Outpatient management of cancer-associated pulmonary embolism: A post-hoc analysis from the HOME-PE trial.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer-related pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with poor prognosis. Some decision rules identifying patients eligible for home treatment categorize cancer patients at high risk of complications, precluding home treatment. We sought to assess the effectiveness and the safety of outpatient management of patients with low-risk cancer-associated PE. METHODS: In the HOME-PE trial, hemodynamically stable patients with symptomatic PE were randomized to either triaging with Hestia criteria or sPESI score. We analyzed 3 groups of low-risk PE patients: 47 with active cancer treated at home (group 1), 691 without active cancer treated at home (group 2), and 33 with active cancer as the only sPESI criterion qualifying them for hospitalization (group 3). The main outcome was the composite of recurrent venous thromboembolism, major bleeding, and all-cause death within 30 days after randomization. RESULTS: Patients treated at home had composite outcome rates of 4.3 % (2/47) for those with cancer vs. 1.0 % (7/691) for those without (odds ratio (OR) 4.98, 95%CI 1.15-21.49). Patients with cancer had rates of complications of 4.3 % when treated at home vs. 3.0 % (1/33) when hospitalized (OR 1.19, 95%CI 0.15-9.47). In multivariable analysis, active cancer was associated with an increased risk of complications for patients treated at home (OR 7.95; 95%CI 1.48-42.82). For patients with active cancer, home treatment was not associated with the primary outcome (OR 1.19, 95%CI 0.15-9.74). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients treated at home, active cancer was a risk factor for complications, but among patients with active cancer, home treatment was not associated with adverse outcomes.

EBV-Positive Inflammatory Follicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma of the Spleen: Report of an Aggressive Form With Molecular Characterization.

EBV-positive inflammatory follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (EBV+ inflammatory FDCS) is a rare neoplasm almost exclusively located in the spleen or liver. It is characterized by a proliferation of EBV-positive spindle-shaped cells bearing follicular dendritic cell markers, associated with an abundant lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. EBV+ inflammatory FDCS is often asymptomatic or responsible for mild symptoms. It usually displays an indolent course and its prognosis is excellent after tumor removal, although relapsing and metastatic forms exist. Herein, we describe an aggressive form of splenic EBV+ inflammatory FDCS in a 79-year-old woman presenting with abdominal pain, deterioration of general health status, major inflammatory syndrome, and symptomatic hypercalcemia. A splenectomy was performed leading to a rapid improvement in her clinical condition and normalization of laboratory abnormalities. Unfortunately, her symptoms and laboratory abnormalities reappeared 4 months later. Computed tomography showed a mass in the splenectomy site and multiple liver and peritoneal nodules. Further analyses were performed on tumor tissue and showed positive phospho-ERK staining of tumoral cells indicating activation of MAPK pathway. Inactivating mutations were found on CDKN2A and NF1 genes. Subsequently, the patient's condition deteriorated rapidly. Since interleukin-6 levels were dramatically increased, tocilizumab was used but only had a transient effect on the patient's symptoms and inflammatory syndrome. Antitumor agent gemcitabine was initiated but her clinical condition continued to deteriorate and the patient died 2 weeks later. The management of aggressive forms of EBV+ inflammatory FDCS remains challenging. However, since these tumors seem to display genetic alterations, better characterization could lead to molecular targeted therapies.

