Longitudinal assessment of disease activity and muscle strength in juvenile dermatomyositis: a multicentre registry study.

OBJECTIVES: To define disease activity measures, muscle strength and functional assessments in new-onset juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) patients, at disease onset and follow up. METHODS: A registry was set up in 18 hospitals, enrolling patients over 3-years (2015-2018). Clinical assessments were performed at baseline, and at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after diagnosis. Disease Activity Score (DAS20), skin and musculoskeletal DAS sub-scales; Manual Muscle Test (MMT8); Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale (CMAS); Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (CHAQ_DI 0-3) and 10 cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for overall wellbeing scores were compared by Poisson Model and Wald post-test for repeated measures. RESULTS: Ninety-six cases, being 61 (64%) females, median age 10 years had JDM diagnosis and 12 (13%) onset calcinosis. Mean ±SD scores at diagnosis and 6 months intervals for DAS20 (0-20) were 7.8±5, 6.3 ±4.8, 5±4, 4.9 ±5 and 0.5 ±2.3; with significant difference from baseline (p<0.01). Skin DAS subscales were 2.8±3.3, 1.8±2.9, 1,1±2.2, 0.6±1.8, 0.4±1.5. MMT (0-80) 62.6±20.4, 70.2±13.5, 73.3±11, 75.7±7.9 and 74.8±7.8, with significant difference from baseline up to 6 months (p=0.016); CMAS (0-53) 29.5±11.4, 33.1±8.3, 34.2±5.8, 34±6 and 33.3±5.4. CHAQ-DI (0-3) 1±0.9, 0.6±0.7, 0.8±0.8, 1±0.8 and 1±0.3; parents VAS 4.1±2.5, 2±2.1; 1.3±2.8, 4.1±3.1, 1.7±2.2. There was no significant difference for CMAS, CHAQ-DI and parents VAS from baseline up to 24-month assessment. CONCLUSIONS: DAS20 scores improved gradually during follow up, MMT8 improved significantly during the first 6 months and CMAS, CHAQ-DI and parents VAS scores had no significant improvement with persistent functional impairment over 2-years.

Aseptic meningitis in Fabry disease due to a novel GLA variant: an expanded phenotype?

BACKGROUND: F abry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder with accumulation of globotriosylceramide, causing neurologic involvement mainly as acroparesthesias and cerebrovascular disease. Aseptic meningitis has been reported in 11 patients with FD, but no prior study has correlated alpha-galactosidase (GLA) specific variants with meningitis. We present in this manuscript a family in which a novel GLA pathogenic variant was associated with aseptic meningitis in 2 of 5 family members. METHODS: This study began with identifying the proband, then screening family members for FD symptoms and evaluating symptomatic individuals for genetic and biochemical status. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging, and those with headache underwent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. RESULTS: Five patients (3 females) from a single family were included in this study. Mean age at diagnosis was 20.6 years. Two patients (40%) had aseptic meningitis; one of them also had cerebrovascular events. C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were elevated during aseptic meningitis episodes. Both patients responded to intravenous methylprednisolone with resolution of fever, headache, and vomiting. One of them recurred and needed chronic immunosuppression with azathioprine. CONCLUSION: We described aseptic meningitis in a family with a novel GLA variant. Meningitis might be a common phenomenon in FD and not a particularity of this variant. Understanding the mechanisms underlying meningitis and its association with cerebrovascular events may lead to a new paradigm of treatment for stroke in these patients. Further prospective studies with CSF collection in patients with FD and recurrent headache could help to elucidate this question.

Novel mutation in the NRLP3 manifesting as an intermediate phenotype of cryopyrinopathies.

