patients. They presented a high rate of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (15%), antiphospholipid antibody (62%) and antiphospholipid syndrome (19%). The 25 (28%) patients who experienced MBG had significantly more bleedings at ITP diagnosis and higher bleeding scores, and serositis and thrombosis during follow-up. They required significantly more treatment lines, transfusions and hospitalizations. The 11 (12%) patients who experienced no bleeding event presented a significantly more restricted SLE phenotype (cutaneous and/or articular). Patients received a mean (range) of 4.2 (1-11) treatment lines. Corticosteroids and HCQ allowed ITPCS overall response in one-third of patients. The median relapse-free survival of rituximab (n = 34), AZA (n = 19), MMF (n = 8), thrombopoietin-receptor agonists (n = 16) and splenectomy (n = 19) were 53, 31.5, 61, 24.5 and 78 months, respectively. Four patients experienced thrombotic events after splenectomy and one occurred under thrombopoietin-receptor agonist treatment. CONCLUSION: SLE-ITCS patients displayed a high rate of haematological abnormalities and MBG patients exhibited higher morbidity. Management of thrombocytopenia was highly heterogeneous and many options seem viable.

Therapeutic Potential of Anti-Interferon α Vaccination on SjS-Related Features in the MRL/lpr Autoimmune Mouse Model.

Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) is a frequent systemic autoimmune disease responsible for a major decrease in patients' quality of life, potentially leading to life-threatening conditions while facing an unmet therapeutic need. Hence, we assessed the immunogenicity, efficacy, and tolerance of IFN-Kinoid (IFN-K), an anti-IFNα vaccination strategy, in a well-known mouse model of systemic autoimmunity with SjS-like features: MRL/MpJ-Faslpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice. Two cohorts (with ISA51 or SWE01 as adjuvants) of 26 female MRL/lpr were divided in parallel groups, "controls" (not treated, PBS and Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin [KLH] groups) or "IFN-K" and followed up for 122 days. Eight-week-old mice received intra-muscular injections (days 0, 7, 28, 56 and 84) of PBS, KLH or IFN-K, emulsified in the appropriate adjuvant, and blood samples were serially collected. At sacrifice, surviving mice were euthanized and their organs were harvested for histopathological analysis (focus score in salivary/lacrimal glands) and IFN signature evaluation. SjS-like features were monitored. IFN-K induced a disease-modifying polyclonal anti-IFNα antibody response in all treated mice with high IFNα neutralization capacities, type 1 IFN signature's reduction and disease features' (ocular and oral sicca syndrome, neuropathy, focus score, glandular production of BAFF) improvement, as reflected by the decrease in Murine Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (MuSSDAI) modelled on EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI). No adverse effects were observed. We herein report on the strong efficacy of an innovative anti-IFNα vaccination strategy in a mouse model of SjS, paving the way for further clinical development (a phase IIb trial has just been completed in systemic lupus erythematosus with promising results).

Pulmonary Involvement Responsive to Enzyme Replacement Therapy in an Elderly Patient with Gaucher Disease.

Type 1 Gaucher disease (GD) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficient activity of beta-glucocerebrosidase, leading to accumulation of its substrate (glucosylceramide) in macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system, which are then referred to as Gaucher cells. The most frequent symptoms are asthenia, spleen and liver enlargement, bone abnormalities and cytopenia due to bone marrow infiltration. Lung involvement in GD is a rare finding, and it is unclear whether it may regress under enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) or substrate reduction therapy (SRT). Here we report a case of type 1 GD recently diagnosed in an elderly patient complicated by infiltrative lung disease, which responded to ERT. LEARNING POINTS: Type 1 Gaucher disease (GD) is the most common type of GD diagnosed in adulthood, and is characterized by great clinical heterogeneity.Pulmonary involvement is rare, mostly characterized by infiltrative lung disease and pulmonary hypertension, and typically unresponsive to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT).Type 1 GD should be included in the differential diagnosis of infiltrative lung disease of unclear origin in patients with cytopenia and/or splenomegaly.Infiltrative lung disease due to type 1 GD may respond to ERT even in elderly patients.

Efficiency of an Optimized Care Organization in Fibromyalgia Patients: The From Intent to Move (FIMOUV) Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by multiple symptoms including pain, fatigue, and sleep disorders, altering patient's quality of life. In the absence of effective pharmacological therapy, the last European guidelines recommend a multidisciplinary management based on exercise and education. Thus, our main objective was to measure the effectiveness of a healthcare organization offering a specific program of adapted physical activity combined with a therapeutic education program for FM patients. Methods and Analysis: The From Intent To Move (FIMOUV) study will recruit 330 FM patients randomized into two groups: test and control. The test group will benefit from a 1-month mixed exercise training program supervised at the hospital, followed by 2 months in a community-based relay in a health-sport structure. In addition, each of the two groups will benefit from therapeutic patient education sessions. The main endpoint is the measurement of the level of physical activity by accelerometry at 1 year. The secondary endpoints concern adherence to the practice of physical activity, impact on lifestyle, state of health, and physical capacity, as well as an estimate of the budgetary impact of this management strategy. Discussion: This interventional research will allow us to assess the evolution of behaviors in physical activity after an FM syndrome management based solely on patient education or based on a supervised and adapted practice of physical activity associated with this same therapeutic education program. It seems to be the first study evaluating the impact of its intervention on objective data for measuring physical activity and sedentary behavior via accelerometry among FM patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04107948.

