Comparison of patients with isolated cutaneous lupus erythematosus versus systemic lupus erythematosus with cutaneous lupus erythematosus as the sole clinical feature: A monocentric study of 149 patients.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) may present as an isolated entity or be classified as Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by the presence of laboratory abnormalities, including cytopenia, low complement levels, and/or autoantibodies (CLE with laboratory SLE). OBJECTIVE: To compare isolated CLE and CLE with laboratory SLE and to validate an existing 3-item score with age < 25 years (1 point), phototypes V to VI (1 point), antinuclear antibodies ≥ 1:320 (5 points) to predict the risk of progression from CLE to severe SLE (sSLE). METHODS: Monocentric cohort study including consecutive patients with CLE. CLE with laboratory SLE was defined by 2019 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for SLE score of ≥10 points at baseline with CLE as the sole clinical feature. RESULTS: Of the 149 patients with CLE, 20 had CLE with laboratory SLE. The median follow-up duration was 11.3 years (IQR: 5.1-20.5). Ten patients (7%) had sSLE developed. In survival analysis, the risk of progression to sSLE was higher among CLE with laboratory SLE (hazard ratio = 6.69; 95% CI: 1.93-23.14, P < .001) compared to isolated CLE. In both groups, none of the patients with a risk score ≤ 2 had sSLE developed. LIMITATIONS: Monocentric study with a limited number of patients. CONCLUSIONS: CLE with laboratory patients with SLE have a higher risk of progression to sSLE than isolated CLE.

2023 ACR/EULAR antiphospholipid syndrome classification criteria.

OBJECTIVE: To develop new antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) classification criteria with high specificity for use in observational studies and trials, jointly supported by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and EULAR. METHODS: This international multidisciplinary initiative included four phases: (1) Phase I, criteria generation by surveys and literature review; (2) Phase II, criteria reduction by modified Delphi and nominal group technique exercises; (3) Phase III, criteria definition, further reduction with the guidance of real-world patient scenarios, and weighting via consensus-based multicriteria decision analysis, and threshold identification; and (4) Phase IV, validation using independent adjudicators' consensus as the gold standard. RESULTS: The 2023 ACR/EULAR APS classification criteria include an entry criterion of at least one positive antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) test within 3 years of identification of an aPL-associated clinical criterion, followed by additive weighted criteria (score range 1-7 points each) clustered into six clinical domains (macrovascular venous thromboembolism, macrovascular arterial thrombosis, microvascular, obstetric, cardiac valve, and hematologic) and two laboratory domains (lupus anticoagulant functional coagulation assays, and solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for IgG/IgM anticardiolipin and/or IgG/IgM anti-ß2-glycoprotein I antibodies). Patients accumulating at least three points each from the clinical and laboratory domains are classified as having APS. In the validation cohort, the new APS criteria vs the 2006 revised Sapporo classification criteria had a specificity of 99% vs 86%, and a sensitivity of 84% vs 99%. CONCLUSION: These new ACR/EULAR APS classification criteria were developed using rigorous methodology with multidisciplinary international input. Hierarchically clustered, weighted, and risk-stratified criteria reflect the current thinking about APS, providing high specificity and a strong foundation for future APS research.

Cutaneous vasculitis occurring in the setting of systemic lupus erythematosus: a multicentre cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical and pathological features of biopsy-proven cutaneous vasculitis (CV) associated with SLE, focusing on diagnosis classification and impact on overall SLE activity. METHODS: Retrospective multicentric cohort study including SLE patients with biopsy-proven CV identified by (i) data from pathology departments of three university hospitals and (ii) a national call for cases. SLE was defined according to 1997 revised ACR and/or 2019 ACR/EULAR criteria. CV diagnosis was confirmed histologically and classified by using the dermatological addendum of the Chapel Hill classification. SLE activity and flare severity at the time of CV diagnosis were assessed independently of vasculitis items with the SELENA-SLEDAI and SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index. RESULTS: Overall, 39 patients were included; 35 (90%) were female. Cutaneous manifestations included mostly palpable purpura (n = 21; 54%) and urticarial lesions (n = 18; 46%); lower limbs were the most common location (n = 33; 85%). Eleven (28%) patients exhibited extracutaneous vasculitis. A higher prevalence of Sjögren's syndrome (51%) was found compared with SLE patients without CV from the French referral centre group (12%, P < 0.0001) and the Swiss SLE Cohort (11%, P < 0.0001). CV was mostly classified as urticarial vasculitis (n = 14, 36%) and cryoglobulinaemia (n = 13, 33%). Only 2 (5%) patients had no other cause than SLE to explain the CV. Sixty-one percent of patients had inactive SLE. CONCLUSION: SLE-related vasculitis seems very rare and other causes of vasculitis should be ruled out before considering this diagnosis. Moreover, in more than half of patients, CV was not associated with another sign of active SLE.