Placental growth factor level in plasma predicts COVID-19 severity and in-hospital mortality.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease associated with vascular inflammation and endothelial injury. OBJECTIVES: To correlate circulating angiogenic markers vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), placental growth factor (PlGF), and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) to in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 adult patients. METHODS: Consecutive ambulatory and hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection were enrolled. VEGF-A, PlGF, and FGF-2 were measured in each patient ≤48 h following admission. RESULTS: The study enrolled 237 patients with suspected COVID-19: 208 patients had a positive diagnostic for COVID-19, of whom 23 were mild outpatients and 185 patients hospitalized after admission. Levels of VEGF-A, PlGF, and FGF-2 significantly increase with the severity of the disease (P < .001). Using a logistic regression model, we found a significant association between the increase of FGF-2 or PlGF and mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI; 1.07-1.16], P < .001 for FGF-2 and OR 1.07 95% CI [1.04-1.10], P < .001 for PlGF) while no association were found for VEGF-A levels. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed and we identified PlGF above 30 pg/ml as the best predictor of in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Survival analysis for PlGF confirmed its interest for in-hospital mortality prediction, by using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve (P = .001) and a Cox proportional hazard model adjusted to age, body mass index, D-dimer, and C-reactive protein (3.23 95% CI [1.29-8.11], P = .001). CONCLUSION: Angiogenic factor PlGF is a relevant predictive factor for in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. More than a biomarker, we hypothesize that PlGF blocking strategies could be a new interesting therapeutic approach in COVID-19.

Circulating Von Willebrand factor and high molecular weight multimers as markers of endothelial injury predict COVID-19 in-hospital mortality.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease associated with endotheliitis and microthrombosis. OBJECTIVES: To correlate endothelial dysfunction to in-hospital mortality in a bi-centric cohort of COVID-19 adult patients. METHODS: Consecutive ambulatory and hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled. A panel of endothelial biomarkers and von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers were measured in each patient ≤ 48 h following admission. RESULTS: Study enrolled 208 COVID-19 patients of whom 23 were mild outpatients and 189 patients hospitalized after admission. Most of endothelial biomarkers tested were found increased in the 89 critical patients transferred to intensive care unit. However, only von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag) scaled according to clinical severity, with levels significantly higher in critical patients (median 507%, IQR 428-596) compared to non-critical patients (288%, 230-350, p < 0.0001) or COVID-19 outpatients (144%, 133-198, p = 0.007). Moreover, VWF high molecular weight multimers (HMWM) were significantly higher in critical patients (median ratio 1.18, IQR 0.86-1.09) compared to non-critical patients (0.96, 1.04-1.39, p < 0.001). Among all endothelial biomarkers measured, ROC curve analysis identified a VWF:Ag cut-off of 423% as the best predictor for in-hospital mortality. The accuracy of VWF:Ag was further confirmed in a Kaplan-Meier estimator analysis and a Cox proportional Hazard model adjusted on age, BMI, C-reactive protein and D-dimer levels. CONCLUSION: VWF:Ag is a relevant predictive factor for in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. More than a biomarker, we hypothesize that VWF, including excess of HMWM forms, drives microthrombosis in COVID-19.

Usefulness of Plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA Quantification by Droplet-based Digital PCR to Monitor Treatment Against COVID-19 in a B-cell Lymphoma Patient.

We report the case of an HIV-1-infected patient, treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody for a B-cell lymphoma previously treated by autologous stem cell transplant. He suffered from chronic COVID19 and we monitored by plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA by highly sensitive droplet-based digital PCR technology (ddPCR). Under tocilizumab therapy and despite a first clinical improvement biologically associated with decreasing inflammatory markers, a slight increase of SARS-CoV-2 RNAaemia quantified by ddPCR was highlighted, confirming the absence of viral efficacy of this treatment and predicting the subsequent observed deterioration. As expected, his complete recovery, finally achieved after COVID-19 convalescent plasmatherapy, strictly paralleled plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance. With these results, we confirmed the interest of SARS-CoV-2 RNAaemia monitoring by ddPCR in COVID-19 patients, particularly during treatment, and firstly showed that this new and specific biomarker could be helpful to select eligible patient for anti-IL6 receptors therapy considering the variable levels of efficacy recently observed with such therapy.

Convalescent plasma therapy for B-cell-depleted patients with protracted COVID-19.

Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies are widely used for the treatment of hematological malignancies or autoimmune disease but may be responsible for a secondary humoral deficiency. In the context of COVID-19 infection, this may prevent the elicitation of a specific SARS-CoV-2 antibody response. We report a series of 17 consecutive patients with profound B-cell lymphopenia and prolonged COVID-19 symptoms, negative immunoglobulin G (IgG)-IgM SARS-CoV-2 serology, and positive RNAemia measured by digital polymerase chain reaction who were treated with 4 units of COVID-19 convalescent plasma. Within 48 hours of transfusion, all but 1 patient experienced an improvement of clinical symptoms. The inflammatory syndrome abated within a week. Only 1 patient who needed mechanical ventilation for severe COVID-19 disease died of bacterial pneumonia. SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia decreased to below the sensitivity threshold in all 9 evaluated patients. In 3 patients, virus-specific T-cell responses were analyzed using T-cell enzyme-linked immunospot assay before convalescent plasma transfusion. All showed a maintained SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response and poor cross-response to other coronaviruses. No adverse event was reported. Convalescent plasma with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies appears to be a very promising approach in the context of protracted COVID-19 symptoms in patients unable to mount a specific humoral response to SARS-CoV-2.

A colonic mass revealing a disseminated crystal storing histiocytosis secondary to indolent multiple myeloma: a case report with literature review.

BACKGROUND: Crystal storing histiocytosis is a rare disorder associated with monoclonal gammopathy. In this disease, monoclonal heavy and light chains accumulate in the lysosome of macrophages, leading to histiocytic reaction in different organs. It is secondary to the presence of a small B-cell clone, responsible for monoclonal immunoglobulin production. Histological diagnosis is a challenge and differential diagnoses include fibroblastic and histiocytic neoplasm. Clinical manifestations depend on the involved organs, rarely including peritoneum or digestive tract. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 75-year-old with a medical history of colonic carcinoma. She presented with abdominal pain and inflammatory syndrome revealing a colonic mass. Hemicolectomy was performed. Initial diagnosis was fibroblastic tumour. The patient worsened, and diagnosis of a diffuse crystal storing histiocytosis was finally done. Haematological exploration found an indolent IgG-kappa multiple myeloma. The initial treatment with conventional chemotherapy did not permit an improvement of the patient condition. Immunotherapy with anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody (daratumumab) was proposed with a clinical and biological response. CONCLUSION: This case report emphasizes the histopathological challenge of histiocytic tumours which may involve digestive track. It focuses on the concept of monoclonal gammopathy of clinical significance, which can have a large spectrum of manifestations.

Impaired type I interferon activity and inflammatory responses in severe COVID-19 patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by distinct patterns of disease progression that suggest diverse host immune responses. We performed an integrated immune analysis on a cohort of 50 COVID-19 patients with various disease severity. A distinct phenotype was observed in severe and critical patients, consisting of a highly impaired interferon (IFN) type I response (characterized by no IFN-ß and low IFN-α production and activity), which was associated with a persistent blood viral load and an exacerbated inflammatory response. Inflammation was partially driven by the transcriptional factor nuclear factor-κB and characterized by increased tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 production and signaling. These data suggest that type I IFN deficiency in the blood could be a hallmark of severe COVID-19 and provide a rationale for combined therapeutic approaches.

Acute paraplegia due to schistosomiasis: an uncommon cause in developed countries.