Patient-Centered Medicine: A Necessary Condition for the Management of Functional Somatic Syndromes and Bodily Distress.

This paper argues that "functional," "medically unexplained," or "somatoform" symptoms and disorders necessarily require a patient-centered approach from the clinicians. In the first part, I address the multiple causes of the patients' suffering and I analyze the unease of the doctors faced with these disorders. I emphasize the iatrogenic role of medical investigations and the frequent failure in attempting to reassure the patients. I stress the difficulties in finding the right terms and concepts, despite overabundant nosological categories, to give a full account of psychosomatic complexity. Finally, I discuss the moral dimension attached to assigning a symptom, at times arbitrarily, to a psychogenic origin. The following part presents a brief reminder of the patient-centered approach (PCA) in medicine. In the last part, I aim to explain why and how patient-centered medicine should be applied in the context of functional disorders. First, because PCA focuses on the patients' experience of illness rather than the disease from the medical point of view, which is, indeed, absent. Second, because PCA is the only way to avoid sterile attribution conflicts. Last, because PCA allows doctors and patients to collaboratively create plausible and non-stigmatizing explanations for the symptoms, which paves the way toward effective management.

Temporal Arteritis Revealing Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitides: A Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: Temporal arteritis (TA) is a typical manifestation of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAVs) are rarely revealed by TA manifestations, leading to a risk of misdiagnosis of GCA and inappropriate treatments. This study was undertaken to describe the clinical, biologic, and histologic presentations and outcomes in cases of TA revealing AAV (TA-AAV) compared to controls with classic GCA. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study, the characteristics of patients with TA-AAV were compared to those of control subjects with classic GCA. Log-rank test, with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), was used to assess the risk of treatment failure. RESULTS: Fifty patients with TA-AAV (median age 70 years) were included. Thirty-three patients (66%) presented with atypical symptoms of GCA (ear, nose, and throat involvement in 32% of patients, and renal, pulmonary, and neurologic involvement in 26%, 20%, and 16% of patients, respectively). Blood samples were screened for ANCAs at the time of disease onset in 33 patients, and results were positive in 88%, leading to a diagnosis of early TA-AAV in 20 patients. The diagnosis of AAV was delayed a median interval of 15 months in 30 patients. Compared to controls with GCA, patients with TA-AAV were younger (median age 70 years versus 74 years), were more frequently men (48% versus 30%), and had high frequencies of atypical manifestations and higher C-reactive protein levels (median 10.8 mg/dl versus 7.0 mg/dl). In patients with TA-AAV, temporal artery biopsy (TAB) showed fibrinoid necrosis and small branch vasculitis in 23% of patients each, whereas neither of these characteristics was evident in controls with GCA. Treatment failure-free survival was comparable between early TA-AAV cases and GCA controls, whereas those with delayed TA-AAV had a significantly higher risk of treatment failure compared to controls (HR 3.85, 95% CI 1.97-7.51; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: TA-AAV should be considered diagnostically in cases of atypical manifestations of GCA, refractoriness to glucocorticoid treatment, or early relapse. Analysis of TAB specimens for the detection of small branch vasculitis and/or fibrinoid necrosis could be useful. Detection of ANCAs should be performed in cases of suspected GCA with atypical clinical features and/or evidence of temporal artery abnormalities on TAB.

Use of Biologics to Treat Relapsing and/or Refractory Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis: Data From a European Collaborative Study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the efficacy and safety of biologics for the treatment of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). METHODS: A retrospective European collaborative study was conducted in patients with EGPA who received treatment with biologics for refractory and/or relapsing disease. RESULTS: Among the 147 patients with EGPA included in the study, 63 received rituximab (RTX), 51 received mepolizumab (MEPO), and 33 received omalizumab (OMA). At the time of inclusion, the median Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) was 8.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 5-13) in the RTX group, while the median BVAS in the OMA group was 2 (IQR 1-4.5) and the median BVAS in the MEPO group was 2 (IQR 1-5). In patients receiving RTX, the median BVAS declined both at 6 months (median 1, IQR 0-4.5) and at 12 months (median 0, IQR 0-2), and the frequency of remission, partial response, treatment failure, and stopping treatment due to adverse events was 49%, 24%, 24%, and 3%, respectively. For the treatment of glucocorticoid (GC)-dependent asthma, patients who received MEPO had a much better GC-sparing effect and overall response than did patients who received OMA. The frequency of remission, partial response, treatment failure, and stopping treatment due to adverse events was 15%, 33%, 48%, and 4%, respectively, in the OMA group and 78%, 10%, 8%, and 4%, respectively, in the MEPO group. Remission rates at 12 months were 76% and 82% among patients receiving MEPO at a doses of 100 mg and 300 mg, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that RTX could be effective in treating relapses of EGPA vasculitis. MEPO is highly effective with a good safety profile in patients with GC-dependent asthma. Our data suggest that 100 mg MEPO monthly could be an acceptable dosage for first-line therapy in selected instances of EGPA, recognizing, however, that this has not been compared to the validated dosage of 300 mg monthly.