[Acquired hemophilia A complicated by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor-associated bullous pemphigoid].

A 72-year-old man developed dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor-associated bullous pemphigoid (BP) during treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus and was administered prednisolone (PSL, 0.5 mg/kg). Despite PSL treatment at a daily dose of 19 mg/day, purpura appeared on his bilateral forearms 3 months later. He was diagnosed with acquired hemophilia A (AHA) based on a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, decrease in factor VIII activity, and the presence of factor VIII inhibitor. Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) comprising PSL (1 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (300 mg/week) did not reduce the inhibitor level, and he subsequently developed the complication of pneumonia caused by a fungal infection. Weekly rituximab (RTX) therapy (375 mg/m2) for 4 weeks not only reduced the inhibitor level, but also enabled a rapid PSL dose reduction. Finally, a coagulative complete remission was achieved with improvements in pneumonia and BP. The prevention of adverse events of IST is particularly important in patients with AHA, who have a high median age. Therefore, RTX-based IST may be safer for AHA patients with complicating infections.

[Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura during pregnancy refractory to plasma exchange and rituximab].

A 30-year-old woman who was 14 weeks pregnant was admitted to our hospital due to purpura, nasal bleeding, and abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) based on the presence of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, decreased ADAMTS 13 activity (<0.01 IU/ml), and high ADAMTS 13 inhibitor levels (4.8 BU/ml). Plasma exchange (PE) and steroid therapy were immediately administered. However, because she did not respond to these therapeutic approaches, rituximab was additionally administered on the sixth day of treatment. The level of ADAMTS 13 inhibitor increased to 12.5 BU/ml on the seventh day. Renal insufficiency, disturbed consciousness, and genital bleeding did not improve in spite of daily PE, steroid therapy, and second dose of rituximab. She finally died after sudden convulsions on the 14th day. Although the treatment outcomes of TTP have remarkably improved, some cases are refractory to therapy. Establishment of adequate treatment strategies for acquired TTP in pregnant women is required.

The pretreatment Controlling Nutritional Status score is an independent prognostic factor in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Predicting prognosis is crucial in older patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This study evaluated the prognostic impact of the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, a simple nutritional index, for older DLBCL patients (≥65 years of age) treated with R-CHOP-like regimens in a retrospective, cohort study including 203 patients. The CONUT score was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.21, p = 0.032) in a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. On receiver-operating characteristic analysis, the optimal cutoff value was 3. The CONUT score (≥3 or <3) effectively stratified older DLBCL patients, regardless of the International Prognostic Index (p = 0.71 for interaction). Further, the CONUT score independently affected initial dose intensity (odds ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.73-0.95, p = 0.008), likely reflecting the patients' status at diagnosis and affecting dose adjustments. In conclusion, the CONUT score is associated with a poorer prognosis in older DLBCL patients.

Low Levels of Serum Tryptophan Underlie Skeletal Muscle Atrophy.

Sarcopenia is a poor prognosis factor in some cancer patients, but little is known about the mechanisms by which malignant tumors cause skeletal muscle atrophy. Tryptophan metabolism mediated by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase is one of the most important amino acid changes associated with cancer progression. Herein, we demonstrate the relationship between skeletal muscles and low levels of tryptophan. A positive correlation was observed between the volume of skeletal muscles and serum tryptophan levels in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Low levels of tryptophan reduced C2C12 myoblast cell proliferation and differentiation. Fiber diameters in the tibialis anterior of C57BL/6 mice fed a tryptophan-deficient diet were smaller than those in mice fed a standard diet. Metabolomics analysis revealed that tryptophan-deficient diet downregulated glycolysis in the gastrocnemius and upregulated the concentrations of amino acids associated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The weights and muscle fiber diameters of mice fed the tryptophan-deficient diet recovered after switching to the standard diet. Our data showed a critical role for tryptophan in regulating skeletal muscle mass. Thus, the tryptophan metabolism pathway may be a promising target for preventing or treating skeletal muscle atrophies.

The Effectiveness of the Rectal Administration of Low-dose Diclofenac for the Prevention of Post-endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis.

Objective A 50-100-mg rectal dose of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; diclofenac or indomethacin) has been shown to prevent post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP). However, this is higher than the recommended 25-mg dose that is commonly administered to Japanese patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 25-mg rectal dose of diclofenac in preventing PEP. Methods Between January 2016 and March 2017, a total of 147 patients underwent ERCP with or without the rectal administration of diclofenac (25 mg) 20 min before the procedure. A retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this dose in preventing PEP. Results Thirteen patients (8.8%) developed PEP: 3 patients (4.1%) in the diclofenac group and 10 (13.7%) in the control group (p=0.0460). After ERCP, there were no cases of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, ulceration, acute renal failure, or death. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the non-administration of rectal diclofenac was a risk factor for PEP (odds ratio=3.530; 95% confidence interval=1.017-16.35; p=0.0468). Conclusions A 25-mg rectal dose of diclofenac might prevent PEP.