Clinical features and long-term outcomes of patients with systemic polyarteritis nodosa diagnosed since 2005: Data from 196 patients.

BACKGROUND: The landscape of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) has substantially changed during the last decades. Recent data regarding causes, characteristics, and prognosis of systemic PAN in the modern era are lacking. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with systemic PAN referred to the French Vasculitis Study Group between 2005 and 2019. Characteristics, associated conditions and outcomes were collected, and predictors of relapse and death were analyzed. RESULTS: 196 patients were included. Main clinical symptoms were constitutional (84%), neurological (59%), skin (58%) and musculoskeletal (58%) manifestations. Secondary PAN accounted for 55 (28%) patients, including myelodysplastic syndrome (9%), solid cancer (7%), lymphoma (4%) and autoinflammatory diseases (4%). No patient had active HBV infection. All treated patients (98.5%) received glucocorticoids (GCs), alone (41%) or in combination with immunosuppressants (59%), with remission achieved in 90%. Relapses were independently associated with age >65 years (HR 1.85; 95% CI1.12-3.08), gastrointestinal involvement (1.95; 95% CI1.09-3.52) and skin necrotic lesions (HR 1.95; 95%CI 1.24-3.05). One-, 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 93%, 87% and 81%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, age >65 years (HR 2.80; 95%CI 1.23-6.37), necrotic purpura (HR 4.16; 95%CI 1.62-10.70), acute kidney injury (HR 4.89; 95% 1.71-13.99) and secondary PAN (HR 2.98; 95%CI 1.29-6.85) were independently associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Landscape of PAN has changed during the last decades, with the disappearance of HBV-PAN and the emergence of secondary PAN. Relapse rate remains high, especially in aged patients with gastrointestinal and cutaneous necrosis, as well as mortality.

Anti-SAE autoantibody in dermatomyositis: original comparative study and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: Among specific autoantibodies in DM, the anti-small ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme (SAE) antibody is rare. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics, cancer prevalence, and muscle pathology of anti-SAE-positive DM. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of DM and sera positive for the anti-SAE antibody were recruited from 19 centres in this retrospective observational study. The available muscular biopsies were reviewed. We conducted a comparison with anti-SAE-negative DM and a review of the literature. RESULTS: Of the patients in the study (n = 49), 84% were women. Skin involvement was typical in 96% of patients, with 10% having calcinosis, 18% ulceration and 12% necrosis; 35% presented with a widespread skin rash. Muscular disease affected 84% of patients, with mild weakness [Medical Research Council (MRC) scale 4 (3, 5)], although 39% of patients had dysphagia. Muscular biopsies showed typical DM lesions. Interstitial lung disease was found in 21% of patients, mainly with organizing pneumonia pattern, and 26% of patients showed dyspnoea. Cancer-associated myositis was diagnosed in 16% of patients and was responsible for the majority of deaths, its prevalence being five times that of the general population. IVIG therapy was administered to 51% of the patients during the course of the disease. Comparison with anti-SAE-negative DM (n = 85) showed less and milder muscle weakness (P = 0.02 and P = 0.006, respectively), lower creatinine kinase levels (P < 0.0001) and less dyspnoea (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Anti-SAE positive DM is a rare subgroup associated with typical skin features but a potentially diffuse rash, a mild myopathy. Interstitial lung disease defines an organizing pneumonia pattern. Cancer associated DM prevalence is five times that of the general population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04637672.

