Ventricular Thrombus Formation Caused by Subendomyocardial Inflammation in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis.

Cardiac involvement of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a rare but life-threatening complication. We present a case of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis with moderately impaired ventricular function forming a ventricular thrombus. Pathological assessment of endomyocardial biopsy specimen revealed aggregated eosinophils in the subendocardium, suggesting ventricular endothelial damage leading to thrombus formation.

Radiological and histopathological features and treatment response by subtypes of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features: A prospective, multicentre cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) have a favourable prognosis when they have interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF). However, precise IPAF-related findings from high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and lung histopathological specimens and the treatment response have not been fully determined. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between findings on HRCT or lung histopathological specimens and the progression of interstitial pneumonia in patients with IPAF. METHODS: This multicentre cohort study prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with IIP. At the diagnosis of IIP, we systematically evaluated 74 features suggestive of connective tissue diseases and followed them up. HRCT, lung specimens, serum antibodies, and the clinical course were also evaluated. RESULTS: Among 222 patients with IIP, 26 (11.7%) fulfilled the IPAF criteria. During a median observation period of 36 months, patients with IPAF showed better survival than those without IPAF (p = 0.034). While histopathological findings were not related to IPAF, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) with organizing pneumonia (OP) overlap was the most prevalent HRCT pattern (p < 0.001) and the consolidation opacity was the most common radiological finding in IPAF (p = 0.017). Furthermore, in patients with IPAF, the diagnosis of COP or NSIP with OP overlap was associated with a higher increase in %FVC in 1 year than in those with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, NSIP, or unclassifiable IIP (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the presence of consolidation opacity on HRCT and the diagnosis of COP or NSIP with OP overlap are associated with IPAF and its favourable treatment response in patients with IPAF.

Detailed tracking of antigen and antibody levels during coronavirus disease 2019 treatment in an immunosuppressed patient with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis.

A 67-year-old woman with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis was not vaccinated against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and was on multiple immunosuppressive drugs. She was hospitalized because of interstitial shadowing in the lungs and diagnosed with persistent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite treatment with a recombinant monoclonal antibody and antivirals, her symptoms persisted and she lacked a specific antibody response. She tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 antigen after the second antiviral treatment, and a subsequent chest radiograph showed improvement. However, the antibody levels did not change. This case highlights the importance of careful monitoring of the SARS-CoV-2 antigen and antibody levels during COVID-19 treatment in patients with immunosuppression.

Associations of disease duration and anti-citrullinated peptide antibody status with the effectiveness of abatacept in biologic-naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Post hoc analysis of a multicentre, real-world observational study in Japan (ORIGAMI).

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the article is to investigate the associations of disease duration and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) status with the effectiveness of abatacept in biologic-naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We performed post hoc analyses of the Orencia® Registry in Geographically Assembled Multicenter Investigation (ORIGAMI) study of biologic-naïve RA patients aged ≥20 years with moderate disease activity who were prescribed abatacept. Changes in the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) and Japanese Health Assessment Questionnaire (J-HAQ) at 4, 24, and 52 weeks of treatment were analysed in patients divided according to ACPA serostatus (positive/negative), disease duration (<1/≥1 year), or both. RESULTS: SDAI scores decreased from baseline in all groups. SDAI scores tended to decrease more in the ACPA-positive group and disease duration <1-year group than in the ACPA-negative group and disease duration ≥1-year group, respectively. In the disease duration <1-year group, SDAI tended to decrease more in the ACPA-positive group than in the ACPA-negative group. Disease duration was independently associated with the change in SDAI and SDAI remission at Week 52 in multivariable regression models. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that starting abatacept within 1 year of diagnosis was associated with greater effectiveness of abatacept in biologic-naïve patients with RA and moderate disease activity.

A Case of Coronary Arteritis and Myocardial Involvement With Associated IgG4-Related Disease.