Risk factors of progression from discoid lupus to severe systemic lupus erythematosus: a registry-based cohort study of 164 patients.

BACKGROUND: No study has assessed the risk factors of progression from discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (sSLE) (defined as requiring hospitalization and specific treatment). OBJECTIVE: To identify the risks factors of and generate a predicting score for progression to sSLE among patients with isolated DLE or associated with systemic lupus erythematosus with mild biological abnormalities. METHODS: In this registry-based cohort study, multivariable analysis was performed using risk factors identified from literature and pruned by backward selection to identify relevant variables. The number of points was weighted proportionally to the odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: We included 30 patients with DLE who developed sSLE and 134 patients who did not. In multivariable analysis, among 12 selected variables, an age of <25 years at the time of DLE diagnosis (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.1-7.0; 1 point), phototype V to VI (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1-7.0; 1 point), and antinuclear antibody titers of ≥1:320 (OR, 15; 95% CI, 3.3-67.3; 5 points) were selected to generate the score. Among the 54 patients with a score of 0 at baseline, none progressed to sSLE, whereas a score of ≥6 was associated with a risk of approximately 40%. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design. CONCLUSION: In our cohort, an age of <25 years at the time of DLE diagnosis, phototype V to VI, and antinuclear antibody titers of ≥1:320 were risk factors for developing sSLE.

Plasma cell-directed therapies in monoclonal gammopathy-associated scleromyxedema.

Scleromyxedema is a rare skin and systemic mucinosis that is usually associated with monoclonal gammopathy (MG). In this French multicenter retrospective study of 33 patients, we investigated the clinical and therapeutic features of MG-associated scleromyxedema. Skin molecular signatures were analyzed using a transcriptomic approach. Skin symptoms included papular eruptions (100%), sclerodermoid features (91%), and leonine facies (39%). MG involved an immunoglobulin G isotype in all patients, with a predominant λ light chain (73%). Associated hematologic malignancies were diagnosed in 4 of 33 patients (12%) (smoldering myeloma, n = 2; chronic lymphoid leukemia, n = 1; and refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia, n = 1). Carpal tunnel syndrome (33%), arthralgia (25%), and dermato-neuro syndrome (DNS) (18%) were the most common systemic complications. One patient with mucinous cardiopathy died of acute heart failure. High-dose IV immunoglobulin (HDIVig), alone or in combination with steroids, appeared to be quite effective in nonsevere cases (clinical complete response achieved in 13/31 patients). Plasma cell-directed therapies using lenalidomide and/or bortezomib with dexamethasone and HDIVig led to a significant improvement in severe cases (HDIVig refractory or cases with central nervous system or cardiac involvement). The emergency treatment of DNS with combined plasmapheresis, HDIVig, and high-dose corticosteroids induced the complete remission of neurological symptoms in 4 of 5 patients. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis of 6 scleromyxedema skin samples showed significantly higher profibrotic pathway levels (transforming growth factor ß and collagen-1) than in healthy skin. Prospective studies targeting plasma cell clones and/or fibrotic pathways are warranted for long-term scleromyxedema management.

Prevalence and factors associated with long-term remission in cutaneous lupus: A longitudinal cohort study of 141 cases.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the prevalence and factors associated with long-term remission in cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence, the factors associated with remission, and the long-term remission with and without treatment during CLE. METHODS: Longitudinal cohort study including biopsy-proven patients with CLE seen between November 1, 2019 and April 30, 2021, with at least 6 months of follow-up after diagnosis. Demographic data, CLE subtypes, remission status, and treatments were recorded. Remission was defined by a Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index activity score of 0. Long-term remission was defined by remission >3 years. RESULTS: Among 141 patients included (81% of women), 93 (66%) were in remission at last follow-up with a median duration since diagnosis of 11.4 years (interquartile range, 4.2-24.7). Long-term remission was observed in 22 (19%) of 114 patients with at least 3 years of follow-up, including 5 (4.4%) with no systemic treatment. Active smoking (odds ratio, 0.22 [95%CI: 0.05-0.97]; P = .04) and discoid CLE lesions (odds ratio, 0.14 [95%CI, 0.04-0.48]; P = .004) were associated with a lower risk of long-term remission. LIMITATIONS: Partial retrospective data collection and tertiary center population. CONCLUSION: Long-term remission is rare in CLE and negatively associated with active smoking and discoid CLE.

