Position statement of the Brazilian society of Rheumatology on mesna use as a preventive therapy for bladder disease in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases and systemic vasculitis under cyclophosphamide treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To review current literature to support the use of mesna as a preventive therapy for hemorrhagic cystitis and bladder cancer in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases and systemic vasculitis treated with cyclophosphamide. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The search for articles was conducted systematically through MEDLINE, LILACS, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. Only articles in English were selected. For available records, titles and abstracts were selected independently by two investigators. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were selected for analysis. The known adverse effects of cyclophosphamide were hematological toxicity, infections, gonadal toxicity, teratogenicity, increased risk for malignancy and hemorrhagic cystitis. Long-term toxicity was highly dependent on cyclophosphamide cumulative dose. The risk of bladder cancer is especially higher in long-term exposure and with cumulative doses above 36 g. The risk remains high for years after drug discontinuation. Hemorrhagic cystitis is highly correlated with cumulative dose and its incidence ranges between 12 and 41%, but it seems to be lower with new regimens with reduced cyclophosphamide dose. No randomized controlled trials were found to analyze the use of mesna in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases and systemic vasculitis. Retrospective studies yielded conflicting results. Uncontrolled prospective studies with positive results were considered at high risk of bias. No evidence was found to support the use of mesna during the treatment with cyclophosphamide for autoimmune diseases or systemic vasculitis to prevent hemorrhagic cystitis and bladder cancer. In the scenarios of high cumulative cyclophosphamide dose (i.e., > 30 g), patients with restricted fluid intake, neurogenic bladder, therapy with oral anticoagulants, and chronic kidney disease, mesna could be considered. CONCLUSION: The current evidence was found to be insufficient to support the routine use of mesna for the prophylaxis of hemorrhagic cystitis and bladder cancer in patients being treated for systemic autoimmune diseases and systemic vasculitis with cyclophosphamide. The use may be considered for selected cases.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of cardiac involvement in pediatric immunoglobulin A vasculitis: A 7-year retrospective study from a single tertiary medical center.

Immunoglobulin A vasculitis(IgAV) is the most common form of systemic vasculitis affecting children. To date, cardiac involvement in pediatric IgAV has not been fully investigated and its prevalence may be underestimated. This study aims to reveal the clinical and laboratory characteristics of cardiac involvement in pediatric IgAV and further determine its risk factors. A total of 1451 children with IgAV were recruited between January 2016 and December 2022. According to the severity of cardiac involvement, the patients were divided into the myocarditis/suspected myocarditis group, cardiac abnormalities group, and non-cardiac involvement group. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics were retrospectively extracted from the individual data collected in the medical records. Among the 1451 pediatric IgAV patients, 179 (12.3%) were identified with cardiac involvement, including 154 (10.6%) with cardiac abnormalities and 25 (1.7%) with myocarditis/suspected myocarditis. Cardiac involvement in pediatric IgAV mainly manifested as elevated cardiac biomarker levels (n = 162), electrocardiogram abnormalities (n = 46), and echocardiogram/chest X-ray abnormalities (n = 15); however, cardiac-related symptoms were only observed in 15.1% of patients with cardiac involvement. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that interval from disease onset to diagnosis > 7 days (OR, 2.157; 95% CI, 1.523-3.057; p < 0.001), IgAV with multi-organ involvement (OR, 1.806; 95% CI, 1.242-2.627; p = 0.002), and elevated D-dimer levels (OR, 1.939; 95% CI, 1.259-2.985; p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for cardiac involvement in pediatric IgAV. The length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the myocarditis/suspected myocarditis group compared with the other two groups (p < 0.05).     Conclusion: This study suggests that cardiac involvements in pediatric IgAV is non-negligible, and cardiac involvement is associated with interval from disease onset to diagnosis > 7 days, IgAV with multi-organ involvement, and elevated D-dimer levels. Severe cardiac involvement may affect the prognosis of pediatric IgAV. What is Known: • Immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) is the most common form of systemic vasculitis affecting children and adolescents, which exhibits diverse clinical manifestations. Cases of severe IgAV complicated by cardiac involvement have been anecdotally reported. What is New: • The present study suggests that cardiac involvements in pediatric IgAV is non-negligible, and cardiac involvement is associated with interval from disease onset to diagnosis > 7 days, IgAV with multi-organ involvement, and elevated D-dimer levels. Severe cardiac involvement may affect the prognosis of pediatric IgAV.