Abnormal T-cell phenotype in episodic angioedema with hypereosinophilia (Gleich syndrome): Frequency, clinical implication, and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Episodic angioedema with eosinophilia (EAE) (Gleich syndrome) is a rare disorder consisting of recurrent episodes of angioedema, hypereosinophilia, and frequent elevated serum IgM level. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter nationwide study regarding the clinical spectrum and therapeutic management of patients with EAE in France. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients with a median age at diagnosis of 41 years (range, 5-84) were included. The median duration of each crisis was 5.5 days (range, 1-90), with swelling affecting mainly the face and the upper limbs. Total serum IgM levels were increased in 20 patients (67%). Abnormal T-cell immunophenotypes were detected in 12 patients (40%), of whom 5 (17%) showed evidence of clonal T-cell receptor gamma locus gene (TRG) rearrangement. The median duration of follow-up was 53 months (range, 31-99). The presence of an abnormal T-cell population was the sole factor associated with a shorter time to flare (hazard ratio, 4.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-14.66; P = .02). At last follow-up, 3 patients (10%) were able to have all treatments withdrawn and 11 (37%) were in clinical and biologic remission with less than 10 mg of prednisone daily. CONCLUSION: EAE is a heterogeneous condition that encompasses several disease forms. Although patients usually respond well to glucocorticoids, those with evidence of abnormal T-cell phenotype have a shorter time to flare.

Different phenotypes in dermatomyositis associated with anti-MDA5 antibody: Study of 121 cases.

OBJECTIVES: The predominance of extramuscular manifestations (e.g., skin rash, arthralgia, interstitial lung disease [ILD]) as well as the low frequency of muscle signs in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive (anti-MDA5+) dermatomyositis caused us to question the term myositis-specific antibody for the anti-MDA5 antibody, as well as the homogeneity of the disease. METHODS: To characterize the anti-MDA5+ phenotype, an unsupervised analysis was performed on anti-MDA5+ patients (n = 83/121) and compared to a group of patients with myositis without anti-MDA5 antibody (anti-MDA5-; n = 190/201) based on selected variables, collected retrospectively, without any missing data. RESULTS: Within anti-MDA5+ patients (n = 83), 3 subgroups were identified. One group (18.1%) corresponded to patients with a rapidly progressive ILD (93.3%; p < 0.0001 across all) and a very high mortality rate. The second subgroup (55.4%) corresponded to patients with pure dermato-rheumatologic symptoms (arthralgia; 82.6%; p < 0.01) and a good prognosis. The third corresponded to patients, mainly male (72.7%; p < 0.0001), with severe skin vasculopathy, frequent signs of myositis (proximal weakness: 68.2%; p < 0.0001), and an intermediate prognosis. Raynaud phenomenon, arthralgia/arthritis, and sex permit the cluster appurtenance (83.3% correct estimation). Nevertheless, an unsupervised analysis confirmed that anti-MDA5 antibody delineates an independent group of patients (e.g., dermatomyositis skin rash, skin ulcers, calcinosis, mechanic's hands, ILD, arthralgia/arthritis, and high mortality rate) distinct from anti-MDA5- patients with myositis. CONCLUSION: Anti-MDA5+ patients have a systemic syndrome distinct from other patients with myositis. Three subgroups with different prognosis exist.

Corticosteroid-sparing benefit of intravenous immunoglobulin in systemic sclerosis-associated myopathy: A comparative study in 52 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated myopathy (SScAM) treatment. Herein we evaluated the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in SScAM. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with SScAM in the Internal medicine department of Cochin University Hospital between 1993 and 2017. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were included comprising 18 (34.6%) with limited SSc and 34 (65.4%) with diffuse SSc. SScAM occurred at a median [interquartile range (IQR)] time of 1 month [0-15] after SSc diagnosis. Thirty-four patients (65.4%) had muscle weakness, 28 (53.8%) had myalgia and 24 (46.2%) had dysphagia. Fifty patients (96.2%) had increased creatine kinase, 22/26 (84.6%) had myopathic electromyography, 10/12 (83.3%) had a high intensity signal of girdle muscles on MRI and 49/50 (98%) had abnormal muscle biopsy. Eighteen (34.6%) patients received IVIg. Severe adverse events occurred in 3/18 (16.7%) patients. When compared to patients who did not receive IVIg, patients who received IVIg had a significantly higher maximal corticosteroid (CS) dose ever, a greater decrease of CS at 3 months, and a lower CS dose at one year and at the end of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the benefit of IVIg as adjunctive therapy, with an acceptable tolerance profile, and supports its use as a CS-sparing agent, in SScAM.