A 56-year-old male subject with bilateral eyelid swelling was diagnosed with an immunoglobulin G4-related disease. After whole-body surveillance, concomitant coronary arteritis with a mural thrombus and myocardial involvement were observed. In this case, multimodal diagnostic imaging assessment led to the diagnosis of both coronary arteritis and myocardial fibrosis associated with immunoglobulin G4-related disease. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Association between the patterns of large-vessel lesions and treatment outcomes in patients with large-vessel giant cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify associations between patterns of large-vessel lesions of large-vessel giant cell arteritis (LV-GCA) and treatment outcomes. METHODS: We extracted data on 68 newly diagnosed patients with LV-GCA from a retrospective, multi-centric, nationwide registry of GCA patients treated with glucocorticoids between 2007 and 2014. Patients with aortic lesions were identified based on the findings from contrast-enhanced computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or positron emission tomography-computed tomography (Group 2, n = 49). Patients without aortic lesions were subdivided into LV-GCA with or without subclavian lesions defined as Group 1 (n = 9) or Group 3 (n = 10), respectively. The primary outcome evaluation was failure to achieve clinical remission by Week 24 and/or relapse within 104 weeks. RESULTS: The mean age and proportion of patients with cranial lesions and polymyalgia rheumatica in Group 2 were numerically lower than in the other two groups. Large-vessel lesions in Group 3 included carotid, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, or mesenteric lesions. The cumulative rate of poor treatment outcomes >2 years was 11.1%, 55.3%, and 88.0% in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (by Kaplan-Meier analysis). The mean time to poor outcome was significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Classification by subclavian and aortic lesions may be useful to determine treatment strategy.

Long-term effect of tocilizumab on left ventricular hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction in AA amyloidosis with rheumatoid arthritis.

Because cardiac involvement of amyloid A (AA) is not frequent, little is known about the effects of tocilizumab (TCZ; a humanized monoclonal anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody). We present the case of a 77-year-old man with cardiac AA amyloidosis due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). He was admitted to our hospital because of gastrointestinal bleeding. Upon admission, chest radiography and electrocardiogram showed progression of cardiomegaly and atrioventricular conduction delay, respectively. Echocardiography showed diffuse left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy with reduced LV contraction. AA amyloid deposits in the myocardium were identified by Congo red staining and immunohistochemical staining with anti-AA antibody, suggesting cardiac AA amyloidosis. After starting treatment with TCZ, his condition improved. Hypertrophic LV mass was significantly reduced, and impaired LV contraction was restored after 10 months of TCZ treatment. The effects of TCZ were sustained for 2 years. Plasma N terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level decreased from 2947 pg/mL (reference level, <125 pg/mL) on admission to 325 pg/mL after 2 years of TCZ treatment. The present case supports that cardiac biopsy is very important to diagnose cardiac AA amyloidosis in patients with RA complicating unexplained cardiac hypertrophy and/or dysfunction and TCZ should be administered if applicable. .

LC-MS/MS method for the quantitation of serum tocilizumab in rheumatoid arthritis patients using rapid tryptic digestion without IgG purification.

The quantitation of serum tocilizumab using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method has not been widely applied in clinical settings because of its time-consuming and costly sample pretreatments. The present study aimed to develop a validated LC-MS/MS method for detecting serum tocilizumab by utilizing immobilized trypsin without an immunoglobulin G purification step and evaluate its applicability in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients administered intravenously or subcutaneously with tocilizumab. The tocilizumab-derived signature peptide was deciphered using a nano-LC system coupled to a hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometer. The serum tocilizumab was rapidly digested by immobilized trypsin for 30 min. The chromatographic peak of the signature peptide and that of the internal standard were separated from the serum digests for a total run time of 15 min. The calibration curve of serum tocilizumab concentration was linear with a range of 2-200 µg/mL. The intra- and inter-day accuracy and relative standard deviation (RSD) were 90.7%-109.4% and <10%, respectively. The serum tocilizumab concentrations in the RA patients receiving intravenous and subcutaneous injections were 5.8-28.9 and 2.4-63.5 µg/mL, respectively. The serum tocilizumab concentrations using the current method positively correlated with those using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, although a systematic error was observed between these methods. In conclusion, a validated LC-MS/MS method with minimal sample pretreatments for monitoring serum tocilizumab concentrations in RA patients was developed.