Primary Systemic Vasculitides as a Cause of Group IV Pulmonary Hypertension.

The primary systemic vasculitides are rare diseases characterized by vessel wall inflammation. Isolated pulmonary vasculitis, large-vessel vasculitis, and Behçet's disease are mimickers of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH); group IV pulmonary hypertension (PH) can occur as a devastating complication in the course of these diseases. Pulmonary endarterectomy, balloon angioplasty, anticoagulation and pulmonary vasodilator agents are the main treatment options for CTEPH. There is no specific recommendation for the treatment of patients having group IV PH due to primary systemic vasculitides. We reviewed herein data about group IV PH due to primary systemic vasculitides.

Systemic vasculitis and headache.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Vasculitis refers to heterogeneous clinicopathologic disorders that share the histopathology of inflammation of blood vessels. Unrecognized and therefore untreated, vasculitis of the nervous system or so called neurovasculitides, lead to pervasive injury and disability making these disorder of paramount importance to clinicians. RECENT FINDINGS: Headache is an important clue to vasculitic involvement of central nervous system (CNS) vessels. CNS vasculitis may be primary, in which only intracranial vessels are involved in the inflammatory process, or secondary to another known disorder with overlapping systemic involvement. A suspicion of vasculitis based on the history, clinical examination, or laboratory studies warrants prompt evaluation and treatment to forestall progression and avert cerebral ischemia or infarction. There has been remarkable progress in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of primary adult and pediatric CNS vasculitides predicated on achievements in primary systemic forms. SUMMARY: Vasculitis can be diagnosed with certainty after intensive evaluation that includes tissue confirmation whenever possible. Clinicians must choose from among the available immune modulating, suppressive, and targeted immunotherapies to induce and maintain remission status and prevent relapse, tempered by the recognition of anticipated medication side effects.

Dermatological Lesions of Cholesterol Embolisation Syndrome and Kaposi Sarcoma Mimic Primary Systemic Vasculitis: Case report study.

Primary systemic vasculitis can present with a wide spectrum of manifestations ranging from systemic non-specific features such as fever, malaise, arthralgia and myalgia to specific organ damage. We describe two cases of cholesterol embolisation syndrome and Kaposi sarcoma mimicking primary systemic vasculitis, both of which were characterised by features such as livedo reticularis, blue toe syndrome, a brown purpuric skin rash and positive perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies associated with Kaposi sarcoma. Establishing the right diagnosis was challenging and thus this report aimed to highlight the possible ways to distinguish them from primary systemic vasculitis.

Systemic Vasculitis and Its Association with the Eye.

Vasculitis is a group of diseases characterized by the inflammation of the blood vessel walls. They are classified according to the size of the main vessel involved: large vessel, medium vessel, and small vessel vasculitis. Ophthalmic manifestations are quite common in most of these diseases. Episcleritis and scleritis are the most prevalent manifestation of vasculitis. However, there are certain ocular features characteristic of specific vasculitis entities. Given the severity and potential life-threat of these diseases, knowledge of the ocular manifestations is mandatory for the ophthalmologists.

Central Nervous System Vasculitis: Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System and Central Nervous System Manifestations of Systemic Vasculitis.

Central nervous system vasculitis (CNSV) is a group of disorders leading to inflammatory vasculopathy within the brain, spinal cord, and leptomeninges. CNSV is divided into primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) and secondary CNSV based on the underlying etiology. PACNS is a rare inflammatory disorder with poorly understood pathophysiology and heterogeneous and highly variable clinical features. The diagnosis depends on a combination of clinical and laboratory variables, multimodal imaging, and histopathological examination as well as exclusion of mimics. Several systemic vasculitides, infectious etiologies and connective tissue disorders have been shown to cause secondary CNSV and require prompt recognition.

Cardiac Involvement in Systemic and Local Vasculitides: The Value of Noninvasive Multimodality Imaging.