Large-vessel vasculitis diagnosed between 50 and 60 years: Case-control study based on 183 cases and 183 controls aged over 60 years.

BACKGROUND: Age at onset of large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) is commonly used to distinguish giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis (TA). However, LVV between age 50 and 60 years may be difficult to classify. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study including LVV aged between 50 and 60 years at onset (LVV50-60, cases) and compared them to LVV aged over 60 years (LVV>60, controls). LVV was defined histologically and/or morphologically. Controls fulfilled ACR 1990 criteria for GCA or presented isolated aortitis. RESULTS: We included 183 LVV50-60 and 183 gender-matched LVV>60. LVV50-60 had more frequent peripheral limb manifestations (23 vs. 5%), and less frequent cephalic (73 vs. 90%) and ocular signs (17 vs. 27%) than LVV>60. Compared to LVV>60, CT angiography and PET/CT scan were more frequently abnormal in LVV50-60 (74 vs. 38%, and 90 vs. 72%, respectively), with aorta being more frequently involved (78 vs. 47%). By multivariate analysis, absence of cephalic symptoms, presence of peripheral limb ischemia and aorta involvement, and increased CRP level were significantly associated with LVV50-60 presentation compared to LVV>60. At last follow-up, compared to LVV>60, LVV50-60 received significantly more lines of treatment (2 vs. 1), more frequent biologics (12 vs. 3%), had more surgery (10 vs. 0%), and had higher prednisone dose (8.8 vs. 6.5 mg/d) at last follow-up, CONCLUSION: LVV onset between 50 and 60 years identifies a subset of patients with more frequent aorta and peripheral vascular involvement and more refractory disease compared to patients with LVV onset after 60.

Clinical and pathological significance of cutaneous manifestations in ANCA-associated vasculitides.

OBJECTIVES: Cutaneous manifestations (CM) in ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) are frequent, but data on clinical significance and clinical-pathological correlations are lacking. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective study including 1553 AAV patients. Clinical, biological and pathological features have been analyzed, and tissue samples from 46 biopsies were reviewed in a blind manner. RESULTS: CM were more frequent in EGPA (53.0%) and MPA (51.9%) than in GPA (36.7%). Lesions more frequently associated with GPA were oral ulcers (4.6% vs. 2.5% in EGPA and 0.3% in MPA), while pyoderma gangrenosum and palpebral xanthoma were specific to GPA. Lesions associated with MPA were segmentary edema (19.5% vs. 12.7% in EGPA and 4.3% in GPA) and livedo (12.4% vs. 0.5% and 2.6%, respectively), whereas those associated with EGPA were urticarial lesions (11.5% vs. 1.9% in GPA and 3.5% in MPA) and nodules (12,2% vs. 8.9% in GPA and 4.7% in MPA). In GPA, CM patients had more frequent vasculitis than granulomatous phenotype, and poorer relapse-free and overall survival. Pathological analysis showed vasculitis and/or granulomatous infiltrates in 87.5% of GPA, in 61.1% of EGPA and in all MPA. Vasculitis was more frequently observed in purpura and nodules, while granulomas were differently located and organized within vessels or interstitium according to the type of lesions. CONCLUSION: Each AAV seemed to be associated with a peculiar pattern of cutaneous lesions. CM are associated with poorer prognosis in GPA. Clinical-pathological correlations showed no specific feature of each AAV, whereas granulomatous infiltrates differ according to the type of lesions.