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) are a group of autoinflammatory diseases associated with NLRP3 gain of function mutations. CAPS associated mutations are found predominantly in exon 3. The objective of this study is to describe a new variant on NRLP3 gene and its phenotype. Case report description of a new NRLP3 pathogenic variant and literature case-based search through INFEVERS database. A 21-year old male who presented multiple tonic-clonic seizures on his 3rd day of life. At age 2, he had recurrent central facial palsy, high fever (40 °C), painful and persistent oral ulcers, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and delayed neuropsychomotor development, with polyarthritis in wrists and knees. Over the years, several symptoms were observed: livedo reticularis, Raynaud's phenomenon, positive pathergy test, heat allodynia, extremely painful genital ulcers, and sporadic conjunctivitis. Laboratory studies revealed persistently elevated inflammatory markers and serum amyloid protein A (30 µg/l). The genetic panel for autoinflammatory diseases revealed heterozygous mutation in the NLRP3, (c.2068G > C, p.E690Q) with 0% of frequency in the general population. The patient denies rash and did not have frontal bossing or patellar overgrowth. We found a positive familial history on mother and brother, who carried the same mutation. The patient was started on canakinumab which controlled his symptoms. Currently, 241 missense variants in the NLRP3 have been described. We presented a new mutation in exon 3 of the NRLP3 gene in a patient that fulfills clinical criteria for CAPS who had complete clinical response to Canakinumab, supporting the idea that this mutation is pathogenic.

Safety and immunogenicity of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in patients with childhood systemic lupus erythematosus: a real-world interventional multi-centre study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccination in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) patients. METHODS: Volunteer cSLE patients aged 9-20 years and healthy controls (HC) were enrolled to receive a two- or three-dose qHPV vaccination schedule from March 2014 to March 2016. Study visits were performed before the first dose, one month after the second and third doses and one year after the first dose. In each study visit, disease activity and adverse events following vaccination were analyzed, and a serum sample was collected for testing antibody concentrations. Participant recruitment was conducted in 15 Brazilian paediatric rheumatology units. Of the 256 cSLE patients included, 210 completed the two- or three-dose schedules; 15 had previously received one dose, and 18 had received two doses of the vaccine. The analysis was based on intention-to-treat so that participants who did not complete the entire study protocol were also included. RESULTS: No severe adverse events were related to the vaccination. Disease activity was generally low and remained stable or even improved. The HC presented 100% seropositivity to HPV16 and HPV18, whereas the two- and three-dose cSLE groups presented 93% and 83% versus 97% and 91%, respectively. One year after the first dose, seropositivity of the three-dose cSLE group was 91% to HPV16 and 84% to HPV18. CONCLUSIONS: HPV vaccination in cSLE patients is safe and immunogenic. Since the seropositivity to HPV16 and HPV18 was higher for the three-dose schedule group, this regimen should be recommended for cSLE patients.

Multidisciplinary Management of Fabry Disease: Current Perspectives.

Fabry disease (FD) is a rare, recessive X-linked, multisystemic lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) that results from a deficiency in the hydrolase alpha-galactosidase A (α-GalA) caused by a GLA gene variant. The progressive accumulation of the glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in organs such as skin, kidney, brain, joints, vascular walls and eyes are responsible for the wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, often unspecific. In result, clinically relevant and life-threatening complications, such as malignant ventricular arrhythmia, sudden cardiac death, end stage kidney failure and stroke may occur. In this review, we will describe the clinical features and the current perspectives in the multidisciplinary management Of FD patients.

Frequency of Fabry disease in a juvenile idiopathic arthritis cohort.

BACKGROUND: Fabry disease (FD) is a rare, X-linked, multisystemic lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) that results from a deficiency in the hydrolase alpha-galactosidase A (⍺-GalA). During childhood, classic FD symptomatology is rare. The majority of children may show non-specific symptoms, including in the musculoskeletal system. The prevalence of FD among juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients is unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the frequency of FD in a JIA cohort, characterizing early clinical symptoms, enzyme titers, and GLA genotyping. METHODS: Children with JIA followed in a tertiary Children Hospital cohort were selected. Clinical, laboratory and familiar information were recorded. Molecular genetic testing to detect GLA gene mutations was performed in girls and enzymatic analysis in boys. RESULTS: In 89 patients (56.2% female, age at disease onset: 8.93 ± 4.35 years), one male (1.12%) patient presented pathogenic mutation in GLA gene, c.1244 T > C p.L415P, one female patient had a variant of uncertain significance c.38C > T (p.Ala13Val). Three additional (3.4%) patients had the enzymatic activity of alpha-galactosidase slightly decreased. We observed the presence of intronic variants in 44.44% of patients in our cohort: c.1000-22C > T; c.370-81_-77del; c.640-16A > G; c.10C > T; c.548-125C > G and c.-12G > A. These variants and their combination were associated with clinical symptoms in our cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of FD in our cohort was 1.12%. Intronic variants were associated with symptoms previously described in the literature. Screening for FD in JIA may be a reasonable strategy for those with an atypical pattern of pain.

