Importance of differential diagnosis of EBV mucocutaneous ulcer and EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A case report.

RATIONALE: Epstein-Barr virus mucocutaneous ulcers (EBVMCUs) were officially recognized as a clinicopathologic entity in the 2017 revision of the World Health Organization classification, which often occurs in the elderly or in immunosuppressive condition presented as an isolated ulcerative lesion. EBVMCUs are defined as "shallow, sharply circumscribed, mucosal or cutaneous ulcers with underlying polymorphous infiltration." It mostly involves oral mucosa, but some appear in skin or gastrointestinal tract. Typically, patients with EBVMCUs display a slow disease progression and may even undergo spontaneous regression. PATIENT CONCERNS: This report describes the case of a 76-year-old woman who visited our outpatient clinic with the chief complaint of inflammation and ulceration on lower labial, lower right lingual gingiva seemed like acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, and malignancy. DIAGNOSES: She was diagnosed with EBVMCU after tissue biopsy. INTERVENTIONS: Since most oral ulcerations usually appear in nonspecific form, it is important to check thoroughly for any underlying immunosuppressive systemic conditions and laboratory test results in case of viral infection. But she has no remarkable underlying immunosuppressive disorder. OUTCOMES: For this patient, she was initially diagnosed with EBVMCU and showed spontaneous healing, but then relapsed after 4 to 6 months. The patient was re-diagnosed as EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (EBV-positive DLBCLs) after re-biopsy. LESSONS: EBVMCU shows similar symptoms to malignant lesions or acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis but shows spontaneous healing. However, in case of EBV-positive DLBCLs, failing to detect and treat the disease in its early stages can lead to a fatal outcome. Thus, this case report highlights the differential diagnosis and appropriate treatment of EBVMCU and EBV-positive DLBCLs.

The association between autoantibody types and salivary gland hypofunction in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed the association between autoantibody types and salivary gland hypofunction in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who visited the Department of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine at Yonsei University Dental Hospital from January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2021, and who were diagnosed with pSS. Out of 191 patients who fulfilled the 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria, 50 were positive for both anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB, whereas 97 had anti-Ro/SSA but not anti-La/SSB antibodies. Forty-four patients for whom neither anti-Ro/SSA nor anti-La/SSB antibodies were found were diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome by minor salivary gland biopsy. RESULTS: The anti-Ro/SSA antibody-positive group showed higher rheumatoid factor (RF) levels than the anti-Ro/SSA antibody-negative group. The anti-La/SSB antibody-positive group showed lower unstimulated whole saliva (UWS), stimulated whole saliva (SWS), higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate and RF level than the anti-La/SSB antibody-negative group. In addition, the group with both anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies showed lower UWS than the group with only anti-Ro/SSA antibodies. However, there were no significant differences in UWS or SWS after taking pilocarpine, and C-reactive protein. CONCLUSIONS: UWS and SWS were lower when a patient was positive for anti-La/SSB, showing that anti-La/SSB is more likely to be involved in salivary gland hypofunction than anti-Ro/SSA in patients with pSS. Therefore, performing laboratory tests, including anti-La/SSB, helps predict the prognosis of salivary gland function in patients with suspected pSS.

Is thyroid autoimmunity a predisposing factor for fibromyalgia? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Studies report that autoimmune thyroid disease and elevated levels of thyroid autoantibodies are associated with fibromyalgia and widespread chronic pain. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the relationship between fibromyalgia and thyroid autoimmunity. Clinical symptoms and depression associated with fibromyalgia were also investigated in relation to the presence of thyroid autoantibodies. METHODS: A literature search was conducted on PubMed and Embase for studies published between January, 1980 and February, 2020 on thyroid autoimmunity in fibromyalgia patients. Two reviewers independently screened and assessed the quality of the articles. Meta-analysis was performed to analyse the difference in frequency of thyroid autoantibody positivity between fibromyalgia patients and healthy controls. Clinical symptoms and depression were also analysed according to the presence of thyroid autoantibodies. RESULTS: Data from 10 original studies were included in the systematic review, and 5 case-control studies that satisfied the selection criteria were subjected to meta-analysis. Thyroid autoantibody positivity was more common in fibromyalgia patients compared to healthy controls (thyroid peroxidase antibody: OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.97-5.90; thyroglobulin antibody: OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.23-4.01). The frequency of postmenopausal status was significantly higher in fibromyalgia patients with thyroid autoantibodies (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.23-3.08). However, the severity of disease (pain and fatigue level, fibromyalgia impact questionnaire score, and disease duration) and prevalence of depression did not show a statistically significant difference according to thyroid autoantibody positivity. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid autoimmunity should be considered in fibromyalgia patients. The percentage of women in menopause was higher in thyroid autoantibody positive fibromyalgia patients.