Scleroderma Peripheral B Lymphocytes Secrete Interleukin-6 and Transforming Growth Factor ß and Activate Fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of B lymphocytes in systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Peripheral B cell subpopulations and the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor ß (TGFß) were analyzed using flow cytometry and multiplex assay. The fibroblast proliferation rate upon incubation with supernatants from B cells isolated from SSc patients or healthy controls was assessed using XTT, bromodeoxyuridine, and Ki-67. Collagen production was assessed using a collagen assay. RESULTS: Ninety untreated patients (12 males) fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria for SSc (23 with diffuse cutaneous SSc [dcSSc] and 67 with limited cutaneous SSc [lcSSc]) and 30 healthy controls were recruited. Increased proportions of B cells expressing CD69 and CD95 were identified among the patients with SSc. B lymphocytes from dcSSc patients versus lcSSc patients and healthy controls expressed increased proportion of cells positive for CD5 (mean ± SD 24.12 ± 7.93% versus 14.09 ± 6.58% [P = 0.03] and 14.21 ± 5.34% [P = 0.01]), CD86 (39.89 ± 22.11% versus 17.72 ± 13.98% [P = 0.0007] and 11.68 ± 11.09% [P < 0.001]), IL-6 receptor (IL-6R; 33.64 ± 23.12% versus 17.91 ± 13.62% [P < 0.0001] and 12.08 ± 8.68% [P = 0.0009]), or IL-21R (32.55 ± 20.19% versus 5.76 ± 4.40% [P < 0.0001] and 5.93 ± 3.29% [P < 0.0001]). In addition, the levels of IL-6 (mean ± SD 314.3 ± 317.8 pg/ml versus 6.10 ± 2.58 pg/ml; P = 0.0007) and TGFß (mean ± SD 1,020 ± 569 pg/ml versus 163.8 ± 98.69 pg/ml; P = 0.001) secreted by B lymphocytes from patients with SSc were increased compared to healthy controls. Fibroblast proliferation and collagen production were also significantly increased in the presence of B cell supernatant from SSc patients as compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The numbers of activated B cells were increased in SSc patients, and the up-regulation of CD5, CD86, IL-6R, and IL-21R discriminated between patients with dcSSc and those with lcSSc. Peripheral B lymphocytes from SSc patients secreted both IL-6 and TGFß, and they activated fibroblasts in vitro.

Employment, work disability and quality of life in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides. The EXPOVAS study.

OBJECTIVES: Improved therapeutic strategies for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) have transformed acute and life-threatening diseases into chronic ones responsible for marked morbidity that could impact employment, work disability and quality of life (QoL). We aimed to analyse work, handicaps and QoL of AAV patients and identify their determinants. METHODS: Patients with AAV were included in a cross-sectional study assessing employment, work disability and QoL. Specific and non-specific questionnaires, including SF-36, were sent to patients, and clinical-biological data that could affect QoL and their determinants were analysed. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed by 189 patients. Among 94 working-age (<60 years) patients, 57% had jobs, consistent with their qualifications for 81%, 77% were stably employed; 23% of workers felt that their disease qualitatively limited the nature of their work, while 43% felt it limited the quantity of work they could do; 50% thought their disease had hindered their careers and 43% that it had led to a salary reduction. These results were comparable for the different vasculitides. QoL was significantly impaired for AAV patients compared to the general population (p<0.0001). Physical health determinants for our population were diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), long disease duration and its neurological involvement, whereas mental health determinants tended to be ear, nose and throat and cardiovascular involvement, and unemployment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that AAV patients' QoL was impaired compared to the general population, mainly for patients with EGPA and long-standing disease. In contrast, normal employment seemed to be preserved for the majority of the patients.