Prospective nationwide multicentre cohort study of the clinical significance of autoimmune features in idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.

BACKGROUND: Some patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) show autoimmune features. Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) was recently proposed as a research concept in these patients. However, retrospective studies reported conflicting results of its prognosis. Therefore, this study was conducted to prospectively evaluate the clinical significance of autoimmune features in patients with IIP. METHODS: This nationwide multicentre study prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with IIP. At the diagnosis, we systematically evaluated 63 features suggestive of connective tissue diseases using a checklist including symptoms/signs and autoantibodies, which contained most items of the IPAF criteria and followed up with the patients. Clinical phenotypes were included in a cluster analysis. RESULTS: In 376 patients with IIP enrolled, 70 patients (18.6%) met the IPAF criteria. The proportion of patients with IPAF was significantly lower in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) than in non-IPF (6.0% vs 24.3%, respectively). During a median observation period of 35 months, patients with IPAF more frequently developed systemic autoimmune diseases and had less frequent acute exacerbation of IIPs than patients with non-IPAF. IPAF diagnosis was significantly associated with better survival and was an independent positive prognostic factor in total and patients with non-IPF. Cluster analysis by similarity of clinical phenotypes identified a cluster in which there was a higher number of women, and patients had more autoimmune features and a better prognosis than other clusters. INTERPRETATION: These observations suggest that some patients with IIP show autoimmune features with distinct characteristics and favourable prognosis. However, we were not able to determine the appropriate therapies for these patients.

Behçet's Disease with Bilateral Renal Infarction Due to Mucormycosis.

We herein report a case of Behçet's disease with renal infarction due to mucormycosis. A 76-year-old man with entero-Behçet's disease had been treated with glucocorticoid and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. His entero-Behçet's disease was refractory to these treatments, and ileocecal resection was performed. After the operation, renal infarction that was unresponsive to anticoagulation therapy developed. He ultimately died of renal failure due to renal infarction. At the autopsy, histopathology of abundant hyphae in the renal vessel wall revealed mucormycosis. Renal mucormycosis is an important cause of renal failure with renal infarction in immunocompromised patients.

LC-MS/MS method for the quantitation of serum tocilizumab in rheumatoid arthritis patients using rapid tryptic digestion without IgG purification / 药物分析学报

The quantitation of serum tocilizumab using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)method has not been widely applied in clinical settings because of its time-consuming and costly sample pretreatments.The present study aimed to develop a validated LC-MS/MS method for detecting serum tocilizumab by utilizing immobilized trypsin without an immunoglobulin G purification step and evaluate its applicability in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)patients administered intrave-nously or subcutaneously with tocilizumab.The tocilizumab-derived signature peptide was deciphered using a nano-LC system coupled to a hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometer.The serum tocili-zumab was rapidly digested by immobilized trypsin for 30 min.The chromatographic peak of the signature peptide and that of the internal standard were separated from the serum digests for a total run time of 15 min.The calibration curve of serum tocilizumab concentration was linear with a range of 2-200 μg/mL.The intra-and inter-day accuracy and relative standard deviation(RSD)were 90.7％-109.4％and＜10％,respectively.The serum tocilizumab concentrations in the RA patients receiving intravenous and subcutaneous injections were 5.8-28.9 and 2.4-63.5 pg/mL,respectively.The serum tocilizumab concentrations using the current method positively correlated with those using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,although a systematic error was observed between these methods.In conclu-sion,a validated LC-MS/MS method with minimal sample pretreatments for monitoring serum tocili-zumab concentrations in RA patients was developed.

Early changes of pulmonary arterial hemodynamics in patients with systemic sclerosis: flow pattern, WSS, and OSI analysis with 4D flow MRI.

