Profiling Persistent Asthma Phenotypes in Adolescents: A Longitudinal Diagnostic Evaluation from the INSPIRERS Studies.

We aimed to identify persistent asthma phenotypes among adolescents and to evaluate longitudinally asthma-related outcomes across phenotypes. Adolescents (13-17 years) from the prospective, observational, and multicenter INSPIRERS studies, conducted in Portugal and Spain, were included (n = 162). Latent class analysis was applied to demographic, environmental, and clinical variables, collected at a baseline medical visit. Longitudinal differences in clinical variables were assessed at a 4-month follow-up telephone contact (n = 128). Three classes/phenotypes of persistent asthma were identified. Adolescents in class 1 (n = 87) were highly symptomatic at baseline and presented the highest number of unscheduled healthcare visits per month and exacerbations per month, both at baseline and follow-up. Class 2 (n = 32) was characterized by female predominance, more frequent obesity, and uncontrolled upper/lower airways symptoms at baseline. At follow-up, there was a significant increase in the proportion of controlled lower airway symptoms (p < 0.001). Class 3 (n = 43) included mostly males with controlled lower airways symptoms; at follow-up, while keeping symptom control, there was a significant increase in exacerbations/month (p = 0.015). We have identified distinct phenotypes of persistent asthma in adolescents with different patterns in longitudinal asthma-related outcomes, supporting the importance of profiling asthma phenotypes in predicting disease outcomes that might inform targeted interventions and reduce future risk.

The Diagnosing Challenge of a Positive ANCA Vasculitis in the Paediatric Age.

ANCA-positive systemic vasculitides, rare in paediatric age, present multiorganic involvement. A female teenager presented with a history of subglottic stenosis diagnosed at the age of 12. From the investigation carried out, we highlight hematoproteinuria and negative ANCAs. At 15 years old, she was admitted for gastrointestinal symptoms and respiratory distress. She presented poor peripheral perfusion, pulmonary haemorrhage, respiratory failure, and severe renal insufficiency. She was started mechanical ventilation and emergency haemodialysis. The immunological study revealed ANCA MPO positive. A presumptive diagnosis of ANCA-positive vasculitis was made, and she was started corticotherapy, cyclophosphamide, and plasmapheresis. A renal biopsy, performed later, showed crescentic glomerulonephritis with chronicity signs. Positive ANCA vasculitis may progress slowly or suddenly. The diagnosis was confirmed by a biopsy; however, we can make a presumptive diagnosis based on clinical findings and in a positive ANCA test in order to start an early treatment and decrease the associated morbimortality.