Myofiber HLA-DR expression is a distinctive biomarker for antisynthetase-associated myopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen (HLA-DR) expression to distinguish anti-synthetase myopathy (ASM) from dermatomyositis (DM). METHODS: Muscle biopsies from patients with ASM (n = 33), DM without anti-synthetase antibodies (ASAb) (n = 17), and normal muscle biopsy (n = 10) were first reviewed. ASAb included anti-Jo1 (26/33), anti-PL12 (4/33), anti-PL7 (2/33), and anti-EJ (1/33). Immunohistochemistry was performed for MHC-I/HLA-ABC, MHC-II/HLA-DR, membrane attack complex (C5b-9), neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)/CD56 expression, and inflammatory cell subsets. Twenty-four ASM and 12 DM patients from another center were added for HLA-DR evaluation. RESULTS: Ubiquitous myofiber HLA-ABC expression was equally observed in ASM and DM (93.9% vs 100%, NS). In contrast, myofiber HLA-DR expression was found in 27/33 (81.8%) ASM (anti-Jo1: 23/26, 88.5%; others: 5/7, 71.4%) vs 4/17 (23.5%) DM patients (p < 0.001). HLA-DR was perifascicular in ASM, a pattern not observed in DM. In addition, C5b-9 deposition was observed on sarcolemma of non-necrotic perifascicular fibers in ASM, while, in DM, C5b-9was mainly detected in endomysial capillaries. CD8 cells were more abundant in ASM than in DM (p < 0.05), and electively located in perimysium or in perifascular endomysium. HLA-DR expression correlated positively with the CD8+ cells infiltrates. Strictly similar observations were made in the confirmatory study. CONCLUSION: ASM is characterized by strong myofiber MHC-II/HLA-DR expression with a unique perifascicular pattern, not described so far. HLA-DR detection must be included for routine myopathological diagnosis of inflammatory/dysimmune myopathies. HLA-DR expression in ASM may indicate a specific immune mechanism, possibly involving IFNγ.

Lung and heart-lung transplantation for systemic sclerosis patients. A monocentric experience of 13 patients, review of the literature and position paper of a multidisciplinary Working Group.

Systemic sclerosis per se should not be considered as an a priori contraindication for a pre-transplantation assessment in patients with advanced interstitial lung disease and/or pulmonary hypertension. For lung or heart-lung transplantation, a multidisciplinary approach, adapting the pre-transplant assessment to systemic sclerosis and optimizing systemic sclerosis patient management before, during and after surgery should improved the short- and long-term prognosis. Indications and contraindications for transplantation have to be adapted to the specificities of systemic sclerosis. A special focus on the digestive tract involvement and its thorough evaluation are mandatory before transplantation in systemic sclerosis. As the esophagus is almost always involved, isolated gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, pH metry and/or manometry abnormalities should not be a systematic per se contraindication for pre-transplantation assessment. Corticosteroids may be harmful in systemic sclerosis as they are associated with acute renal crisis. A low dose corticosteroids protocol for immunosuppression is therefore advisable in systemic sclerosis.

Scleroderma renal crisis.

Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) is characterized by malignant hypertension and oligo-anuric acute renal failure. It occurs in 5% of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), particularly in patients with diffuse disease during the first years. SRC is more common in patients receiving corticosteroids, the risk increasing with increasing dose. The disease is sometimes triggered by use of nephrotoxic drugs and/or intravascular volume depletion. Left ventricular insufficiency and hypertensive encephalopathy are typical clinical features. Thrombotic microangiopathy is detected in 43% of cases, and anti-RNA-polymerase III antibodies are present in one-third of patients. Renal biopsy is not necessary if SRC presents classical features. However, biopsy may help to define the prognosis and guide treatment in atypical forms. The prognosis of SRC has greatly improved with the introduction of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. However, the 5-year survival for SSc patients with full SRC remains low (65%). The treatment of SRC relies on aggressive blood pressure control with an ACE inhibitor, combined with other antihypertensive drugs if needed. Dialysis is frequently indicated but can be stopped in about half of patients, mainly those with good blood pressure control. Patients who need dialysis for more than 2 years qualify for renal transplantation.

Prevalence, correlates and outcomes of gastric antral vascular ectasia in systemic sclerosis: a EUSTAR case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence, determine the subgroups at risk, and the outcomes of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE). METHODS: We queried the European League Against Rheumatism Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) network for the recruitment of patients with SSc-GAVE. Each case was matched for cutaneous subset and disease duration with 2 controls with SSc recruited from the same center, evaluated at the time the index case made the diagnosis of GAVE. SSc characteristics were recorded at the time GAVE occurred and the last observation was collected to define the outcomes. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients with SSc and GAVE were included (24 with diffuse cutaneous SSc) and compared to 93 controls with SSc. The prevalence of GAVE was estimated at about 1% of patients with SSc. By multivariate analysis, patients with SSc-GAVE more frequently exhibited a diminished (< 75%) DLCO value (OR 12.8; 95% CI 1.9-82.8) despite less frequent pulmonary fibrosis (OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.1-0.6). GAVE was also associated with the presence of anti-RNA-polymerase III antibodies (OR 4.6; 95% CI 1.2-21.1). SSc-GAVE was associated with anemia (82%) requiring blood transfusion (45%). Therapeutic endoscopic procedures were performed in 45% of patients with GAVE. After a median followup of 30 months (range 1-113 months), survival was similar in patients with SSc-GAVE compared to controls, but a higher number of scleroderma renal crisis cases occurred (12% vs 2%; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: GAVE is rare and associated with a vascular phenotype, including anti-RNA-polymerase III antibodies, and a high risk of renal crisis. Anemia, usually requiring blood transfusions, is a common complication.

