Outcome and prognosis of isolated carotid vasculitis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognosis and outcome of patients with isolated carotid vasculitis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective multicenter study of 36 patients (median age at diagnosis was 37 [IQR 27-45] years and 11 [31 %] patients were men) with initial presentation as isolated carotid vasculitis. Study endpoints included vascular complications, relapses, and progression to large vessel vasculitis (i.e. Giant cell arteritis or Takayasu). RESULTS: The most frequent involvement was the left internal carotid artery (39 %), and 81 % had stenosis. After a median follow-up of 32 months [IQR 12-96], 21 (58 %) patients had a vascular event, including 31 % of new onset vascular lesions and 25 % of stroke/transient ischemic attack. Patients with stroke had less carotidynia at diagnosis (33 % vs 74 %, p = 0.046), higher significant carotid stenosis (i.e. > 50 %) (89 % vs. 30 %, p = 0.026) and higher severe carotid stenosis (i.e. >70 %) (67 % vs 19 %, p = 0.012), compared to those without stroke. Twenty (52 %) patients experienced relapses. High CRP at diagnosis was associated with relapses (p = 0.022). At the end of follow-up, 21 (58 %) patients were classified as having Takayasu arteritis, 13 (36 %) as isolated carotid vasculitis, and two (6 %) as giant cell arteritis. CONCLUSION: Carotid vasculitis may occur as a topographically limited lesion and is associated with significant rate of vascular complications.

Pregnancy outcome in patients with a medical history of immunoglobulin A vasculitis: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Data on obstetric outcomes in patients with a history of immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgA-V) are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess maternal, neonatal, and vasculitis outcomes during pregnancy. METHOD: We conducted a French retrospective case-control study. Pregnancies of patients with a history of IgA-V (cases) were retrospectively studied and compared to pregnancies in women who developed IgA-V after their pregnancies and to pregnancies in healthy women (controls). RESULTS: Twenty-six pregnancies in patients with a history of IgA-V were included and compared to 15 pregnancies in women who later developed IgA-V and 52 pregnancies in healthy women. Both gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia were more frequent in the case group than in the other groups (23% vs 0% vs 0%, p < 0.01; 12% vs 7% vs 0%, p = 0.04). Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy occurred more frequently in patients with pre-existing kidney disease (78% vs 12%, p < 0.01). Caesarean section was more often performed in the case group than in the other groups (27% vs 0% vs 10%, p = 0.04). No foetal loss or maternal deaths occurred. There were no differences in delivery term or birth weight. No vasculitis flares were observed during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Women with a history of IgA-V appear to be at higher risk for gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia, especially in cases with renal involvement; however, both mother and newborn outcomes appear to be favourable.

Early infectious risk in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis according to remission-induction therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Few comparative data exist on early infections secondary to remission-induction therapy (RIT) with rituximab (RTX) versus cyclophosphamide (CYC) in newly diagnosed anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients. We compared and analysed the rates and predictors of severe infection in such patients within the first 6 months following RIT. METHOD: From the Caen University Hospital databases, we included all consecutive adults newly diagnosed with ANCA-positive granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis between January 2006 and December 2019. We compared rates of survival without severe infection and survival without infections of any severity within 6 months of RIT and used a multivariate Cox analysis to identify predictors of infection. RESULTS: We included 145 patients, 27 in the RTX and 118 in the CYC group. Patients in the RTX group more frequently had pneumococcal vaccination (p < 0.01) and creatinine < 150 µmol/L; other characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Overall, 37 severe infections and 65 infections of any severity were recorded. Rates of survival without severe infection were similar in both groups (p = 0.69), but survival without infections of any severity was lower in the RTX group (p = 0.005). In multivariate analysis, risk factors at diagnosis for severe infections included chronic urinary tract disease, dialysis, and absence of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis (p < 0.01 each). CONCLUSIONS: Within 6 months of RIT, rates of survival without severe infection were similar in newly diagnosed ANCA-positive AAV patients treated with RTX or CYC, but survival rates without infections of any severity appeared to be lower with RTX treatment.

Efficacy, tolerance and acceptability of pulsed dye laser on facial and neckline telangiectasias in systemic scleroderma: a prospective open-label monocentric study in 21 patients.