Despite significant advances in managing systemic vasculitides, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality are still of primary concern. Advances in noninvasive imaging have broadened our understanding of the clinical heterogeneity of cardiac involvement in vasculitides. Common cardiovascular complications in primary or secondary vasculitides are; coronary artery aneurysms, acute coronary syndromes, myocarditis, pericarditis, endocarditis, and valvular dysfunction. Echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance , positron emission tomography, and computed tomography angiography are essential in identifying cardiac involvement and guiding treatment. Here, we present our experiences of cardiac involvement in systemic vasculitides, covering most aspects of common cardiac complications based on a multi-modality approach to challenging (real-world) cases. As many cardiac manifestations are clinically silent, heart function should be systemically assessed by a multimodality imaging-based approach, including ECG, serial echocardiograms with strain imaging and 3D, and cardiac magnetic resonance to detect early signs of cardiac manifestations. This enables timely intervention and optimal medical treatment, which is essential for a better prognosis. There is a need for better and closer collaboration in clinical practice and research fields between cardiologists and rheumatologists.

Cutaneous Small Vessel Vasculitis: A Practical Guide to Diagnosis and Management.

Cutaneous vasculitis may be a cutaneous manifestation of systemic vasculitis, a skin-limited variant of systemic vasculitis, or a type of single-organ vasculitis limited to the skin. Careful evaluation is necessary to distinguish these possibilities, differentiate skin-limited from systemic disease, and identify important underlying conditions, if present. Appropriate management depends on disease type and severity. In the case of cutaneous small vessel vasculitis (CSVV), treatment is primarily based on case reports and expert opinion, using a range of immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive therapies. This manuscript presents a systematic and stepwise approach to the evaluation of patients presenting with cutaneous vasculitis, as well as the management of those diagnosed with CSVV, using best available evidence. Studies relevant to the classification, evaluation, and management of skin vasculitis are ongoing.

Cardiac involvement and cardiovascular risk factors in pediatric primary systemic vasculitides.

Pediatric primary systemic vasculitides are a complex group of diseases. Vasculitis subgroups are mainly determined according to the size of the predominantly affected vessels. In patients with primary systemic vasculitis, the location of vascular involvement, the size of the vessels, the extent of vascular damage, and the underlying pathology determine the disease phenotype and severity. Cardiac involvement is rare in some pediatric vasculitis, such as IgA vasculitis and polyarteritis nodosa, while it is more common in some others like Kawasaki disease and Takayasu arteritis. On the other hand, chronic inflammation in the setting of systemic vasculitis forms a major cardiovascular risk factor. Accelerated atherosclerosis and the tendency to thrombosis are the main issues determining the cardiovascular risks in pediatric systemic vasculitis. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential in these patients to minimize morbidity and mortality. In this review, we aimed to raise physicians' awareness of cardiac involvement and cardiovascular risks in pediatric patients with primary systemic vasculitis.

Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Antibodies Are Higher in Lupus Nephritis and Vasculitis than Other Glomerulonephritis Patients.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) antibodies are considered non-HLA (human leukocyte antigen) antibodies connected with humoral rejection after kidney transplantation. The role of AT1R antibodies in the pathogenesis of glomerular diseases and systemic vasculitis is unknown. We assessed the level of AT1R antibodies in 136 patients with different types of glomerulonephritis and systemic vasculitis and we observed kidney function and proteinuria, serum albumin and total protein levels for 2 years. The mean levels of AT1R antibodies were the following: 6.00 ± 1.31 U/ml in patients with membranous nephropathy (n = 18), 5.67 ± 1.31 U/ml with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (n = 25), 6.26 ± 2.25 U/ml with lupus nephropathy (n = 17), 10.60 ± 6.72 U/ml with IgA nephropathy (n = 14), 6.69 ± 2.52 U/ml with mesangial proliferative (non IgA) glomerulonephritis (n = 6), 6.63 ± 1.38 U/ml with systemic vasculitis (n = 56), including c-ANCA (anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) vasculitis: 11.22 ± 10.78 U/ml (n = 40) and p-ANCA vasculitis: 12.65 ± 14.59 U/ml (n = 16). The mean AT1R antibodies level was higher in patients with lupus nephropathy and systemic vasculitis compared to glomerulonephritis groups. An inverse statistically significant correlation between AT1R antibodies and serum albumin (r = - 0.51) in membranous nephropathy group was also found. Prospective analysis of creatinine levels indicated an increase of creatinine levels during time among patients with higher AT1R antibodies levels in p-ANCA vasculitis. Lupus nephropathy and systemic vasculitis patients may have high levels of AT1R antibodies. AT1R antibodies may be associated with the severity of membranous nephropathy and the course of p-ANCA vasculitis, although influence of concomitant factors is difficult to exclude.

