MDA5-autoimmunity and interstitial pneumonitis contemporaneous with the COVID-19 pandemic (MIP-C).

BACKGROUND: Anti-MDA5 (Melanoma differentiation-associated protein-5) positive dermatomyositis (MDA5+-DM) is characterised by rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD) and high mortality. MDA5 is an RNA sensor and a key pattern recognition receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study of a surge in MDA5 autoimmunity, as determined using a 15 muscle-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) panel, between Janurary 2018 and December 2022 in Yorkshire, UK. MDA5-positivity was correlated with clinical features and outcome, and regional SARS-CoV-2 positivity and vaccination rates. Gene expression patterns in COVID-19 were compared with autoimmune lung disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to gain clues into the genesis of the observed MDA5+-DM outbreak. FINDINGS: Sixty new anti-MDA5+, but not other MSAs surged between 2020 and 2022, increasing from 0.4% in 2019 to 2.1% (2020), 4.8% (2021) and 1.7% (2022). Few (8/60) had a prior history of confirmed COVID-19, peak rates overlapped with regional SARS-COV-2 community positivity rates in 2021, and 58% (35/60) had received anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. 25/60 cases developed ILD which rapidly progression with death in 8 cases. Among the 35/60 non-ILD cases, 14 had myositis, 17 Raynaud phenomena and 10 had dermatomyositis spectrum rashes. Transcriptomic studies showed strong IFIH1 (gene encoding for MDA5) induction in COVID-19 and autoimmune-ILD, but not IPF, and IFIH1 strongly correlated with an IL-15-centric type-1 interferon response and an activated CD8+ T cell signature that is an immunologic hallmark of progressive ILD in the setting of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The IFIH1 rs1990760TT variant blunted such response. INTERPRETATION: A distinct pattern of MDA5-autoimmunity cases surged contemporaneously with circulation of the SARS-COV-2 virus during COVID-19. Bioinformatic insights suggest a shared immunopathology with known autoimmune lung disease mechanisms. FUNDING: This work was supported in part by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leeds Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), and in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant R01-AI155696 and pilot awards from the UC Office of the President (UCOP)-RGPO (R00RG2628, R00RG2642 and R01RG3780) to P.G. S.S was supported in part by R01-AI141630 (to P.G) and in part through funds from the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Intersect Fellowship Program for Computational Scientists and Immunologists.

MDA5-autoimmunity and Interstitial Pneumonitis Contemporaneous with the COVID-19 Pandemic (MIP-C).

Background: Anti-MDA5 (Melanoma differentiation-associated protein-5) positive dermatomyositis (MDA5 + -DM) is characterised by rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD) and high mortality. MDA5 senses single-stranded RNA and is a key pattern recognition receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of a surge in MDA5 autoimmunity, as determined using a 15 muscle-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) panel, between Janurary 2018-December 2022 in Yorkshire, UK. MDA5-positivity was correlated with clinical features and outcome, and regional SARS-CoV-2 positivity and vaccination rates. Gene expression patterns in COVID-19 were compared with autoimmune lung disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to gain clues into the genesis of the observed MDA5 + -DM outbreak. Results: Sixty new anti-MDA5+, but not other MSAs surged between 2020-2022, increasing from 0.4% in 2019 to 2.1% (2020), 4.8% (2021) and 1.7% (2022). Few (8/60) had a prior history of confirmed COVID-19, peak rates overlapped with regional SARS-COV-2 community positivity rates in 2021, and 58% (35/60) had received anti-SARS-CoV-2 RNA vaccines. Few (8/60) had a prior history of COVID-19, whereas 58% (35/60) had received anti-SARS-CoV-2 RNA vaccines. 25/60 cases developed ILD which rapidly progression with death in 8 cases. Among the 35/60 non-ILD cases, 14 had myositis, 17 Raynaud phenomena and 10 had dermatomyositis spectrum rashes. Transcriptomic studies showed strong IFIH1 (gene encoding for MDA5) induction in COVID-19 and autoimmune-ILD, but not IPF, and IFIH1 strongly correlated with an IL-15-centric type-1 interferon response and an activated CD8+ T cell signature that is an immunologic hallmark of progressive ILD in the setting of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The IFIH1 rs1990760TT variant blunted such response. Conclusions: A distinct pattern of MDA5-autoimmunity cases surged contemporaneously with circulation of the SARS-COV-2 virus during COVID-19. Bioinformatic insights suggest a shared immunopathology with known autoimmune lung disease mechanisms.

A Large Cluster of New Onset Autoimmune Myositis in the Yorkshire Region Following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination.