OBJECTIVES: To study the pulmonary artery (PA) hemodynamics in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) using 4D flow MRI (4D-flow). METHODS: Twenty-three patients with SSc (M/F: 2/21, 57 ± 15 years, 3 manifest PA hypertension (PAH) by right heart catheterization) and 10 control subjects (M/F: 1/9, 55 ± 17 years) underwent 4D-flow for the in vivo measurement of 3D blood flow velocities in the PA. Data analysis included area-averaged flow quantification at the main PA, 3D wall shear stress (WSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI) calculation along the PA surface, and Reynolds number. The composite outcome of all-cause death and major adverse cardiac events was also investigated. RESULTS: The maximum PA flow at the systole did not differ, but the minimum flow at the diastole was significantly greater in patients with SSc compared with that in control subjects (7.7 ± 16.0 ml/s vs. ­ 13.0 ± 17.3 ml/s, p < 0.01). The maximum WSS at the peak systole was significantly lower and OSI was significantly greater in patients with SSc compared with those in control subjects (maximum WSS: 1.04 ± 0.20 Pa vs. 1.33 ± 0.34 Pa, p < 0.01, OSI: 0.139 ± 0.031 vs. 0.101 ± 0.037, p < 0.01). The cumulative event-free rate for the composite event was significantly lower in patients with minimum flow in main PA ≤ 9.22 ml/s (p = 0.012) and in patients with Reynolds number ≤ 2560 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: 4D-flow has the potential to detect changes of PA hemodynamics noninvasively and predict the outcome in patients with SSc at the stage before manifest PAH. KEY POINTS: • The WSS at the peak systolic phase was significantly lower (p < 0.05), whereas OSI was greater (p < 0.01) in patients with SSc without manifest PAH than in controls. • The hemodynamic change detected by 4D-flow may help patient management even at the stage before manifest PAH in SSc. • The minimum PA flow and Reynolds number by 4D-flow will serve as a predictive marker for SSc.

Associated factors of poor treatment outcomes in patients with giant cell arteritis: clinical implication of large vessel lesions.

BACKGROUND: Relapses frequently occur in giant cell arteritis (GCA), and long-term glucocorticoid therapy is required. The identification of associated factors with poor treatment outcomes is important to decide the treatment algorithm of GCA. METHODS: We enrolled 139 newly diagnosed GCA patients treated with glucocorticoids between 2007 and 2014 in a retrospective, multi-center registry. Patients were diagnosed with temporal artery biopsy, 1990 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria, or large vessel lesions (LVLs) detected by imaging based on the modified classification criteria. Poor treatment outcomes (non-achievement of clinical remission by week 24 or relapse during 52 weeks) were evaluated. Clinical remission was defined as the absence of clinical signs and symptoms in cranial and large vessel areas, polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), and elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. A patient was determined to have a relapse if he/she had either one of the signs and symptoms that newly appeared or worsened after achieving clinical remission. Re-elevation of CRP without clinical manifestations was considered as a relapse if other causes such as infection were excluded and the treatment was intensified. Associated factors with poor treatment outcomes were analyzed by using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Cranial lesions, PMR, and LVLs were detected in 77.7%, 41.7%, and 52.5% of the enrolled patients, respectively. Treatment outcomes were evaluated in 119 newly diagnosed patients who were observed for 24 weeks or longer. The mean initial dose of prednisolone was 0.76 mg/kg/day, and 29.4% received any concomitant immunosuppressive drugs at baseline. Overall, 41 (34.5%) of the 119 patients had poor treatment outcomes; 13 did not achieve clinical remission by week 24, and 28 had a relapse after achieving clinical remission. Cumulative rates of the events of poor treatment outcomes in patients with and without LVLs were 47.5% and 17.7%, respectively. A multivariable model showed the presence of LVLs at baseline was significantly associated with poor treatment outcomes (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 3.54, 95% CI 1.52-8.24, p = 0.003). Cranial lesions and PMR did not increase the risk of poor treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: The initial treatment intensity in the treatment algorithm of GCA could be determined based upon the presence or absence of LVLs detected by imaging at baseline.