Predictive Factors of Severe Behçet's disease: A Longitudinal, Prospective Cohort Followed Between 1981–2020 / Factores predictivos de la enfermedad de Behçet grave: una cohorte prospectiva longitudinal seguida entre 1981-2020

Introduction: Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis of unknown cause. The spectrum of the disease ranges from mucocutaneous manifestations to other organ diseases with relevant morbidity. Associations between disease severity and male sex, earlier age at onset, and the presence of erythema nodosum have been described. Objectives: To evaluate clinical factors associated with manifestations of severe disease in a single-center cohort. Methods: A longitudinal, prospective, unicentric cohort study with patients followed in a specialized outpatient clinic between 1981 and 2020. Severe BD was defined as a Krause total clinical severity score >4 points. Results: We included 243 patients, of whom 31% were male, with an average follow-up time of 14.6 years. Regarding organ manifestations, all patients had mucous manifestations (N=243, 100%), 133 (55%) skin, 104 (43%) joint, 71 (29%) ocular, 48 (20%) vascular, 47 (19%) neurological, 22 (9%) gastrointestinal and 1 (0.4%) cardiac involvement by BD. One hundred fifty-six (64%) patients were classified as having severe BD. Severe BD was more frequent in men (OR=2.004, p=0.024), increasing with age (OR=1.021 per year, p=0.037), in the presence of skin manifestations (OR=4.711, p<0.001), specifically erythema nodosum (OR=8.381, p<0.001), and pseudofolliculitis (OR=2.910, p<0.001). In the multivariate model, variables independently associated with severe BD were male gender (Adjusted OR=1.961, p=0.047), erythema nodosum (Adjusted OR=8.561, p<0.001) and pseudofolliculitis (Adjusted OR=2.372, p=0.007).Discussion: Male gender, erythema nodosum, and pseudofolliculitis were independently associated with severe BD forms and therefore should serve as warning signs to the clinician.(AU)

Introducción: La enfermedad de Behçet (EB) es una vasculitis sistémica de causa desconocida. El espectro de la enfermedad abarca desde manifestaciones mucocutáneas hasta otras enfermedades de órganos con morbilidad relevante. Se han descrito asociaciones entre la gravedad de la enfermedad y el sexo masculino, la edad de inicio más temprana y la presencia de eritema nudoso. Objetivos: Evaluar los factores clínicos asociados con las manifestaciones de enfermedad grave en una cohorte de un solo centro. Métodos: Estudio de cohorte longitudinal, prospectivo y unicéntrico con pacientes seguidos en una clínica ambulatoria especializada entre 1981 y 2020. La EB grave se definió como una puntuación Krause total clinical severity score≥4 puntos. Resultados: Se incluyeron 243 pacientes, de los cuales el 31% eran varones, con un tiempo de seguimiento medio de 14,6 años. En cuanto a las manifestaciones orgánicas, todos los pacientes presentaron manifestaciones mucosas (n=243, 100%), 133 (55%) piel, 104 (43%) articular, 71 (29%) ocular, 48 (20%) afectación vascular, 47 (19%) neurológica, 22 (9%) gastrointestinal y 1 (0,4%) cardiaca por EB; 156 (64%) pacientes fueron clasificados como con EB grave. La EB severa fue más frecuente en hombres (OR=2,004, p=0,024), aumentando con la edad (OR=1,021 por año, p=0,037), en presencia de manifestaciones cutáneas (OR=4,711, p<0,001), específicamente eritema nodosum (OR=8,381, p<0,001) y pseudofoliculitis (OR=2,910, p<0,001). En el modelo multivariado, las variables asociadas de forma independiente con el EB grave fueron el sexo masculino (OR ajustado=1,961, p=0,047), eritema nudoso (OR ajustado=8,561, p<0,001) y pseudofoliculitis (OR ajustado=2,372, p=0,007). Discusión: El sexo masculino, el eritema nudoso y la pseudofoliculitis se asociaron de forma independiente con formas graves de DB y, por lo tanto, deberían servir como signos de advertencia para el médico.(AU)

Increased Urinary CD163 Levels in Systemic Vasculitis with Renal Involvement.