BACKGROUND: The novel SARS-CoV-2 vaccines partially exploit intrinsic DNA or RNA adjuvanticity, with dysregulation in the metabolism of both these nucleic acids independently linked to triggering experimental autoimmune diseases, including lupus and myositis. METHODS: Herein, we present 15 new onset autoimmune myositis temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA or DNA-based vaccines that occurred between February 2021 and April 2022. Musculoskeletal, pulmonary, cutaneous and cardiac manifestations, laboratory and imaging data were collected. RESULTS: In total, 15 cases of new onset myositis (11 polymyositis/necrotizing/overlap myositis; 4 dermatomyositis) were identified in the Yorkshire region of approximately 5.6 million people, between February 2021 and April 2022 (10 females/5 men; mean age was 66.1 years; range 37-83). New onset disease occurred after first vaccination (5 cases), second vaccination (7 cases) or after the third dose (3 cases), which was often a different vaccine. Of the cases, 6 had systemic complications including skin (3 cases), lung (3 cases), heart (2 cases) and 10/15 had myositis associated autoantibodies. All but 1 case had good therapy responses. Adverse event following immunization (AEFI) could not be explained based on the underlying disease/co-morbidities. CONCLUSION: Compared with our usual regional Rheumatology clinical experience, a surprisingly large number of new onset myositis cases presented during the period of observation. Given that antigen release inevitably follows muscle injury and given the role of nucleic acid adjuvanticity in autoimmunity and muscle disease, further longitudinal studies are required to explore potential links between novel coronavirus vaccines and myositis in comparison with more traditional vaccine methods.

Should imaging be a component of rheumatoid arthritis remission criteria? A comparison between traditional and modified composite remission scores and imaging assessments.

OBJECTIVES: Patients can fulfil clinical criteria for remission, yet still have evidence of synovitis detectable clinically and by ultrasound, and this is associated with structural damage. Stricter remission criteria may more accurately reflect true remission (no synovitis). This hypothesis was examined by studying patients using more stringent thresholds for clinical remission and determining their levels of ultrasound synovitis. METHODS: Rheumatoid arthritis patients with a disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) ≤2.6 for at least 6 months were classified using standard and more stringent DAS28 and simplified disease activity index (SDAI) remission thresholds and the corresponding clinical and ultrasound imaging measures of synovitis recorded. RESULTS: 128 patients (all DAS28 <2.6, median DAS28 1.70) receiving either disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs alone (n=66) or with a tumour necrosis factor blocker (n=62) were recruited. Of the 640 imaged joints, 5% had moderate or severe power Doppler (PD) activity, 8% were clinically swollen and 1% tender. In patients fulfilling DAS28, American College of Rheumatology or SDAI remission criteria, moderate or severe PD activity was present in 21%, 15% and 19%, respectively. More stringent DAS28 and SDAI criteria reduced the mean number of swollen and tender joints (p<0.001) but not the percentage of patients with PD activity: 32 patients had a DAS28 <1.17 but eight (25%) had significant PD activity. CONCLUSION: Using more stringent remission criteria resulted in reduced signs and symptoms of inflammation, but the percentage of joints with PD activity was not reduced, even in those without signs or symptoms. These data suggest that clinical criteria are sufficiently insensitive to detect low but clinically relevant levels of inflammation accurately.

Patients with RA in remission on TNF blockers: when and in whom can TNF blocker therapy be stopped?

OBJECTIVES: Combination therapy with methotrexate (MTX) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockade has increased remission rates in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, there are no guidelines regarding cessation of therapy. There is a need for markers predictive of sustained remission following cessation of TNF blocker therapy. METHODS: Patients in remission (DAS28 <2.6) treated with a TNF blocker and MTX as initial or delayed therapy were recruited. Joints were assessed for grey scale synovitis and power Doppler (PD) activity. Immunological assessment involved advanced six-colour flow cytometry. RESULTS: Of the 47 patients recruited, 27 had received initial treatment and 20 delayed treatment with TNF blocking drugs. Two years after stopping TNF blocker therapy, the main predictor of successful cessation was timing of treatment; 59% of patients in the initial treatment group sustained remission compared with 15% in the delayed treatment group (p=0.003). Within the initial treatment group, secondary analysis showed that the only clinical predictor of successful cessation of treatment was shorter symptom duration before receiving treatment (median 5.5 months vs 9 months; p=0.008). No other clinical features were associated with successful cessation of therapy. Thirty-five per cent of patients had low PD activity but levels were not informative. Several immunological parameters were significantly associated with sustained remission including abnormal differentiation subset of T cells and regulatory T cells. Similar non-significant trends were observed in the delayed treatment group. CONCLUSION: In patients in remission with low levels of imaging synovitis receiving combination treatment with a TNF blocker and MTX, immunological parameters and short duration of untreated symptoms were associated with successful cessation of TNF blocker therapy.

