Antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy (APSN) in patients with lupus nephritis: a retrospective clinical and renal pathology study.

Data about clinical-laboratory features and outcome of antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy (APSN) in the course of lupus nephritis (LN) are scarce. To determine prevalence, clinical correlations and outcome of APSN in patients with LN, retrospective analysis of renal specimens and review of medical records from 48 LN patients were performed. APSN was found in 12/48 (25 %) of LN. Positivity for lupus anticoagulant (LAC) and double antiphospholipids positivity [LAC plus anticardiolipin (aCL)] were significantly more frequent in APSN-LN (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively) than in LN, while single aCL positivity was not. Overt antiphospholipid syndrome appeared more frequent in patients with APSN-LN (p = 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between APSN-LN and LN in the proportion of each World Health Organization class of LN (with the exception of a trend toward fewer Class III LN in APS-LN) and in the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease duration and severity. At the time of renal biopsy, patients with APSN-LN had median serum creatinine levels significantly higher than patients with LN [1.45 (0.6-6.6) vs. 1.00 (0.7-3.0), p = 0.02]. Double antiphospholipid positivity was the only variable significantly associated with APSN-LN at multivariate regression analysis (OR 8, 95 % CI 1.7-37, p = 0,008). APSN-LN and LN did not differ significantly as regards the rate of complete (25 vs. 19.4 %, p = 0.72) and partial treatment response (25 vs. 29 %, p = 0.82) at 6 months and the progression to end-stage renal disease after a median follow-up of 8.1 ± 3.6 years (16.6 vs. 13.8 %, p = 0.82). APSN was demonstrated in a quart of LN, appeared to be independent from underlying LN class and SLE severity, and did not seem to confer a worse prognosis to LN. The findings of higher creatinine and more interstitial fibrosis in APSN should be confirmed in future prospective larger studies.

Audiovestibular symptoms and sequelae in COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: since the beginning of COVID-19 outbreak a growing number of symptoms and deficits associated with the new pathology have emerged, among them cochlear damage in otherwise asymptomatic COVID-19 patients has been described. OBJECTIVE: to investigate general and audiovestibular symptoms and sequelae in healed patients, and to seek for any sign of residual or permanent hearing or vestibular loss. METHODS: we reviewed the data coming from 48 Covid-19 patients whose nasopharyngeal swabs have turned negative, all employed at our facility, that opted in for a free screening of audiovestibular symptoms offered by our hospital after the aforementioned report was published. The screening included a tonal pure tone audiometry, a vHIT and SHIMP test, as well as a survey including known symptoms and audiovestibular symptoms. RESULTS: general symptoms as reported by our patients largely reflect what reported by others in the literature. 4 (8.3%) patients reported hearing loss, 2 (4.2%) tinnitus, 4 dizziness (8.3%), 1 spinning vertigo (2%), 1 dynamic imbalance (2%), 3 static imbalance (6.3%). Most audiovestibular symptoms have regressed. Thresholds at pure tone audiometry and vHIT gain were within normality range in all post-Covid-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: even if some patients suffer from audiovestibular symptoms, these are mostly transitory and there is no clear evidence of clinically relevant persistent cochlear or vestibular damage after recovery.

A case of adult-onset tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis ("TINU syndrome") associated with sacroileitis and Epstein-Barr virus infection with good spontaneous outcome.

The authors report a case of tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU syndrome) in a 48-year-old woman. The patient's ocular symptoms (relapsing bilateral uveitis) began 4 months before the renal disease was diagnosed and were treated successfully with local steroid therapy. The main baseline laboratory findings were anemia, a rapid sedimentation rate, and a decreased renal function. Urinalysis results showed mild proteinuria and some hyaline and hyaline-granular casts. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were present. The renal biopsy showed interstitial lymphocytes and infiltration by rare plasma cells, tubular atrophy without granulomas, and slight expansion of the mesangium; electronic microscopy showed rare electron-dense deposits in the mesangium; no vascular alterations were seen, and immunofluorescent staining was uniformly negative. X-ray of the pelvis showed bilateral sacroileitis, which has been previously described in only 1 case of TINU syndrome; human leukocyte antigen B27 was negative. After 6 months without any therapy, all laboratory findings were normal; after 30 months, renal function was still normal, uveitis had not relapsed, but sacroiliac involvement was still present; EBV-viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM were still high (28 UA/mL), and the EBV IgG titers were increased (VCA>170, EBV-nuclear antigen 108 UA/mL). This case confirms that this rare entity, originally observed in children, may occur and have a favorable spontaneous renal outcome also in the adult; EBV may play a role, as previously suggested. This is, to the authors' knowledge, the first reported case of TINU syndrome with the association of a well-documented bilateral sacroileitis.

The "sclerodermic hand": a radiological and clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical and radiographic features of hand involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Forty-one unselected Sardinian SSc patients (32 women, 9 men; mean age 58.9, range 31-81 years; mean disease duration 11.8 years, range 1-36 years) were evaluated in this observational cross-sectional study. Twenty-six patients had diffuse scleroderma (dSSc) and 15 limited scleroderma (lSSc). Radiological examination of the hands was performed and the films were read by two independent rheumatologists blinded to the diagnosis using a classification system of four predefined radiological patterns (normal/minimal changes, articular degenerative, articular inflammatory and periarticular pattern). Correlations between radiological pattern, clinical and serological features were assessed. RESULTS: The skeletal and articular involvement of the hand was frequent in SSc, being clinically evident in 30/41 (73%) and radiologically in 33/41 (80%) of patients. The periarticular pattern (defined as the occurrence of bone resorption of ungueal tufts, soft tissue calcifications and/or flexion deformities) was the most frequent pattern detected (14/41, 34.1%) and finger flexion contractures and bone resorptions were significantly associated with interstitial lung disease, reduced FVC, oesophagus involvement and prostacycline therapy. Calcinosis (29.2%) was found to be associated with erosions, suggesting a pathogenic link. An inflammatory pattern was also radiologically frequent (8/41, 19.5%), but erosions, with the exception of those localized at distal interphalangeal joints, were demonstrated mainly in patients with clinical picture of rheumatoid arthritis overlapped with SSc. We found no significant differences in terms of radiographic findings between lSSc and dSSc with the exception of calcinosis, which was more frequent in patients with lSSc. CONCLUSION: This cross-sectional study confirms that the skeletal and articular involvement of the hand is frequent in SSc.