Paradigm shift in monogenic autoinflammatory diseases and systemic vasculitis: The VEXAS syndrome. / Cambio de paradigma en las enfermedades autoinflamatorias monogénicas y las vasculitis sistémicas: el síndrome VEXAS.

VEXAS syndrome was described by the end of 2020 as an autoinflammatory disease caused by post-zygotic variants in the UBA1 gene. VEXAS syndrome occurs in adult males with recurrent fever, arthralgia/arthritis, ear/nose chondritis, neutrophilic dermatosis, lung inflammation, venous thrombosis, and different types of vasculitis. Common laboratory changes include raised acute phase reactants and macrocytic anemia. The coexistence of myelodysplasia is frequent, and bone marrow vacuolization of myeloid and erythroid precursors is characteristic. Glucocorticoids are effective at medium-high doses, but the remaining immunosuppressive drugs, either conventional or biological, have showed limited or absent efficacy. Azacitidine has been associated with a good response, especially in patients with accompanying myelodysplastic syndrome. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation appears to be the only curative therapy by now. VEXAS syndrome has become a paradigm shift in the diagnosis and treatment of autoinflammatory diseases and systemic vasculitis.

The Impact of High Dose Glucocorticoids on Bone Health and Fracture Risk in Systemic Vasculitides.

Systemic vasculitides are a range of conditions characterized by inflammation of blood vessels which may manifest as single organ or life-threatening multisystem disease. The treatment of systemic vasculitis varies depending on the specific disease but historically has involved initial treatment with high dose glucocorticoids alone or in conjunction with other immunosuppressive agents. Prolonged glucocorticoid treatment is frequently required as maintenance treatment. Patients with small and large vessel vasculitis are at increased risk of fracture. Osteoporosis may occur due to intrinsic factors such as chronic inflammation, impaired renal function and to a large extent due to pharmacological therapy with high dose glucocorticoid or combination treatments. This review will outline the known mechanism of bone loss in vasculitis and will summarize factors attributing to fracture risk in different types of vasculitis. Osteoporosis treatment with specific consideration for patients with vasculitis will be discussed. The use of glucocorticoid sparing immunosuppressive agents in the treatment of systemic vasculitis is a significant area of ongoing research. Adjunctive treatments are used to reduce cumulative doses of glucocorticoids and therefore may significantly decrease the associated fracture risk in patients with vasculitis. Lastly, we will highlight the many unknowns in the relation between systemic vasculitis, its treatment and bone health and will outline key research priorities for this field.

Afectación cardiovascular en una paciente con arteritis de Takayasu, a propósito de un caso / Cardiovascular involvement in a patient with Takayasu arteritis, in relation to a case

Introducción: la arteritis de Takayasu es una vasculitis sistémica que provoca alteraciones en distintos sistemas de órganos, las más características y peligrosas ocurren en el sistema cardiovascular. Objetivo: socializar las manifestaciones cardiovasculares que con mayor frecuencia se presentan en el curso de la arteritis de Takayasu. Caso clínico: se presenta el caso de una paciente femenina, de 46 años de edad, con manifestaciones clínicas que permiten llegar al diagnóstico de arteritis de Takayasu; dentro del cuadro clínico se presentan múltiples afectaciones cardiovasculares que ensombrecen el pronóstico de la paciente. Conclusiones: las manifestaciones cardiovasculares en la arteritis de Takayasu no solo forman parte de los criterios diagnósticos y de las manifestaciones clínicas de la enfermedad; sino que también forman parte de las complicaciones de la arteritis y su presencia empeora la evolución clínica de la enfermedad y complica el pronóstico del paciente(AU)

Introduction: Takayasu's arteritis is a systemic vasculitis that causes alterations in different organ systems, the most characteristic and dangerous occur in the cardiovascular system. Objective: to socialize the cardiovascular manifestations that most frequently occur in the course of Takayasu's arteritis. Clinical case: the case of a female patient, 46 years of age, with clinical manifestations that lead to the diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis; Within the clinical picture there are multiple cardiovascular affectations that overshadow the prognosis of the patient. Conclusions: the cardiovascular manifestations in Takayasu's arteritis are not only part of the diagnostic criteria and the clinical manifestations of the disease; they are also part of the complications of arteritis and their presence worsens the clinical evolution of the disease and complicates the patient's prognosis(AU)

Biologic therapy in ANCA-negative vasculitis.