Anakinra as a diagnostic challenge and treatment option for systemic autoinflammatory disorders of undefined etiology.

BACKGROUND: Some adult patients presenting with unexplained pyrexia, serositis, skin rashes, arthralgia, myalgia, and other symptoms commonly found in autoinflammatory disorders may not fit a specific diagnosis, either because their clinical phenotype is nondiagnostic or genetic tests are negative. We used the term undifferentiated systemic autoinflammatory disorder (uSAID) to describe such cases. Given that well-defined autoinflammatory diseases show responses to IL-1 blockade, we evaluated whether anakinra was useful for both diagnosing and treating uSAID patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients presenting with uSAID between 2012-2015 who were treated with the recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra. uSAID was diagnosed after excluding malignancy, infection, and pathogenic mutations in known hereditary fever syndromes (HFS) genes and where clinical criteria for adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) were not met. RESULTS: A total of 11 patients presented with uSAID (5 males and 6 females), with a mean time to diagnosis of 3.5 years (1-8 years). Patients were unresponsive or only partially controlled on disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)/steroid treatment. Anakinra controlled symptoms within 4-6 weeks of starting treatment in 9 of 11 cases. Two patients discontinued therapy - one due to incomplete response and another due to severe injection-site reactions. CONCLUSION: This retrospective case series demonstrates that the spectrum of poorly defined autoinflammatory disorders that show responsiveness to anakinra is considerable. Anakinra seems a viable treatment option for these patients, who are unresponsive to standard steroid/DMARD treatments. Moreover, given the mechanisms of action, response to anakinra implicates underlying IL-1 dysregulation in the disease pathogenesis of responding uSAIDs patients.

An unusual cause of diarrhoea and arthritis.

A 41-year-old lady was investigated by several hospital teams over a 5-year period. She initially presented with arthralgia but over time developed a myriad of signs and symptoms. Later, she was admitted for investigation of profound weight loss, anaemia and a rising C-reactive protein. Extensive gastrointestinal investigations were performed. Duodenal biopsy revealed microscopic evidence of villous blunting with prominent collections of macrophages within the lamina propria and submucosa. These changes were consistent with Whipple's disease and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction on the biopsy sample. Initiation of antibiotic therapy led to normalisation of inflammatory markers and marked clinical improvement. Even in younger female patients, this disease should always be considered.

Necrotising scleritis and connective tissue disease--three cases and a review.

Necrotising scleritis is a severe form of anterior scleritis which is known to be associated with connective tissue disease but has not previously been reported in association with limited scleroderma. It is often a difficult condition to treat and without adequate early intervention leads to significant morbidity including visual loss. We report three cases of necrotising scleritis, two occurring in the context of previously unreported associations and a third case to compare presentation of the condition and highlight difficulties in management.

Disease remission state in patients treated with the combination of tumor necrosis factor blockade and methotrexate or with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: A clinical and imaging comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in remission who are receiving disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), radiographic progression correlates with imaging-detected synovitis as measured by power Doppler activity. In contrast, patients with disease in remission who are receiving the combination of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockade with methotrexate (MTX) (combination treatment) have reduced radiographic damage for the equivalent clinical state. We undertook this study to determine whether the difference in radiographic outcome is a result of more complete suppression of imaging-detected synovitis. METHODS: One hundred patients with RA in remission (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28] <2.6) for at least 6 months while receiving either combination treatment (n = 50) or DMARDs (n = 50) were matched for clinical variables. Ultrasound of metacarpophalangeal joints 1-5 and the wrist joints was performed. Remission according to imaging results was defined as a score of 0 for both grey scale synovitis and power Doppler activity. RESULTS: In patients receiving combination treatment or DMARDs (median DAS28 1.65 versus 1.78, median disease duration 120 months versus 90 months, and median duration of remission 13 months versus 18 months), the proportion with remission according to imaging results was not significantly different (10% versus 16%, respectively). The combination treatment group had more grey scale synovitis (P < 0.001) but similar power Doppler activity (48% versus 60%, respectively; P = 0.229) in any joint as compared with the DMARD group. Results were not affected by stratification for duration of disease or remission. CONCLUSION: In RA patients with disease in remission, imaging-detected synovitis persists, with power Doppler activity seen in >or=48% of the patients regardless of therapy. These results suggest that superior radiographic outcomes in patients treated with the combination of TNF blockade and MTX may not be due to complete suppression of imaging-detected synovitis.