Relationships between endogenous CYP3A markers and plasma amlodipine exposure and metabolism in early postpartum and non-peripartum women with hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between endogenous CYP3A markers and plasma amlodipine (AML) exposure and metabolism parameters in early postpartum and non-peripartum women. METHODS: Twenty-four AML-treated early postpartum women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and 30 non-peripartum women with essential hypertension were enrolled. Blood samples for determination of CYP3A markers including total cholesterol-adjusted 4ß-hydroxycholesterol (4ß-OHC/TC), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), and AML and its metabolites in plasma were collected at 24 h after the AML treatment. RESULTS: The plasma 4ß-OHC/TC in postpartum women was higher than that in non-peripartum women, while the plasma 25-OHD was lower. The postpartum women had a lower plasma AML concentration and its metabolic ratio was higher. The plasma 4ß-OHC/TC decreased as the number of days post-delivery increased. The plasma AML concentration increased as the number of days post-delivery increased, while the metabolic ratio of AML declined slightly. Tendency toward negative correlations between the plasma 4ß-OHC/TC but not 25-OHD, and AML concentration were observed in both postpartum and non-peripartum women. In both groups, the plasma 4ß-OHC/TC was correlated with the metabolic ratio of AML. CONCLUSIONS: The early postpartum women had higher plasma 4ß-OHC and AML metabolism. The plasma 4ß-OHC had positive relationships with amlodipine metabolism in both women groups. AML metabolism and plasma 4ß-OHC may be useful as CYP3A markers in early postpartum and non-peripartum women.

Multicenter, observational clinical study of abatacept in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The aim of this study was to assess abatacept in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient. Patients (20 men, 89 women, aged 61.9 ± 10.4 y) who responded inadequately to conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug were treated with abatacept for 24-months. Disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28-CRP) was evaluated. Of 109 patients, 82 (75.2%) were on methotrexate (MTX; mean dosage 9.0 ± 2.7 mg/week); 48 (44.0%) were naive to biologics and 61 (56.0%) had failed biologics. The 1- and 2-year retention rates were 77% and 53%, respectively. At 24-months, the DAS28-CRP remission rates were 54.5% in the biologic-naïve patients, and 28.2% in the biologic-failure patients (p < .01), while the structural remission rates were 83.9% and 73.1%, respectively (p = .461). Abatacept was equally effective in RA patients who were and were not on concomitant MTX. Biologic-naïve was associated with better clinical outcome. Abatacept was effective in patients who showed decreasing anti-CCP antibody titers or serum MMP-3 levels during treatment. Infection was the most frequent adverse effect of abatacept therapy. In conclusion, abatacept is more effective in biologic-naïve than in biologic-failure RA patients with or without concomitant use of MTX. Abatacept is more effective in RA patients with than without decreasing serum MMP-3 or anti-CCP antibody titers during treatment.

Successful classification of macrophage-mannose receptor CD206 in severity of anti-MDA5 antibody positive dermatomyositis associated ILD.

OBJECTIVES: Macrophage-mannose receptor, CD206, is a marker of alternatively activated macrophages. Activated macrophages play key roles in DM. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a leading cause of mortality in patients with DM/clinically amyopathic DM (CADM). In particular, patients with the anti-melanoma differential gene 5 antibody (MDA5) frequently develop fatal rapid progressive ILD. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical implications of alternatively activated macrophages in patients with CADM/DM-ILD with anti-MDA5 antibody (MDA5-CADM/DM-ILD). METHODS: We measured serum concentrations of soluble CD206 (sCD206) in 33 patients with MDA5-CADM/DM-ILD and 36 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Expression levels of CD206 in the lungs from MDA5-CADM/DM-ILD were also examined. RESULTS: Patients with MDA5-CADM/DM-ILD had higher levels of sCD206 than those in controls (P < 0.0001). Of the 33 patients, 10 MDA5-CADM/DM-ILD patients developed fatal respiratory failure. Concentrations of sCD206 in patients with fatal ILD cases were significantly higher than those in the survivors, and increased sCD206 levels were associated with a higher mortality rate (Log-rank test, P = 0.0009). Age- and gender-adjusted logistic regression analyses showed that sCD206 was an independent prognostic factor for MDA5-CADM/DM-ILD. Importantly, assessment by sCD206 together with PaO2 successfully divided into three groups by their prognosis (P < 0.005, respectively). Pathological analyses showed accumulations of CD206-positive macrophages in lungs from the fatal case rather than those in the non-fatal cases. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of serum sCD206 are increased in MDA5-CADM/DM-ILD and associated with poor prognosis. sCD206 is a potential biomarker to predict the severity of MDA5-CADM/DM-ILD.