OBJECTIVES: Systemic vasculitis includes a group of disorders characterized by inflammation of the vessel wall, involving multiple systems, and can cause malignant hypertension. CD163 is a specific marker of anti-inflammatory macrophages. This study is aimed at evaluating the CD163 levels in relation to systemic vasculitis and renal involvements. METHODS: Urinary CD163 levels were retrospectively measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 51 patients with systemic vasculitis, 42 essential hypertensions, and 36 healthy volunteers. The associations between urinary CD163 levels and clinical indicators were analyzed. RESULTS: Urinary CD163 levels were significantly higher in patients with systemic vasculitis [68.20 (38.25~158.78) (pg/ml)] compared to essential hypertension [43.86 (23.30-60.71) (pg/ml)] (p = 0.003) and the healthy volunteers [30.76 (9.30-54.16) (pg/ml)] (p < 0.001). Furthermore, systemic vasculitis patients with renal involvement had significantly higher urinary CD163 levels relative to patients without renal involvement [86.95 (47.61 and 192.38) pg/ml] vs. [41.99 (17.70 and 71.95) pg/ml, p = 0.005]. After control factors age, sex, and BMI, urinary CD163 levels in systemic vasculitis patients were positively correlated with serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and ß-2 microglobulin (r = 0.45, 0.48, and 0.46; p = 0.001, 0.001, and 0.002, respectively). In addition, we found the level of urinary CD163 in granulomatous vasculitis (including TA, GPA, and EGPA) was significantly higher than that in necrotizing vasculitis (including PAN) [86.95 (41.99 and 184.82) pg/ml] vs. [45.73 (21.43 and 74.43) pg/ml, p = 0.016]. CONCLUSION: Urinary CD163 levels were significantly higher in patients with systemic vasculitis, especially in patients with renal involvement. Thus, urinary CD163 has the potential to be a biomarker for systemic vasculitis with renal involvement.

A single center survey study of systemic vasculitis and COVID-19 during the first months of pandemic

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic created concerns among patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Frequency of COVID-19 and impact of lockdown on treatment compliance in patients with vasculitis are largely unknown. Patients and method: Patients with ANCA-associated and large vessel vasculitis that have been followed-up in our clinic were contacted by phone and a questionnaire containing home isolation status, treatment adherence and history of COVID -19 between March 1st and June 30th, 2020 was applied. Results: The survey was applied to 103 patients (F/M: 59/44, mean age: 53.2±12.5). Thirty-three (32%) patients didn?t attend at least one appointment; 98(95.1%) noted that they spent 3 months in home isolation. Five patients (4.8%) received immunosuppressives irregularly and 3(2.9%) developed symptoms due to undertreatment. Four (3.9%) patients admitted to hospital with a suspicion of COVID-19, but none of them had positive PCR or suggestive findings by imaging. COVID-19 diagnosed in a patient with granulomatosis with polyangiitis during hospitalization for disease flare and she died despite treatment. Discussion: Frequency of COVID-19 was low in patients with vasculitis in our single center cohort. Although outpatient appointments were postponed in one-third of our patients, high compliance with treatment and isolation rules ensured patients with vasculitis overcome this period with minimal morbidity and mortality.

Cardiovascular events and the role of accelerated atherosclerosis in systemic vasculitis.

The spectrum of inflammatory blood vessel diseases includes both atherosclerosis and the primary systemic vasculitides. Although the inciting triggers differ, significant overlap exists in the mechanisms that contribute to sustained inflammation and vascular damage in both entities. With improvement in therapeutics to control acute vasculitis leading to longer survival, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has emerged as the leading cause of death for vasculitis patients. Cardiovascular events likely occur as a consequence of vasculitis, vascular damage from prior inflammation causing a sustained procoagulant state, and accelerated atherosclerosis. In this review, we discuss the latest evidence regarding risk of cardiovascular events in patients with major forms of primary systemic vasculitis, and review the mechanisms by which accelerated atherosclerosis may occur.