Granulomatous disease in CVID: retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics and treatment efficacy in a cohort of 59 patients.

BACKGROUND: Granulomatous disease (GD) will develop in a subset of patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). Little is known about the efficacy of therapeutic agents used for treating this disorder. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of immunosuppressive drugs with the help of a set of clinical, biological and radiological criteria. METHOD: Clinical and laboratory features of CVID patients were collected from the French DEFI cohort, a prospective study on adults with hypogammaglobulinemia. The medical charts of 55 patients (93 %) of the GD cohort were reviewed. RESULTS: Among 436 subjects with CVID, 59 patients (13.5 %) were diagnosed with GD. Of the 55 patients in whom medical charts were available, 32 patients received treatment for the granulomatous disease. Corticosteroids were the most frequently used drug. Complete response to treatment was infrequent. It was achieved with corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, hydroxychloroquine, rituximab and methotrexate. Azathioprine, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, sirolimus, infliximab and thalidomide led to partial or absence of response. Complete and partial responses were observed in lymph nodes, lungs, liver, skin, bone marrow and central nervous system. Absent of response for gastrointestinal tract granulomas was noted in all cases of treatment attempt. CONCLUSION: CVID patients with GD exhibit a particular biological phenotype. Treatment should be considered in any symptomatic patient or if there is evidence of organ dysfunction. Corticosteroids are the drug of choice in most instances but response to treatment is often unsatisfactory.

Parental consanguinity is associated with a severe phenotype in common variable immunodeficiency.

The DEFI study has collected clinical data and biological specimens from kindreds with CVID. Patients with demonstrated parental consanguinity (cCVID group) were compared to patients without parental consanguinity (ncCVID). A total of 24 of the 436 patients with CVID had consanguineous parents. Age at first symptoms and age at diagnosis were comparable in the two groups. Some complications were more frequent in cCVID patients: splenomegaly (62.5% vs. 29%; p = 0.001), granulomatous disease (29% vs. 12%; p = 0.02), and bronchiectasis (58% vs. 29%; p = 0.003). A high incidence of opportunistic infections was also observed in this population (29% vs. 5%; p < 0.001). Distribution of B-cell subsets were similar in the two groups. Naïve CD4+ T cells were decreased in cCVID patients (15% vs. 28%; p < 0.001), while activated CD4 + CD95+ (88% vs. 74%; p = 0.002) and CD8 + HLA-DR + T cells (47% vs. 31%; p < 0.001) were increased in these patients when compared to ncCVID patients. Parental consanguinity is associated with an increased risk of developing severe clinical complications in patients with CVID. Most of these patients presented with severe T-cell abnormalities and should be considered with a diagnosis of late-onset combined immune deficiency (LOCID). Systematic investigation for parental consanguinity in patients with CVID provides useful information for specific clinical care and genetic screening.