Facial and neckline telangiectasias have an underestimated yet important impact on quality of life of patients with systemic scleroderma (SSc). This monocentric, prospective, open-label, intra-patient comparative study was conducted in 21 consecutive patients with SSc. Patients underwent 4 sessions of PDL 8 weeks apart. A final quadruple assessment was performed by several raters 2 months after the last session, based on the following criteria: change in telangiectasia number; subjective improvement score (LINKERT scale); impact on the quality of life (QoL; SKINDEX score); visual analog pain scale; adverse effects (AEs), including treatment discontinuation for PDL-induced purpura and patient satisfaction. The mean telangiectasia number decreased by 5 (32%) at the end of the protocol. Eighteen patients (85.7%) reported an improvement or a strong improvement, versus 73.81% for the expert committee. Immediate session pain (mean = 3.4/10) was slightly less than overall pain (mean = 4.6/10). Ten patients (47%) experienced at least one AE (oozing/crusts, edema, epidermal blistering), including PDL-induced purpura in 3 patients (14%). AEs were mostly transient (<1 week) and mild (CTCAE grade 1). All QoL parameters improved after treatment, and 85% of patients were satisfied.

Further characterization of clinical and laboratory features in VEXAS syndrome: large-scale analysis of a multicentre case series of 116 French patients.

BACKGROUND: A new autoinflammatory syndrome related to somatic mutations of UBA1 was recently described and called VEXAS syndrome ('Vacuoles, E1 Enzyme, X-linked, Autoinflammatory, Somatic syndrome'). OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and outcomes of VEXAS syndrome. METHODS: One hundred and sixteen patients with VEXAS syndrome were referred to a French multicentre registry between November 2020 and May 2021. The frequency and median of parameters and vital status, from diagnosis to the end of the follow-up, were recorded. RESULTS: The main clinical features of VEXAS syndrome were found to be skin lesions (83%), noninfectious fever (64%), weight loss (62%), lung involvement (50%), ocular symptoms (39%), relapsing chondritis (36%), venous thrombosis (35%), lymph nodes (34%) and arthralgia (27%). Haematological disease was present in 58 cases (50%): myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS; n = 58) and monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (n = 12; all patients with MGUS also have a MDS). UBA1 mutations included p.M41T (45%), p.M41V (30%), p.M41L (18%) and splice mutations (7%). After a median follow-up of 3 years, 18 patients died (15·5%; nine of infection and three due to MDS progression). Unsupervised analysis identified three clusters: cluster 1 (47%; mild-to-moderate disease); cluster 2 (16%; underlying MDS and higher mortality rates); and cluster 3 (37%; constitutional manifestations, higher C-reactive protein levels and less frequent chondritis). The 5-year probability of survival was 84·2% in cluster 1, 50·5% in cluster 2 and 89·6% in cluster 3. The UBA1 p.Met41Leu mutation was associated with a better prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: VEXAS syndrome has a large spectrum of organ manifestations and shows different clinical and prognostic profiles. It also raises a potential impact of the identified UBA1 mutation.

Renal and overall outcomes of double-positive (ANCA and anti-GBM antibodies) patients compared to ANCA-associated vasculitis patients with severe renal involvement: A multicenter retrospective study with systematic renal pathology analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Double-positive patients (DPPs), combining serum and/or histological findings for glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs), are rare and poorly described. This study aimed to compare characteristics between DPPs and ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients with severe renal involvement. METHOD: This retrospective multicentre study compared 33 DPPs and 45 AAV patients with severe renal involvement (serum creatinine > 300 µmol/L), all with biopsy-proven nephropathy. RESULTS: All DPPs (including 18% exhibiting negative serum anti-GBM antibodies) presented severe acute kidney failure with histological GBM involvement. Compared to AAV patients, they had higher serum creatinine (719 vs 501 µmol/L; p = 0.006) and a higher proportion of patients requiring initial renal replacement therapy (82% vs 36%; p < 0.001). Berden classification differed significantly (p = 0.003), with more crescentic glomerulonephritis and fewer sclerotic lesions in DPPs. One-year renal survival was significantly lower in DPPs than in AAV patients (27% vs 64%; p < 0.0002). With comparable proportions of ANCA subtypes (two-thirds with anti-myeloperoxidase autoantibodies), numbers of extrarenal manifestations (mostly pulmonary in two-thirds), remission-inducing immunosuppressants, and median follow-ups (3 years) between groups, relapse rates were similar: 9.1% of DPPs and 10% of AAV patients. CONCLUSION: Although DPPs have features of both kinds of vasculitis, the anti-GBM component is the dominant phenotype, with more severe renal presentation and prognosis compared to AAV patients with severe renal failure. Simultaneous testing of both antibodies and systematically performed renal biopsy should be recommended in all rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis patients to recognize this difficult-to-treat, rare disease.

Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to adult central nervous system vasculitis.

The clinical manifestations of central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis are highly variable. In the absence of a positive CNS biopsy, CNS vasculitis is particularly suspected when markers of both vascular disease and inflammation are present. To facilitate the clinical and therapeutic approach to this rare condition, CNS vasculitis can be classified according to the size of the involved vessels. Vascular imaging is used to identify medium vessel disease. Small vessel disease can only be diagnosed with a CNS biopsy. Medium vessel vasculitis usually presents with focal neurological signs, while small vessel vasculitis more often leads to cognitive deficits, altered level of consciousness and seizures. Markers of CNS inflammation include cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis or elevated protein levels, and vessel wall, parenchymal or leptomeningeal enhancement. The broad range of differential diagnoses of CNS vasculitis can be narrowed based on the disease subtype. Common mimickers of medium vessel vasculitis include intracranial atherosclerosis and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. The diagnostic workup aims to answer two questions: is the neurological presentation secondary to a vasculitic process, and if so, is the vasculitis primary (i.e., primary angiitis of the CNS) or secondary (e.g., to a systemic vasculitis, connective tissue disorder, infection, malignancy or drug use)? In primary angiitis of the CNS, glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide are most often used for induction therapy, but rituximab may be an alternative. Based on the available evidence, all patients should receive maintenance immunosuppression. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to ensure an accurate and timely diagnosis and to improve outcomes for patients with this potentially devastating condition.

IVIg increases interleukin-11 levels, which in turn contribute to increased platelets, VWF and FVIII in mice and humans.

The mechanisms of action of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) in autoimmune diseases are not fully understood. The fixed duration of efficacy and noncumulative effects of IVIg in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and acquired von Willebrand disease (AVWD) suggest other mechanisms besides immunological ones. Additionally to the peripheral destruction of platelets in ITP, their medullary hypoproduction emerged as a new paradigm with rescue of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA). In an ITP mouse model, interleukin (IL)-11 blood levels increase following IVIg. IL-11 stimulates the production of platelets and other haemostasis factors; recombinant IL-11 (rIL-11) is thus used as a growth factor in post-chemotherapy thrombocytopenia. We therefore hypothesized that IVIg induces IL-11 over-production, which increases platelets, VWF and factor VIII (FVIII) levels in humans and mice. First, in an ITP mouse model, we show that IVIg or rIL-11 induces a rapid increase (72 h) in platelets, FVIII and VWF levels, whereas anti-IL-11 antibody greatly decreased this effect. Secondly, we quantify for the first time in patients with ITP, AVWD, inflammatory myopathies or Guillain-Barré syndrome the dramatic IL-11 increase following IVIg, regardless of the disease. As observed in mice, platelets, VWF and FVIII levels increased following IVIg. The late evolution (4 weeks) of post-IVIg IL-11 levels overlapped with those of VWF and platelets. These data may explain thrombotic events following IVIg and open perspectives to monitor post-IVIg IL-11/thrombopoietin ratios, and to assess rIL-11 use with or without TPO-RA as megakaryopoiesis co-stimulating factors to overcome the relative hypoproduction of platelets or VWF in corresponding autoimmune diseases, besides immunosuppressant.

Mast cells' involvement in inflammation pathways linked to depression: evidence in mastocytosis.

Converging sources of evidence point to a role for inflammation in the development of depression, fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. More precisely, the tryptophan (TRP) catabolism is thought to play a major role in inflammation-induced depression. Mastocytosis is a rare disease in which chronic symptoms, including depression, are related to mast cell accumulation and activation. Our objectives were to study the correlations between neuropsychiatric features and the TRP catabolism pathway in mastocytosis in order to demonstrate mast cells' potential involvement in inflammation-induced depression. Fifty-four patients with mastocytosis and a mean age of 50.1 years were enrolled in the study and compared healthy age-matched controls. Depression and stress were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory revised and the Perceived Stress Scale. All patients had measurements of TRP, serotonin (5-HT), kynurenine (KYN), indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) activity (ratio KYN/TRP), kynurenic acid (KA) and quinolinic acid (QA). Patients displayed significantly lower levels of TRP and 5-HT without hypoalbuminemia or malabsorption, higher IDO1 activity, and higher levels of KA and QA, with an imbalance towards the latter. High perceived stress and high depression scores were associated with low TRP and high IDO1 activity. In conclusion, TRP metabolism is altered in mastocytosis and correlates with perceived stress and depression, demonstrating mast cells' involvement in inflammation pathways linked to depression.