We present a case of a young African migrant from Guinea-Conakry presented to a French emergency department with burning pain in both feet for 2 days. The symptoms progressed to limb paraparesis with sphincter disorders. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed a hyperintense spinal cord lesion without contrast enhancement extending from the T6 vertebrae to the conus medullaris. Cerebrospinal fluid exam (CFE) showed an isolated hyperproteinorachia (0.61 g/l). Schistosomiasiss serology was positive and a rectal biopsy showed a schistosoma egg surrounded by an inflammatory reaction with granulomatosis. After steroid and antihelminthic therapy, accompanied by intensive physical therapy, the patient had an improved neurological neurological outcome.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myositis and myocarditis in patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinicopathologic features and outcome of myositis in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) (irMyositis). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients diagnosed with irMyositis in tertiary centers in Paris, France, and Berlin, Germany, from January 2015 to July 2017. The main outcomes were clinical manifestations and muscle histology, which included major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), C5b-9, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD68, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L) 1, and programmed cell death 1 ligand 2 (PD-L2). RESULTS: Ten patients with metastatic cancer were included; median age was 73 (range 56-87) years. Median follow-up duration was 48 (range 16-88) weeks. Six patients developed myositis during nivolumab therapy, 1 patient during pembrolizumab, 1 patient during durvalumab, and 2 patients during combined nivolumab and ipilimumab. Median delay between ICI initiation and myositis onset was 25 (range 5-87) days. Clinical manifestations were dominated by acute or subacute myalgia (8 patients) and limb-girdle (7), axial (7), and oculomotor (7) weakness. Four patients had evidence of myocarditis. In all patients, creatine kinase levels were elevated (median 2,668, range 1,059-16,620 U/L), while anti-acetylcholine receptor and myositis-associated antibodies were negative. Electrodiagnostic studies showed myopathic process without decrement in all patients. Muscle biopsy constantly showed multifocal necrotic myofibers, sarcolemmal MHC-I, and endomysial inflammation, consisting mainly of CD68+ cells expressing PD-L1 and CD8+ cells expressing PD-1. ICI treatment was withdrawn in all patients; 9 patients received immunosuppressive therapy, which consistently led to marked clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS: irMyositis presents with remarkably homogeneous and unique clinicopathologic features, expanding the nosologic spectrum of inflammatory myopathies in patients with cancer. ICI withdrawal and treatment with corticosteroids improve outcome.

Prevalence of immune-related systemic adverse events in patients treated with anti-Programmed cell Death 1/anti-Programmed cell Death-Ligand 1 agents: A single-centre pharmacovigilance database analysis.

AIM: The growing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is associated with the occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Few data are published on systemic, immunohaematological and rheumatic irAEs. In a pharmacovigilance database analysis, we screened for these irAEs and calculated their prevalence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Participants were recruited via Registre des Effets Indésirables Sévères des Anticorps Monoclonaux Immunomodulateurs en Cancérologie (REISAMIC)1 a French registry of grade ≥2 irAEs occurring in ICI-treated patients. The pathologies of interest were systemic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, rheumatic diseases and immune cytopenia. RESULTS: Out of 908 patients treated with anti-Programmed cell Death 1 (PD1)/anti-Programmed cell Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) agents (together with an anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) agent in 40 cases) between December 2012 and December 2016 at a single centre, 21 patients experienced systemic irAEs. The types and the prevalence of irAEs were as follows: immune thrombocytopenia (0.2%), Sjögren syndrome (0.3%), rheumatoid arthritis (0.2%), polymyalgia rheumatica (0.2%), psoriatic arthritis (0.2%), seronegative polyarthritis (0.7%) and sarcoidosis (0.2%). Patients with Sjögren syndrome or seronegative polyarthritis were more likely to have received combination therapy with ipilimumab (2.5% for both). We described these 21 cases, together with nine additional cases from five other centres. Most irAE were moderately severe (grade 2, 63%). The median time to onset was 57°days (interquartile range (IQR) 24-117). The ICI was withdrawn in 12 cases, 25 patients (83%) received corticosteroids, and five patients (17%) received immunosuppressant/immunomodulatory agents. The irAEs resolved fully or partially in 28 cases (93%). CONCLUSION: Although systemic, immunohaematological and rheumatic diseases are rarely associated with ICI use, the prevalence is higher when two ICIs are combined. Corticosteroids are often effective and may enable the continued administration of ICIs. Studies designed to identify at-risk patients are warranted.