Clinical characteristics and survival in systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) complicating systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) is usually associated with a poor prognosis. However, data are either lacking or scarce on prognostic factors in this condition. The objectives of this study were to compare the survival of patients with ILD-associated PH (PH-ILD) or pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and to determine whether the severity of PH has prognostic value in SSc-associated PH-ILD. METHODS: Consecutive patients with SSc and PH-ILD (n = 47) or PAH (n = 50) confirmed by right-sided heart catheterization were included in a cross-sectional analysis. PH was classified as mild (mean pulmonary arterial pressure [mPAP] ≤ 35 mm Hg) or moderate to severe (mPAP > 35 mm Hg). RESULTS: As compared with patients with PAH, subjects with PH-ILD were younger, were more frequently men with a history of smoking, had more frequently diffuse SSc, less frequently anticentromere antibodies, and a lower FVC/diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) ratio. They had a worse prognosis than patients with PAH (3-year survival of 47% vs 71%, respectively; P = .07). Patients with mild PH-ILD had similar poor outcomes when compared with those with moderate to severe PH-ILD. Pericardial effusion (hazard ratio [HR], 2.44; P = .04) and lower DLCO (HR, 0.96; P = .01) were the only independent factors predictive of a poor survival in the PH-ILD group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SSc with PH-ILD had a different phenotype and a worse prognosis than those with SSc and PAH. Lower DLCO and presence of pericardial effusion were predictive of a poor outcome in PH-ILD, whereas mPAP seemed to have no prognostic significance.

Encrusting cystitis due to Corynebacterium urealyticum in a patient with ANCA-associated vasculitis: case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: To report a patient with systemic ANCA-associated vasculitis, under maintenance treatment, who had persistent microscopic hematuria and developed recurrent pelvic pain due to Corynebacterium urealyticum encrusting cystitis. The relevant literature on this infection is reviewed. METHODS: Descriptive case report and a review of the literature (PubMed search). RESULTS: A 39-year-old woman on maintenance therapy for systemic ANCA-associated vasculitis, diagnosed 10 months earlier and with persistent microscopic hematuria, developed recurrent pelvic pain. She had received several immunosuppressants (including cyclophosphamide and rituximab) since the onset of her vasculitis, as well as cycles of broad-spectrum antibiotics during the acute initial phase of her disease. Computerized tomography of the pelvis and cystoscopy showed several encrusted calcifications in the bladder mucosa, and, finally, urine culture (selective media) led to the diagnosis of C. urealyticum infection. Most of the bladder-encrusted stones were removed during cystoscopy and daily intramuscular teicoplanin injections were given for 14 days. Her symptoms disappeared rapidly and completely. On reviewing the literature, immunosuppression, previous broad-spectrum antibiotics, urogenital alkaline pH, and prolonged bladder catheterization are predisposing factors for this rare infection. C. urealyticum encrusting cystitis has been reported in patients with systemic diseases but not yet in ANCA-associated vasculitis. Outcome is almost always good under adequate antibiotic therapy, mainly glycopeptides. CONCLUSION: Physicians should be aware of this unusual but potentially emerging infectious complication that can be challenging in ANCA-associated vasculitis, because the urinary tract can be affected by the vasculitis or as a complication of previous cyclophosphamide therapy.

Scleroderma renal crisis: a rare but severe complication of systemic sclerosis.

Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) is a major complication in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). It is characterized by malignant hypertension and oligo/anuric acute renal failure. SRC occurs in 5% of patients with SSc, particularly in the first years of disease evolution and in the diffuse form. The occurrence of SRC is more common in patients treated with glucocorticoids, the risk increasing with increasing dose. Left ventricular insufficiency and hypertensive encephalopathy are typical clinical features. Thrombotic microangiopathy is detected in 43% of the cases. Anti-RNA-polymerase III antibodies are present in one third of patients who develop SRC. Renal biopsy is not necessary if SRC presents with classical features. However, it can help to define prognosis and guide treatment in atypical forms. The prognosis of SRC has dramatically improved with the introduction of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi). However, 5 years survival in SSc patients who develop the full picture of SRC remains low (65%). SRC is often triggered by nephrotoxic drugs and/or intravascular volume depletion. The treatment of SRC relies on aggressive control of blood pressure with ACEi, if needed in combination with other types of antihypertensive drugs. Dialysis is frequently indicated, but can be stopped in approximately half of patients, mainly in those for whom a perfect control of blood pressure is obtained. Patients who need dialysis for more than 2 years qualify for renal transplantation.