Safety and immunogenicity of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in patients with juvenile dermatomyositis: a real-world multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Concerns about the safety and efficacy of vaccines in patients with autoimmune diseases (AID) have led to contradictions and low vaccination coverage in this population, who are at a higher risk of infections, including by human papillomavirus (HPV). Although HPV vaccines have been recommended for immunocompromised patients, there is still a lack of data to support its use for AID patients, such as juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) patients. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the quadrivalent HPV (qHPV) vaccine in a cohort of JDM patients. METHODS: JDM patients aged from 9 to 20 years and healthy controls (HC) were enrolled to receive a 3-dose schedule of qHPV vaccine from March/2014 to March/2016. Study visits were performed before the first dose, 1 month after the second and third doses, and 6 months after the third dose. Participants completed a diary of possible adverse events for 14 days following each dose of vaccination (AEFV). Disease activity and current therapy were analyzed at each visit for JDM patients. In addition, serum samples from all participants were collected to test antibody concentrations against HPV16 and 18 at each visit. Participant recruitment was conducted in ten Brazilian centres. From 47 eligible JDM patients and 41 HC, 42 and 35, respectively, completed the 3-dose schedule of the vaccine, given that five JDM patients and two HC had received doses prior to their inclusion in the study. RESULTS: The AEFVs presented by the participants were mild and in general did not differ between JDM and HC groups. No severe AEFVs were related to the vaccination. Disease activity was stable, or even improved during the follow-up. One month after the third dose of the vaccine the JDM group presented seropositivity of 100% for HPV16 and 97% for HPV18, similarly to the HC group, who presented 100% for both serotypes (p = 1.000). Six months after the third dose the seropositivity for the patient group was 94% for both HPV types. CONCLUSIONS: The HPV vaccination in this cohort of JDM patients was safe and immunogenic. Since the seropositivity against HPV16 and 18 was very high after the 3-dose schedule, this regimen should be recommended for JDM patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry, number: RBR-9ypbtf . Registered 20 March 2018 - Retrospectively registered.

Corneal vortex keratopathy in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (c-SLE).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and risk factors associated with corneal vortex keratopathy in a childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (c-SLE) cohort. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive outpatients with c-SLE were evaluated by a pediatric ophthalmologist and pediatric rheumatologist in an outpatient clinic setting in an urban Children's Hospital. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and disease characteristics were documented for each patient. Cumulative drug dosage, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology damage index (SLICC/ACR-DI) scores were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 76 c-SLE patients (61 (80.26%) females; mean age = 17.9 (SD ± 3.07)) were included. Ophthalmologic abnormalities were observed in 36 (47.36%) patients of which 16 (21.10%) had corneal vortex keratopathy (p = 0.03). c-SLE patients with corneal vortex keratopathy were all female. We did not observe any additional clinical, laboratory, or treatment feature associated with corneal vortex keratopathy. DISCUSSION: We observed a high prevalence of corneal vortex keratopathy in female c-SLE. We hypothesize that this finding may be an initial, dose-related toxicity due to antimalarial use. Follow-up studies are necessary to determine if these changes are an early predictor of retinal toxicity due to antimalarial in c-SLE. KEY POINTS: • Corneal vortex keratopathy was frequently observed in female patients with c-SLE on a chloroquine medication. • Corneal vortex keratopathy may be an early marker of chloroquine retinopathy.