[Reversibility of vertebrobasilar stenoses following treatment with corticosteroid therapy in patients with giant cell arteritis]. / Régression de sténoses intracrâniennes vertébrobasilaires symptomatiques sous corticothérapie au cours d'une maladie de Horton.

INTRODUCTION: Involvement of intracranial arteries in giant cell arteritis is a rare condition but often carries a fatal prognosis. Corticosteroids seem to be insufficient to avoid ischemic cerebral complications, and could even promote the occurrence of stroke. We report the case of a patient with giant cell arteritis who experienced recurrent cerebellar stroke caused by intracranial vertebrobasilar stenoses with a favorable outcome following treatment. CASE REPORT: A 77-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of impaired general condition. She had new-onset headaches, jaw claudication and transient vertigo, especially when she woke-up. The brain MRI showed a recent cerebellar infarction. One week later, she was hospitalized for a clinical deterioration related to a recurrent cerebellar stroke caused by intracranial vertebro-basilar stenoses. Giant cell arteritis was confirmed on the temporal artery biopsy. A treatment with high-dose oral corticosteroids was begun associated with an intensive antiplatelet therapy. The clinical outcome was favorable with rapid improvement of gait imbalance together with a complete radiological regression of the intracranial stenoses. CONCLUSION: Ischemic stroke in giant cell intracranial arteritis is a severe condition without a well-defined treatment. Corticosteroid therapy improves intracranial stenoses caused by vasculitis but should be initially associated with an intensive antithrombotic therapy to avoid early recurrence of cerebral infarcts.

[Prevention of infections in adults and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus: Guidelines for the clinical practice based on the literature and expert opinion]. / Prévention des infections au cours du lupus systémique chez l'adulte et l'adolescent : élaboration de recommandations pour la pratique clinique, à partir d'une analyse de la littérature et de l'avis d'experts.

PURPOSE: To develop French recommendations about the management of vaccinations, the screening of cervical cancer and the prevention of pneumocystis pneumonia in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Thirty-seven experts qualified in internal medicine, rheumatology, dermatology, nephrology and pediatrics have selected recommendations from a list of proposition based on available data from the literature. For each recommendation, the level of evidence and the level of agreement among the experts were specified. RESULTS: Inactivated vaccines do not cause significant harm in SLE patients. Experts recommend that lupus patient should receive vaccinations accordingly to the recommendations and the schedules for the general public. Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for all SLE patients. Influenza vaccination is recommended for immunosuppressed SLE patients. Live attenuated vaccines should be avoided in immunosuppressed patients. Yet, recent works suggest that they can be considered in mildly immunosuppressed patients. Experts have recommended a cervical cytology every year for immunosuppressed patients. No consensus was obtained for the prevention of pneumocystis pneumonia. CONCLUSION: These recommendations can be expected to improve clinical practice uniformity and, in the longer term, to optimize the management of SLE patients.

[Screening and management of cardiovascular risk factors in systemic lupus erythematosus: Recommendations for clinical practice based on the literature and expert opinion]. / Dépistage et prise en charge du risque cardiovasculaire au cours du lupus systémique : élaboration de recommandations pour la pratique clinique, à partir d'une analyse de la littérature et de l'avis d'experts.

PURPOSE: To develop French recommendations about screening and management of cardiovascular risk factors in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Thirty-nine experts qualified in internal medicine, rheumatology and nephrology have selected recommendations from a list developed based on evidence from the literature. For each recommendation, the level of evidence and the level of agreement among the experts were specified. RESULTS: Experts recommended an annual screening of cardiovascular risk factors in SLE. Statins should be prescribed for primary prevention in SLE patients based on the level of LDL-cholesterol and the number of cardiovascular risk factors, considering SLE as an additional risk factor. For secondary prevention, experts have agreed on an LDL-cholesterol target of <0.7 g/L. Hypertension should be managed according to the 2013 European guidelines, using renin-angiotensin system blockers as first line agents in case of renal involvement. Aspirin can be prescribed in patients with high cardiovascular risk or with antiphospholipid antibodies. CONCLUSION: These recommendations about the screening and management of cardiovascular risk factors in SLE can be expected to improve clinical practice uniformity and, in the longer term, to optimize the management of SLE patients.