Characteristics and risk factors for poor outcome in patients with systemic vasculitis involving the gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement was described to be a poor prognostic factor in systemic necrotizing vasculitis. Its prognostic significance may vary according to clinical presentation and vasculitis subtype. AIMS: This study investigated risk-factors associated to poor outcome in GI-involvement of vasculitis. METHODS: Patients with systemic vasculitis as defined by the 2012 Chapel Hill Consensus Conference and presenting with GI involvement were retrospectively included. Baseline characteristics, treatments and outcome were recorded. Primary endpoint was a composite of admission to intensive care unit (ICU), emergency surgical procedure, or death. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirteen patients were included. Vasculitis were distributed as follows: 41% IgA vasculitis, 27% ANCA-associated vasculitis, 17% polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), and 15% other vasculitis. Eighty-three (39%) patients fulfilled the composite primary endpoint within 6 months. Predictive factors associated with the primary endpoint included PAN subtype (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.29-7.34), performance status (OR 1.40, 1.05-1.87), use of morphine (OR 2.51, 0.87-7.24), abdominal guarding (OR 3.08, 1.01-9.37), ileus (OR 2.29, 0.98-5.32), melena (OR 2.74, 1.17-6.42), increased leukocytes (per G/L, OR 1.05, 1.00-1.10), low hemoglobin (per g/dL, OR 0.80, 0.71-0.91) and increased CRP (log mg/L, OR 1.21, 0.94-1.56). A risk prediction model for the achievement of primary endpoint had a very good performance [C-statistics 0.853 (0.810 to 0.895], and for overall survival as well. CONCLUSIONS: Vasculitis presenting with GI involvement have a poor outcome in more than one third of cases. An easy-to-use risk prediction model had a very good performance to predict the admission to ICU, emergency surgical procedure, or death.

An atypical lower limb pain revealing a possible systemic venous vasculitis.

We describe a possible systemic vasculitis involving electively large veins. The patient presented with severe febrile lower limb pain. Diagnosis was made by color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) and confirmed by anatomopathological examination of the long saphenous vein, but not by examination of the temporal artery which was normal. CDU found a unilateral halo sign of one temporal artery and a major wall swelling of the lower limb proximal deep veins. The etiology of this possible vasculitis is still unknown. It could be an unusual clinical presentation of giant cell arteritis with vein involvement but without proven arterial involvement. To confirm this hypothesis, it would be interesting to look systematically for lower limb vein thickening with CDU in patients newly diagnosed with giant cell arteritis who have lower limb pain.

Pulmonary Manifestations of Systemic Vasculitis in Children.

Vasculitides are defined according to the vessel size involved, and they tend to affect certain organ systems. Pulmonary involvement is rare in the common childhood vasculitides, such as Kawasaki disease, IgA vasculitis (Henoch Schonlein purpura). On the other hand, lung involvement is common in a rare pediatric vasculitis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) (Wegener granulomatosis), where respiratory system findings are common. A criterion in the Ankara 2008 classification criteria for GPA is the presence of nodules, cavities, or fixed infiltrates. The adult data suggest that rituximab may be an alternative to cyclophosphamide in induction treatment.

Síndrome de Behçet ou úlcera de Lipschütz: desafio diagnóstico / Behçet's syndrome or Lipschütz ulcer: diagnostic challenge

A ocorrência de úlceras genitais em adolescentes e mulheres jovens tem impacto emocional para as pacientes e seus familiares, pela frequente associação com uma possível etiologia de transmissão sexual. Porém, úlcera de Lipschütz e síndrome de Behçet não têm etiologia infecciosa e devem ser lembradas como possíveis diagnósticos diferenciais. O diagnóstico dessas duas patologias é clínico e pode ser desafiador. Dessa forma, foi realizada uma revisão na literatura com o objetivo de comparar as duas entidades. A úlcera de Lipschütz é causada por uma vasculite local e caracteriza-se pelo surgimento súbito de úlceras na vulva ou vagina inferior. Já a doença de Behçet é causada por vasculite sistêmica, com episódios de remissão e exacerbação, que pode envolver quase todos os sistemas orgânicos. Em ambos os casos, é essencial o referenciamento para reumatologia. O tratamento objetiva suprimir exacerbações, controlar a dor e prevenir infecção secundária.(AU)

The occurrence of genital ulcers in adolescents and young women have an emotional impact for the patient and their families, due to the frequent association of its etiology with a sexually transmitted disease. However, Lipschütz ulcer and Behçet's syndrome do not have an infectious etiology and should be remembered as a possible differential diagnoses. As the diagnosis of these two pathologies is clinical and can be challenging, a review of literature was carried out. The objective of this review of literature was to compare both diseases. Lipschütz ulcer is caused by local vasculitis and is characterized by the sudden appearance of ulcers in the vulva or lower vagina. Behçet's syndrome is caused by systemic vasculitis, with episodes of remission and exacerbation, which can affect almost all organ systems. In both cases, referral to rheumatology is essential. Treatment aims to suppress exacerbations, control pain and prevent secondary infection.(AU)

Gastrointestinal and renal involvement in systemic vasculitis

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