Nailfold capillaroscopy findings in cutaneous lupus erythematosus patients with or without digital lesions and comparison with dermatomyositis patients: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Differential diagnosis between cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and dermatomyositis (DM) may be challenging if digital lesions occur. OBJECTIVES: To compare nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) findings in CLE patients with or without digital involvement, and to compare capillaroscopic findings between CLE patients with digital lesions and DM patients. METHODS: Prospective monocentric study including CLE and DM patients. NFC was performed and standardized items were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-one CLE patients and 10 DM patients with digital lesions were included. A scleroderma pattern was found in 6 patients (12%): in 5 out of 17 patients with digital lesions, compared with only 1 out of 34 patients without digital lesions (p = 0.01). In multivariate analysis, CLE digital lesions and digital ulcerations were statistically associated with scleroderma pattern. CLE digital lesions were significantly associated with architectural disorganization (p = 0.0003) and capillary rarefaction (p = 0.0038). A scleroderma pattern was significantly more frequent in DM patients (80%) than in CLE patients with digital lesions (30%, p = 0.018). Capillaroscopic findings were not significantly different between CLE patients with digital lesions and DM patients. CONCLUSION: Although scleroderma pattern is more frequent in DM patients than in CLE patients with digital lesions, NFC cannot formally distinguish CLE from DM.

Cutaneous Kikuchi disease-like inflammatory pattern without lymph node involvement is associated with systemic disease and severe features in lupus erythematous: A case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a self-limited histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis sometimes affecting the skin. "Kikuchi disease-like inflammatory pattern" (KLIP) has been described in cutaneous lesions as similar pathological features in patients without lymph node involvement and as a potential clue for the diagnosis of lupus. We aimed to describe KLIP-associated clinical and immunological features in lupus patients with a retrospective case-control study. METHODS: Thirteen cases of KLIP were included as well as thirty-nine age- and sex-matched control lupus patients without KLIP. At the time of KLIP diagnosis, 4/13 patients (31%) had isolated cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and 9/13 had (69%) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) including 6 (46%) with severe haematological, lung, cardiac or renal disease. KLIP features were observed in skin biopsies of different clinical presentations. RESULTS: Compared with our control group, KLIP patients more frequently had SLE 9/13 (69%) versus 8/39 (21%) (OR 12.9; IC95% [2.86-58.2]; p = 0.0004) and more frequently severe SLE. Two out of four CLE exhibiting KLIP lesions (50%) developed severe SLE with cardiac or renal involvement after 12 and 24 months, respectively.Treatment with thalidomide 100 mg/day allowed rapid and complete clearance of cutaneous lesions in 6/6 KLIP patients. The need to use thalidomide tended to be more frequent in KLIP patients than in controls. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that KLIP features in lupus skin lesions are associated with SLE and severe systemic features. Despite a limited number of isolated CLE patients with KLIP features in the skin, this observation may warrant closer follow-up on patients with a higher risk of developing SLE.

Severe onychomycosis management with oral terbinafine in a kidney transplantation setting: Clinical follow-up by image analysis.

BACKGROUND: Severe onychomycosis treatment in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) is challenging because of drug interactions and adverse events. Tacrolimus remains the antirejection treatment (ART) of choice in kidney transplantation but tolerance with systemic terbinafine for the management of severe onychomycosis has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: This study illustrates severe onychomycosis management in a kidney transplantation setting and investigates systemic terbinafine tolerance profile in KTR. PATIENTS/METHODS: We retrospective analysed clinical data of KTR with a confirmed diagnosis of severe onychomycosis. RESULTS: We retrieved a total of 29 KTR with severe onychomycosis needing an oral treatment to manage onychomycosis. In 55.1% (16/29) KTR, altered renal biological parameters or lack of guidelines to manage severe onychomycosis were the main reasons to deterring clinicians from prescribing oral treatments. 13 patients received an oral terbinafine treatment (9, 3 and 1 with a tacrolimus, cyclosporine and everolimus-based ART, respectively). Clinical and biological follow-up did not reveal severe drug interactions. ART blood levels showed significant variations in 2 patients without clinical consequences in renal graft. Two patients reported mild adverse events but after only one dose of terbinafine. Using an open-source image analysis program, clinical evolution of onychomycosis could be retrospectively quantified and followed up. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here suggest that oral terbinafine can be proposed to treat severe onychomycosis with an acceptable tolerance profile in KTR with different ART such as tacrolimus and highlight the need of multicentric studies to establish guidelines for onychomycosis treatment in KTR.