Standard therapeutic schemes for vasculitis are usually associated with numerous side effects and uneven clinical response. However, recent advances in understanding of the pathogenesis of these systemic diseases have resulted in the development of a group of biologic agents potentially useful in patients with vasculitis. Thus, anti-tumor necrosis factor-α drugs may be effective in patients with refractory Kawasaki disease but have failed to do so in giant cell arteritis, and their role in Takayasu arteritis is yet unclear. Preliminary reports on the use of the anti-IL6-receptor antibody, tocilizumab, in large-vessel vasculitis have been encouraging. Interferon alpha has showed positive results in hepatitis B virus-associated polyarteritis nodosa, and hepatitis C virus-induced cryoglobulinemia. Early experience with rituximab in several types of vasculitis has been quite promising, but must be confirmed in ongoing randomized clinical trials. The development of new biologic targeted therapies will probably open a hopeful future for patients with vasculitis.

Vitamin D rescues dysfunction of fetal endothelial colony forming cells from individuals with gestational diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Gestational diabetes (GDM) is associated with long-term cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in offspring. However, the mechanisms are not well understood. We explored whether fetal exposure to a diabetic environment is associated with fetal endothelial progenitor cell dysfunction, and whether vitamin D can reverse the impairment. METHODS: Nineteen women with uncomplicated pregnancies and 18 women with GDM were recruited before delivery. Time to first appearance of endothelial colony forming cell (ECFC) colonies and number of ECFC colonies formed from culture of cord peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined. Angiogenesis-related functions of ECFCs in vitro were tested in the presence or absence of vitamin D. RESULTS: Fetal ECFCs from GDM pregnancies formed fewer colonies in culture (P = 0.04) and displayed reduced proliferation (P = 0.02), migration (P = 0.04) and tubule formation (P = 0.03) compared to uncomplicated pregnancies. Fetal ECFCs exposed to hyperglycemia in vitro exhibited less migration (P < 0.05) and less tubule formation (P < 0.05) than normoglycemic control. Vitamin D significantly improved the dysfunction of fetal ECFCs from pregnancies complicated by GDM or after exposure of healthy ECFCs to hyperglycemia. DISCUSSION: Fetal ECFCs from GDM pregnancies or ECFCs exposed to hyperglycemia in vitro exhibit reduced quantity and impaired angiogenesis-related functions. Vitamin D significantly rescues these functions. These findings may have implications for vascular function of infants exposed to a diabetic intrauterine environment.

Acute dilated cardiomyopathy in a patient with beriberi and cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis: an unusual potential complication of two rare disorders.

We report the case of a 45-year-old patient who presented with acute dilated cardiomyopathy. During admission the patient was consecutively diagnosed with cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis and beriberi. In both diseases, cardiac involvement may occur as dilated cardiomyopathy. Thiamin deficiency was the final cause for the severe cardiac manifestations (cardiac acute beriberi or Shoshin syndrome), which returned to normal after thiamin supplementation.

Treatment of primary systemic necrotizing vasculitides: the role of biotherapies.

Treatments of systemic necrotizing vasculitides have progressed markedly over the past few decades. The first attempts to obtain better-adapted therapeutic strategies evaluated the indications of conventional drugs, and their abilities to prolong survival and prevent relapses, while decreasing the severity and number of side effects. The French Vasculitis Study Group, the European Vasculitis Study Group or the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium organized most of the prospective clinical trials that have contributed to optimizing targeted treatment strategies. Recent therapeutic strategies include: immunomodulating methods (e.g. plasma exchanges), products (e.g. intravenous immunoglobulins) or, more recently, new agents called biotherapies. Some of the latter, mainly anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, have achieved promising effects and are now being evaluated in prospective trials.

Renal vasculitis in 2012: reclassification and the introduction of biologicals.

2012 saw the classification of the systemic vasculitides revised. Genetic studies showed that granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) are different diseases with aberrant immune responses to different autoantigens. B-cell depletion with rituximab also acquired a primary role in the treatment of GPA and MPA, as well as in cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis.

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels correlate with the presence of extra-hepatic manifestations in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic HCV infection is associated with extra-hepatic manifestations. Recent studies have suggested an immunomodulatory role for vitamin D during HCV infection. We investigated the association between serum vitamin D status and the presence of HCV extra-hepatic manifestations. METHODS: 25(OH)D serum levels were assessed in 94 HCV(+)RNA(+) patients [including 48 patients with mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC) vasculitis]. Correlations between serum 25(OH)D levels and the presence of extra-hepatic manifestations of HCV infection were analysed. RESULTS: Overall, 84 of 94 patients (89%) had hypovitaminosis D (≤30 ng/ml). Patients with vitamin D deficiency vs insufficiency vs sufficiency more frequently had systemic vasculitis (P = 0.02), in particular purpura (P = 0.006), detectable MC (P = 0.008) and low C4 serum levels (P = 0.006). Serum levels of 25(OH)D were also correlated with cryoglobulin and C4 levels and with marginal zone B cells and regulatory T cells. In multivariate analysis, the presence of MC and systemic vasculitis remained independently associated with low 25(OH)D levels. CONCLUSION: In chronic HCV infection, low 25(OH)D levels correlate with the presence of mixed cryoglobulinaemia and systemic vasculitis in chronic HCV infection. These findings suggest the potential multifaceted benefits of vitamin D supplementation in HCV-infected patients with extra-hepatic manifestations, but interventional studies are needed to confirm these data.