Multiple cranial neuropathies following zoledronic acid infusion: a relationship? Clinical features and pathogenic discussion concerning a case.

The widespread use of bisphosphonates, especially in osteoporosis, has led to a greater number of reports of side effects. We describe for the first time a case of a 75-year-old female patient with a history of indolent sicca syndrome who developed multiple cranial neuropathies after zoledronic acid infusion. In this case, the elimination of the main causes of multiple cranial neuropathies, the chronology with zoledronic acid infusion, the absence of secondary complications of the Sjögren's syndrome, reported cases of similar peripheral nerve injuries with interferon infusions, the spontaneous remission of this multiple cranial neuropathy in parallel with the induced flu-like syndrome, argue for its iatrogenic origin, probably by a great release of inflammatory mediators in this particular background of primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Batch recall of French plasma-derived products due to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease risk: the psychological impact on haemophilic patients, changes in their therapeutic demands and behaviour and ethical considerations.

The choice of plasma-derived products (PdP) vs. recombinant products (RP) for treating haemophilia is influenced by the infectious and perceived safety of the products. Batch recall of PdP due to the risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) may have unfavourable psychological impacts on haemophilia patients and influence their product preferences. This study aimed to assess the psychological impact of batch recalls of PdP in six haemophilia patients and their therapeutic demands, and to discuss the ethical problems in physicians' management of this event. A survey was conducted using a new interview form and an existing anxiety and depression questionnaire. Batch recalls produce recurrent negative emotional outcomes in haemophiliacs and their families. The quality, understanding and efficiency of the batch recall announcements were unsatisfactory in some respects. Only one patient still had some of the vials in question, and only three patients understood the real reason for the batch recall. Four patients asked to change their PdP for RP; a fifth patient was considering doing so. Here, topics for discussion include the delivery of an unclear message to patients about a very uncertain risk of a frightening disease, the reasons to maintain PdP when RP are largely available, except in specific cases, and the related discomfort for caregivers. The ethical questions revealed by batch recalls and the high psychological impact of vCJD risk on patients can no longer be ignored, and require surveys assessing the rationales and choices of the healthcare authorities, manufacturers, prescribers and users.

Long-term follow-up of children with haemophilia - low incidence of infections with central venous access devices.

This study reports on 15 years of experience, in a single haemophilia care centre in France, with central venous access devices (VADs) in children with haemophilia. Following the insertion of a central VAD, patients were requested to return to the hospital on a quarterly basis for a multidisciplinary appointment which included clinical examination, chest X-ray, cardiac and major vessels ultrasound and preventive fibrinolysis. The family was urged to return to the Haemophilia Care Centre if complications or problems occurred. The follow-up comprised 50 patients. Data were collected prospectively. The total number of days with a VAD was 86 461 days and the total number of times the VAD was used was 41 192 (approximately every other day). Mean duration of VAD placement was 1269 days (range 113-2794 days). There were 25 complications, of which 9 haematomas and 5 systemic infections. Two VADs, infected with Staphylococcus aureus, had to be replaced. The infection rate was calculated as 0.0578 infections/1000 catheter days. There were no cases of thrombosis. This study concluded that most VAD infections in children can be avoided, even in patients requiring intense, prolonged treatment. The very low infection rate was achieved through the efforts of a multidisciplinary team, combined with extensive training for all individuals involved, adherence to written protocols and specific monitoring measures.