Risk factors for hydroxychloroquine retinopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus: a case-control study with hydroxychloroquine blood-level analysis.

OBJECTIVE: HCQ is an essential medication in SLE, proven to lengthen survival and reduce flares. Its use, however, is limited by its rare but severe ophthalmological complications. Here, we aimed to analyse factors associated with HCQ retinopathy including HCQ blood levels. METHODS: This case-control study compared SLE patients with and without HCQ retinopathy, defined by abnormal results for at least two of the following ophthalmological tests: automated visual fields, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and fundus autofluorescence. We compared clinical and laboratory findings to assess risk factors for HCQ retinopathy. RESULTS: The study included 23 patients with confirmed retinopathy (cases) and 547 controls. In the univariate analysis, age (P < 0.001), height (P = 0.045), creatinine clearance (P < 0.001), haemoglobin concentration (P = 0.01), duration of HCQ intake, (P < 0.001), higher cumulative HCQ dose (P < 0.001) and geographical origin (West Indies and sub-Saharan Africa) (P = 0.007) were associated with the risk of retinopathy, while HCQ blood levels were not. In the multivariate analysis, only cumulative dose (P = 0.016), duration of intake (P = 0.039), creatinine clearance (P = 0.002) and geographical origin (P < 0.0001, odds ratio 8.7) remained significantly associated with retinopathy. CONCLUSION: SLE patients on HCQ should be closely monitored for retinopathy, especially those from the West Indies or sub-Saharan Africa, or with renal insufficiency, longer HCQ intake or a high cumulative dose. Although reducing the daily dose of HCQ in patients with persistently high HCQ blood levels seems logical, these concentrations were not associated with retinopathy in this study with controls adherent to treatment.

Surface plasmon-enhanced solution-processed phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes by incorporating gold nanoparticles.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have attracted increasing attention due to their superiority as high quality displays and energy-saving lighting. However, improving the efficiency of solution-processed devices especially based on blue emitter remains a challenge. Excitation of surface plasmons on metallic nanoparticles has potential for increasing the absorption and emission from optoelectronic devices. We demonstrate here that the incorporation of gold nano particles (GNPs) in the hole injection layer of poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonic acid with an appropriate size and doping concentration can greatly enhance the efficiency OLED device especially at higher voltage. Apparently, the spectral of the multiple plasmon resonances of the GNPs and the luminescence of the emitting materials significantly overlap with each other. At 1000 cd m-2 for example, the power efficiency of a studied green device is increased from 29.0 to 36.2 lm W-1, an increment of 24.8%, and the maximum brightness improved from 21 550 to 27 810  cd m-2, an increment of 29.1%, as 2 wt% of a 12 nm GNP is incorporated. Remarkably, designed blue OLED also exhibited an increment of 50% and 35% in power efficacy at 100 and 1000 cd m-2, respectively, for same device structure. The reason why the enhancement is marked may be attributed to a strong absorption of the short-wavelength emission from the device by the gold nano particles, which in turn initiates a strong surface plasmon resonance effect, leading to a high device efficiency.

Deep cutaneous fungal infections in solid-organ transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Deep cutaneous fungal infections (DCFIs) are varied in immunosuppressed patients, with few data for such infections in solid-organ transplant recipients (s-OTRs). OBJECTIVE: To determine DCFI diagnostic characteristics and outcome with treatments in s-OTRs. METHODS: A 20-year retrospective observational study in France was conducted in 8 primary dermatology-dedicated centers for s-OTRs diagnosed with DCFIs. Relevant clinical data on transplants, fungal species, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 46 s-OTRs developed DCFIs (median delay, 13 months after transplant) with predominant phaeohyphomycoses (46%). Distribution of nodular lesions on limbs and granulomatous findings on histopathology were helpful diagnostic clues. Treatments received were systemic antifungal therapies (48%), systemic antifungal therapies combined with surgery (28%), surgery alone (15%), and modulation of immunosuppression (61%), leading to complete response in 63% of s-OTRs. LIMITATIONS: Due to the retrospective observational design of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Phaeohyphomycoses are the most common DCFIs in s-OTRs. Multidisciplinary teams are helpful for optimal diagnosis and management.