[Biologic therapies in the systemic vasculitides]. / Terapia biológica en las vasculitis sistémicas.

Several biological therapies have been evaluated in systemic vasculitis. Anti TNF-α agents may have a role in the treatment of Takayasu's arteritis and probably in giant cell arteritis. In Kawasaki's disease, infliximab is an option in subjects with intravenous immunoglobulin-resistant disease. Anti TNF-α cannot be recommended to treat ANCA-associated vasculitis. Anti-T lymphocyte globulin and alemtuzumab could have a role in the treatment of ANCA associated vasculitis, although current information about these two biological treatments comes from conventional resistant treatment cases, so the high incidence of complications and relapses observed with these treatment may be intrinsic to the severity of the disease and not related to the biological agents.

Manifestaciones oculares de las vasculitis primarias sistémicas / Ocular manifestations of primary systemic vasculitis

Las vasculitis primarias (VP) pueden cursar con diversas manifestaciones oculares y estas pueden ser las únicas al inicio de la enfermedad. La afección ocular es común en las VP y potencialmente conduce a morbilidad significativa, incluyendo pérdida de la visión. El diagnóstico y tratamiento tempranos mejoran el pronóstico visual. El abordaje terapéutico constituye un reto y debe ser multidisciplinario. El tratamiento de las manifestaciones oculares corresponde al de la enfermedad de base. La primera línea de tratamiento son los corticoesteroides sistémicos, generalmente combinados con fármacos inmunomoduladores, que fungen también como ahorradores de glucocorticoides. Existen nuevos tratamientos, como los agentes biológicos, que parecen prometedores para las alteraciones oculares de las VP (AU)

A variety of ophthalmic manifestations can occur in patients who have systemic vasculitides and may be the presenting feature. Ocular involvement is frequently found and can result in significant morbidity, even in blindness. Early diagnosis and treatment may improve visual outcome. The management is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Treatment of ocular manifestations and systemic disease usually follows the same path. The mainstay of treatment is the use of systemic corticosteroids, usually combined with steroid-sparing immunosuppressive drugs. New, promising, emerging therapies rely on the development of biologic agents, which seem useful in the ocular manifestations of systemic vasculitides (AU)

Terapia biológica en las vasculitis sistémicas / Biologic therapies in the systemic vasculitides

Varias terapias biológicas se han probado en las vasculitis sistémicas. Los anti-TNF- pudieran tener un papel en el tratamiento de la arteritis de Takayasu y probablemente en la arteritis de células gigantes. En el caso de la enfermedad de Kawasaki, existe información de que el infliximab puede ser usado como una alternativa a la gammaglobulina por vía intravenosa en pacientes sin respuesta a una primera dosis de ésta. No se puede recomendar el uso de anti TNF- en las vasculitis asociadas a ANCA. La gammaglobulina antitimocito y el alemtuzumab pudieran tener algún papel en el tratamiento de las vasculitis asociadas a ANCA. La información existente acerca de la utilidad de estos dos fármacos proviene de casos refractarios al tratamiento convencional, por lo que la alta incidencia de complicaciones y recaídas observadas en los casos tratados con estos fármacos pudiera ser más bien intrínseca a la gravedad de la enfermedad y no debida a los agentes biológicos (AU)

Several biological therapies have been evaluated in systemic vasculitis. Anti TNF- agents may have a role in the treatment of Takayasu’s arteritis and probably in giant cell arteritis. In Kawasaki’s disease, infliximab is an option in subjects with intravenous immunoglobulin-resistant disease. Anti TNF- cannot be recommended to treat ANCA-associated vasculitis. Anti-T lymphocyte globulin and alemtuzumab could have a role in the treatment of ANCA associated vasculitis, although current information about these two biological treatments comes from conventional resistant treatment cases, so the high incidence of complications and relapses observed with these treatment may be intrinsic to the severity of the disease and not related to the biological agents (AU)

[Ocular manifestations of primary systemic vasculitis]. / Manifestaciones oculares de las vasculitis primarias sistémicas.

A variety of ophthalmic manifestations can occur in patients who have systemic vasculitides and may be the presenting feature. Ocular involvement is frequently found and can result in significant morbidity, even in blindness. Early diagnosis and treatment may improve visual outcome. The management is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Treatment of ocular manifestations and systemic disease usually follows the same path. The mainstay of treatment is the use of systemic corticosteroids, usually combined with steroid-sparing immunosuppressive drugs. New, promising, emerging therapies rely on the development of biologic agents, which seem useful in the ocular manifestations of systemic vasculitides.