Efficacy of anakinra for various types of crystal-induced arthritis in complex hospitalized patients: a case series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: There are few data on anakinra use after failure of conventional medications for crystal-induced peripheral arthritis and/or crowned dens syndrome among complex hospitalized patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of six patients affected with subacute crystal-induced arthritis who had received anakinra in second or third line therapy, including three patients with crowned dens syndrome and three others with gouty arthritis. Patients' comorbidities, reasons for anakinra use and associated drugs, and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: All patients presented with elevated inflammatory syndrome, systemic symptoms with poly/oligoarthritis. Except for absolute contraindications, all patients were previously treated with full or decreased dose of NSAID, colchicine, and/or glucocorticoids, with unsatisfactory response. All three gouty patients exhibited complete responses in all acute involvements under anakinra within 3 to 5 days, including one of them who needed the reintroduction of colchicine treatment that was previously unsuccessful. Crowned dens syndrome patients, including two with pseudogout and one with subacute hydroxyapatite deposition disease, needed 9 to 11 days to achieve complete response. Tolerance to anakinra was good. CONCLUSION: In case series of complex hospitalized patients, anakinra showed good activity in crowned dens syndrome and associated crystal-induced peripheral arthritis, with longer treatment duration than in gouty arthritis.

Spontaneous obturator internus muscle haematoma: a new unpublished cause of ilioipelvic pain in haemophilia.

Obturator muscles haematoma are rarely reported. The most often reported cases are primary pyomyositis or posttraumatic haematomas occurring during pelvic fractures. We firstly report herein two cases of spontaneous obturator internus haematoma (OIH) in two haemophiliacs with inhibitor. Clinical data and imaging of two patients treated in our clinic are reported here according to previously defined criteria of OIH in posttraumatic situation. Both patients were children suffering from severe and moderate haemophilia A, respectively, with an inhibitor at the time of the event. The clinical feature was marked by an iliopelvic pain letting discussing hip haemarthrosis, appendicitis or iliopsoas haematoma. For both patients ultrasonography (US) failed to provide the diagnosis. Careful and repeated clinical examinations eventually lead to suspect obturator haematoma which was confirmed by abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Respectively, high dose of FVIII or rFVIIa regimen allowed a rapid control of the muscular bleeding in the low and high responder inhibitor patients. Spontaneous OIH may be added to the differential diagnosis of iliopelvic pain in severe forms of haemophilia. US still often performed at first in such case remains unhelpful; abdominopelvic CT or MRI should be performed to discriminate among different diagnoses, including OIH which stays probably undiagnosed.

L'haploinsuffisance de A20 : que doit connaître le clinicien?

A20 Haploinsufficiency (HA20) is a monogenic autoinflammatory disease associated with an autosomal dominant mutation in the TNFAIP3 gene. It induces a defect in the inactivation of the pro-inflammatory NF-κB pathway. Less than 200 cases have been described worldwide. The clinical picture of the disease is essentially based on the association of recurrent fever and/or biologic inflammatory syndrome, aphtosis, often bipolar, and cutaneous folliculitis. However, the clinical spectrum of HA20 is very broad, including gastrointestinal (mainly colonic ulceration), articular, cutaneous, pericardial and lymph node involvement, as well as frequent association with organ-specific or non-specific autoimmune manifestations and/or autoantibodies, including antinuclear antibodies and anti-dsDNA. As a result, the diagnosis of a number of systemic or organic disorders, most notably Behçet's disease, Crohn's disease, and sometimes even systemic lupus, has been corrected to HA20 by molecular research for a heterozygous mutation with functional deficiency of TNFAIP3. Although the first signs of the disease often appear in the first years of life, the diagnosis is often made in adulthood and requires the involvement of both paediatric and adult physicians. Treatment for HA20 is not codified and relies on conventional or biological immunomodulators and immunosuppressants adapted to the patient's symptomatology. This review highlights the enormous diagnostic challenges in this autoinflammatory disease.

Deaths associated with acquired haemophilia in France from 2000 to 2009: multiple cause analysis for best care strategies.

Deaths occurring in the context of acquired haemophilia (AH) may be related to inter-connected causes and mechanisms including bleeding, specific or older patient co-morbidities or iatrogenic complications. However, their magnitude remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the respective weight and frequency of the various causes of death in AH. Multiple-cause analysis based on death certificates data is used in this purpose. Over a 10-year period (2000-2009), 121 deaths with AH as a cause were registered in France. All the deaths were of adults (extremes: 47 and 99 years; mean age: 80.7 years). The average number of causes per death certificate was 4.7. AH was the underlying cause of death (UCD) in 69.4% of the cases, and was more frequent in the older subjects. In contrast, before age of 75 years, AH was more often a contributing cause of death. No postpartum or obvious thromboembolism-related deaths were registered. Haemorrhagic shock was the most frequent direct cause of death (DCD), followed by infectious events, cardiac dysfunction, metabolic and nutritional disorders with muscle wasting and decubitus complications, and cancers (52.9%, 26.4%, 7.5%, 5.8% and 4.1%, respectively). However, when AH was not reported as an UCD, infections become the first DCD (32.4%) followed by bleeding events (16.2%). Best prophylactic and curative strategies for infections are particularly required to improve the prognosis in AH. Moreover, as several of its DCD correspond also to steroids side effects, best tolerated immunosuppressant regimen with steroid-sparing agents adjoining are particularly awaited in AH population.