Treatment of calcinosis cutis in systemic sclerosis and dermatomyositis: A review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: We have limited data on the treatment of calcinosis cutis associated with systemic sclerosis and dermatomyositis. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and tolerance of available treatments for calcinosis cutis based on previously published studies. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of studies published in Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library during 1980-July 2018. The strength of clinical data was graded according to the modified Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine levels of evidence. RESULTS: In all, 30 studies (288 patients) were included. Eleven therapeutic classes, surgery, and physical treatments were identified as potential treatment options for calcinosis cutis. On the basis of results of a small randomized controlled trial and 4 retrospective studies, low-dose warfarin should not be used for calcinosis cutis (level IB evidence). The results of several studies suggest diltiazem and bisphosphonates might be useful treatment options (level IV). Considering biologic therapies, rituximab has shown promising results in treating both dermatomyositis and systemic sclerosis, whereas tumor necrosis factor inhibitors might be useful for treating juvenile dermatomyositis (level IV). Intralesional sodium thiosulfate might be a promising alternative (level IV). LIMITATIONS: Few included studies had a high level of evidence. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the efficacy and tolerance profiles of available treatments for calcinosis cutis, with a focus on level of evidence.

Management of Kaposi sarcoma after solid organ transplantation: A European retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Systemic therapeutic management of post-transplant Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is mainly based on 3 axes: reduction of immunosuppression, conversion to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, chemotherapy, or a combination of these. OBJECTIVE: To obtain an overview of clinical strategies about the current treatment of KS. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study including 145 solid organ transplant recipients diagnosed with KS between 1985 and 2011 to collect data regarding first-line treatment and response at 6 months. RESULTS: Overall, 95%, 28%, and 16% of patients had reduction of immunosuppression, conversion to mTOR inhibitor, and chemotherapy, respectively. Patients treated with chemotherapy or mTOR inhibitor conversion were more likely to have visceral KS. At 6 months, 83% of patients had response, including 40% complete responses. LIMITATIONS: The retrospective design of the study. CONCLUSION: Currently available therapeutic options seem to be effective to control KS in most patients. Tapering down the immunosuppressive regimen remains the cornerstone of KS management.

Selective and context-dependent effects of chemical stress across trophic levels at the basis of marine food webs.

Human activities increasingly impact the functioning of marine food webs, but anthropogenic stressors are seldom included in ecological study designs. Diet quality, as distinct from just diet quantity, has moreover rarely been highlighted in food web studies in a stress context. We measured the effects of metal and pesticide stress (copper and atrazine) on the contribution of a benthic intertidal diatom community to two processes that are key to the functioning of intertidal systems: biomass (diet quantity) and lipid (diet quality) production. We then examined if stressors affected diatom functioning by selectively targeting the species contributing most to functioning (selective stress effects) or by changing the species' functional contribution (context-dependent effects). Finally, we tested if stress-induced changes in diet quality altered the energy flow to the diatoms' main grazers (harpacticoid copepods). Diatom diet quantity was reduced by metal stress but not by low pesticide levels due to the presence of an atrazine-tolerant, mixotrophic species. Selective effects of the pesticide reduced diatom diet quality by 60% and 75% at low and high pesticide levels respectively, by shifting diatom community structure from dominance by lipid-rich species toward dominance by an atrazine-tolerant, but lipid-poor, species. Context-dependent effects did not affect individual diatom lipid content at low levels of both stressors, but caused diatoms to lose 40% of their lipids at high copper stress. Stress-induced changes in diet quality predicted the energy flow from the diatoms to their copepod consumers, which lost half of their lipids when feeding on diatoms grown under low and high pesticide and high metal stress. Selective pesticide effects were a more important threat for trophic energy transfer than context-dependent effects of both stressors, with shifts in diatom community structure affecting the energy flow to their copepod grazers at stress levels where no changes in diatom lipid content were detected.