Retinoid X receptor beta polymorphisms do not explain functional differences in vitamins D and A response in Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis patients.

It has been suggested that the retinoid X receptor beta (RXRB) gene is a risk factor for Wegener's granulomatosis. We addressed if there is a functional difference in the response to retinoic acid (RA) and vitamin D in Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated systemic vasculitis (AASV) patients and if this was associated with RXRB genotypes. TNFalpha and IL-10 production were measured in whole blood assay from AASV patients (n = 51) and healthy controls (HC, n = 67). One micromolar of 1,25-(OH)(2) D3, 9-cis RA (9c-RA) or all-trans RA (ATRA) was added to the assay. Genotyping was performed for exons 7 and 2 of the RXRB gene and for a microsatellite in vicinity of the RXRB gene. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mediated TNFalpha production and IL-10 were significantly lower in patients. Addition of 1,25-(OH)(2) D3, ATRA or 9c-RA, blunted TNFalpha production, more pronounced in patients. Although all three compounds inhibited IL-10 production significantly in HC, only 1,25-(OH)(2) D3 was found to be effective in patients. Allele distribution of the RXRB microsatellite differed significantly between patients and HC. This was not found for the SNP in exons 2 and 7. Genotype of the latter correlated with the ability of 1,25-(OH)(2) D3 and ATRA to inhibit IL-10 production. We provide immunological evidence for a functional difference in vitamins D and A responsiveness in AASV patients. Since the inhibition of TNFalpha was more effective in patients, vitamin D supplementation might be an additional therapeutical approach.

Manejo de la inmunosupresión en enfermedades sistémicas que afectan al riñón / No disponible

Hemos revisado la literatura 2007 en relación con 3 grupos de enfermedades sistémicas que afectan al riñón: nefropatíalúpica (NL), vasculitis de pequeño vaso (VPV) y amiloidosis renal. En una revisión sistemática que incluye 268pacientes con NL reunidos en 4 estudios, el ácido micofenólico(AMF) durante la fase de inducción provoca más remisiones y consigue una mayor supervivencia renal que la ciclofosfamida (CF), en consecuencia se confirma como alternativa válida a la CF. Con un protocolo que incluye rituximaby AMF en la fase de inducción (14 días) el AMF solo, sin corticoides, en la fase de mantenimiento es eficaz y seguro. El rituximab también se ha utilizado con éxito en las formas de NL resistentes a la CF, disminuye la actividad clínica y la proliferación mesangial. Los intercambios plasmáticos consiguen mejores resultados que los bolus de corticoides en las VPV con insuficiencia renal grave. Las complicaciones son severas. Los antiTNFa no aportan beneficio en esta indicación. Los corticoidesa dosis bajas, administrados de forma prolongada, disminuyen la incidencia de recidivas. El AMF es una alternativa a la CF en caso de no poderse administrar el fármaco. Con el rituximab se consiguen buenos resultados en las formas resistentes a la CF. Según un ensayo controlado, el tratamiento de la amiloidosis AL con dexametasona y melfalan tiene unos resultado sequivalentes a las dosis altas de melfalan y rescate con trasplante con progenitores hematopoyéticos. En la amiloidosis AA, el eprosidate disminuye la velocidad de progresión de la insuficiencia renal (AU)

We reviewed the literature in 2007 on 3 groups of systemic diseases affecting the kidney: lupic nephropathy (LN), small vessel vasculitis (SVV) and renal amyloidosis. A systematic review of268 patients with LN pooled from 4 studies found that mycophenolicacid (MPA) in the induction phase caused more remissions and achieved greater renal survival than cyclophosphamide(CP), confirming it as a valid alternative to CP. Using a protocol including rituximab and MPA in the induction phase (14 days),MPA alone without corticoids is effective and safe in the maintenance phase. Rituximab has also been successfully used in CP-resistant forms of LN, where it reduces clinical activity and mesangial proliferation. Plasma exchanges achieve better results than bolus corticoids in SVS with severe renal failure. Complications are severe. Anti-TNF-a agents provide no benefit in this indication. Prolonged administration of low-dose corticoids reduces the incidence of relapses.MPA is an alternative to CP if this drug cannot be administered. Good results are achieved with rituximab in CP-resistant forms. According to a controlled trial, treatment of AL amyloidosis with dexamethasone and melphalan has equivalent results to highdosemelphalan and rescue with hematopoietic stem cell transplant .In AA amyloidosis, eprosidate slows the rate of progression of renal failure (AU)