Screening for von Willebrand disease: contribution of an automated assay for von Willebrand factor activity.

Measuring von Willebrand factor (VWF) activity is essential to the diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD). The VWF activity is usually assessed based on measurement of the ristocetin cofactor (VWF:RCo). However, that test is technically challenging and has high intra- and inter-assay variabilities. The HemosIL VWF activity (VWF:AC) is a fully automated assay, recently proposed as a good alternative to VWF:RCo for VWD diagnosis. This study was undertaken to assess this new method. First, the analytical performance of VWF:AC on an automated coagulo-meter (ACLTop) was determined, and then this new method was compared with VWF:RCo and the platelet function analyzer (PFA100) for 160 patients referred for VWD screening. The VWF:AC achieved acceptable precision with within-run and between-run coefficients of variation ranging from 2.3% to 14.1%, and linearity from 10% to 100%. Despite some marked differences between VWF:AC and VWF:RCo for 10 plasmas tested, their agreement for VWD diagnosis was good. The VWF:AC had sensitivity similar to that of PFA100 (close to 100%), but better specificity (97.7% vs. 66% or 60%, depending on the cartridge used). The good analytical performance, and the sensitivity and specificity of VWF:AC to detect VWF deficiency renders it a suitable method for VWD screening. Our findings support VWF:AC use for the diagnostic work-up of VWD, paying close attention to concomitant clinical signs and bleeding score, as recommended for VWD.

Characterizing hospital pathways for the care of acquired hemophilia in France using comprehensive national health data.

PURPOSE: Acquired hemophilia (AH) is a rare, serious bleeding disorder most often associated with older age and life-threatening complications. The patient care pathway for AH is complex because of the different types of bleeding, the presence of comorbidities, and the heterogeneity of medical specialists who care for these patients. METHODS: This observational study used the French national PMSI (Programme de médicalisation des systèmes d'information) database to characterize patients with AH in real-life practice and analyze their hospital pathway. In total, 180 patients with AH were identified over a 5-year study period (January 2010 to December 2014), based on three criteria: bypassing agent use, International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision code allocation, and aged over 65 years. Comparison of the incidence rate of AH versus registry data validated the PMSI as an epidemiological database. RESULTS: Rituximab was prescribed more often (60/180; 33.3%) than expected following guidelines and was associated in half of cases to early infections (32/60; 53.3%), surgery procedures were frequently performed during the year before AH onset (29/159; 18.2%), which may suggest a triggering effect, extended hospital stays (median: 20 days) and mortality remaining high (66/180; 36.7%) that occurred mainly during the first month after AH diagnosis. Median costs and number of injections were comparable between recombinant activated factor VII and plasma-derived activated prothrombin complex concentrate. CONCLUSION: These findings could inform future medico-economic approaches in this AH population (duration of stays, bypassing agents, rituximab use, comorbidities, hospitalizations with infections).

[Spontaneous intracranial hypotension: A rare cause of headache in systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Hypotension intracrânienne : une cause rare de céphalées au cours du lupus systémique.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), a rare cause of headache, may be idiopathic or secondary, in particular to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) where it remains exceptionally evoked or documented. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old woman presented with postural headache, recurrent nausea and vomiting. The discovery of a nephrotic syndrome led to the diagnosis of SLE with lupus nephropathy (class IV-G-(A)). A brain MRI showed signs of intracranial hypotension with tonsil ptosis and a left parietal hypersignal, and leading to a diagnosis of neurolupus with SIH. Treatment with prednisone, cyclophosphamide, and then mycophenolate mofetil allowed a rapid complete response of all systemic, renal and neurological manifestations, including the iconographic signs of intracranial hypotension. CONCLUSION: Headaches are frequent and often unexplained during SLE. Their orthostatic character should, if appropriate, suggests a SIH and lead to perform a brain MRI, even in the absence of other neurological signs.