Efficacy and tolerance profile of thalidomide in cutaneous lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Thalidomide has shown excellent results for severe cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), but its prescription is limited by potentially severe adverse events. OBJECTIVE: To assess the overall rate of response to thalidomide in CLE with respect to CLE subtypes and the occurrence rate of relevant adverse events on the basis of previously published studies. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published in MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library between 1965 and January 2017. The proportions of responders and rates of adverse events were extracted from individual studies and pooled using random effects or fixed models. RESULTS: Among 548 patients from 21 included studies, the overall rate of response to thalidomide was 90% (95% confidence interval [CI], 85-94), with similar response rates between CLE subtypes. Conversely, the pooled rate of thalidomide withdrawal related to adverse events was 24% (95% CI, 14-35) including confirmed peripheral neuropathy in 16% (95% CI, 9-25) and thromboembolic events in 2% (95% CI, 1-3). The pooled rate of relapse after thalidomide withdrawal was 71% (95% CI, 65-77) compared with 34% (95% CI, 25-44) with a maintenance dose. LIMITATIONS: We found important statistical heterogeneity across included studies. CONCLUSION: Considering the frequent occurrence of adverse events, prescription of thalidomide should be restricted to patients with severely refractory CLE or who are at high risk for severe scarring.

Changing antimalarial agents after inefficacy or intolerance in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus: A multicenter observational study.

BACKGROUND: Changing from one antimalarial (AM) agent to another is often recommended in cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) when the first AM agent is ineffective or poorly tolerated. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect on cutaneous response of a switch from hydroxychloroquine to chloroquine, or the reverse, after failure of the first AM agent. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study between 1997 and September 2015. The overall cutaneous response rate and reasons for failure of the switch were assessed for up to 48 months. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to assess the risk for failure of the second AM agent. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients with CLE (78% were women) were included; for 48 patients, the switch was for inefficacy, and for 16, it was for adverse events. Median follow-up was 42 months (range, 3-171). Of the patients changed because of inefficacy, 56% were responders at month 3; however, the response decreased over time, with a median duration before failure of the second AM agent of 9 months (95% confidence interval, 6-24). For patients switched because of adverse events, the second AM agent was well tolerated in 69% of cases. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design and subjective evaluation of cutaneous response. CONCLUSION: A change of AM agent should be considered in patients with CLE when the first AM agent is ineffective or poorly tolerated.

Cutaneous Arteriolosclerosis Is Not Specific to Ischemic Hypertensive Leg Ulcers.

BACKGROUND: The histological characteristic of hypertensive leg ulcers (HLU) is the presence of "arteriolosclerosis." The pertinence of performing a skin biopsy to diagnose HLU is questionable, as cutaneous arteriolosclerosis may be related to patient comorbidities. The objective here was to evaluate the frequency of arteriolosclerosis in skin leg biopsies performed in patients without ulcer and in control patients with HLU. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study between January 2013 and July 2014. Patients were included if they had undergone a deep skin biopsy on the lower limbs, in the absence of any leg ulcer. Controls were patients with typical HLU. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients and 6 controls were included. Hypertension was present in 25 patients (43%). Arteriolosclerosis, defined as fibrous endarteritis, was present in 35 out of 58 patients (60%) and in all of the controls. No hyalinosis or hyperplastic proliferative arteriolosclerosis was observed in the patients or controls. Only age was an independent factor associated with the presence of cutaneous arteriolosclerosis (p &x#3c; 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Cutaneous arteriolosclerosis is significantly and independently associated with age. Thus, skin biopsy seems not to be necessary for the diagnosis of HLU but only for a differential diagnosis.

Lower-limb Ulcers in Systemic Sclerosis: A Multicentre Retrospective Case-control Study.

Lower-limb ulcers in systemic sclerosis patients are rarely reported. The aim of this study was to describe the main causes and outcomes of lower-limb ulcers in systemic sclerosis patients and to assess factors associated with ischaemic causes (arterial disease and/or microvascular impairment). A retrospective, multicentre, case-control study was conducted in 2013 and 2014, including 45 systemic sclerosis patients presenting lower-limb ulcers between 2008 and 2013. The estimated prevalence of lower-limb ulcers among systemic sclerosis patients was 12.8%. Ulcers were related to venous insufficiency in 22 cases (49%), ischaemic causes in 21 (47%) and other causes in 2 (4%). Complete healing was observed in 60% of cases in a mean time of 10.3 months; 59% relapsed during a mean follow-up of 22 months. Ischaemic lower-limb ulcer outcomes were poor, with a 28.6% amputation rate. Logistic-regression multivariate analyses between ischaemic lower-limb ulcer cases and matched systemic sclerosis-controls identified past or concomitant digital ulcer and cutaneous sclerosis of the feet as independent risk factors associated with ischaemic lower-limb ulcers.