Relationships between concomitant biologic DMARDs and prednisolone administration and blood tacrolimus exposure or serum CYP3A4/5-related markers in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between concomitant biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and prednisolone administration and blood tacrolimus exposure or serum CYP3A4/5-related markers in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without severe disease activity. METHODS: Forty-six RA patients treated with oral tacrolimus once daily for maintenance of clinical remission to moderate disease activity were enrolled. The blood concentrations of tacrolimus and its major metabolite were determined at 12 h after the evening dosing. Blood samples for determination of serum markers including 4ß-hydroxycholesterol (4ß-OHC), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and CYP3A5 genotype were collected. RESULTS: Most enrolled patients had RA with clinical remission to mild disease activity. Concomitant tocilizumab or low-dose prednisolone administration did not alter the blood tacrolimus exposure. Serum 4ß-OHC level was lower in tocilizumab co-treated patients than in the biologic DMARD non-treated patients. The blood tacrolimus concentration was inversely correlated with the serum level of 25-OHD, but not 4ß-OHC and IL-6. The serum level of 4ß-OHC was positively associated with that of 25-OHD. No correlations were observed between the serum levels of CYP3A4/5 activity markers and IL-6. The patients with the homozygous CYP3A5*3 had the higher blood tacrolimus concentration, while CYP3A5*3 allele was not associated with the serum levels of 4ß-OHC and 25-OHD. CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant use of tocilizumab or low-dose prednisolone had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus, while tocilizumab lowered serum 4ß-OHC. Blood tacrolimus exposure was negatively associated with serum 25-OHD in RA patients with clinical remission to moderate disease activity.

Risk Factors for Relapse of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitis in Japan: A Nationwide, Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to elucidate the prognosis and risk factors associated with relapse during longterm remission maintenance therapy for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed AAV (n = 156) were registered in the Remission Induction Therapy in Japanese patients with ANCA-associated Vasculitides (RemIT-JAV) study, and among them, 83 patients who achieved remission were enrolled and followed up for 24 additional months in our nationwide, prospective cohort study (Co-RemIT-JAV; registration number UMIN 000006373). Patterns of maintenance therapy, effectiveness, and safety were evaluated from months 25 to 48 after the RemIT-JAV. The primary outcome measure was the rate of relapse. Secondary outcome measures included overall and renal survival, risk factors associated with relapse, and incidence rates of serious infections. RESULTS: The patients comprised 35 men and 48 women aged 65.3 ± 12.6 years. Between months 25 and 48, the survival rate was 95% (79/83). Causes of death included 1 thyroid cancer, 1 infection, and 2 unknown reasons. Four patients had developed endstage renal disease (ESRD) by Month 24; 1 developed ESRD beyond Month 25. The relapse rate was 24% (20/83) from months 25 to 48. Multivariable analysis revealed that oral prednisolone ≤ 2.5 mg/day at Month 24 was a significant risk factor for relapse between months 25 and 48 (HR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-8.5). CONCLUSION: One-quarter of patients with AAV relapsed during maintenance therapy, and relapse was associated with the dose of oral prednisolone 24 months after the initiation of remission induction therapy in Japan.

Clinical significance of soluble CD163 in polymyositis-related or dermatomyositis-related interstitial lung disease.

BACKGROUND: Macrophage activation is involved in the pathogenesis of polymyositis (PM)/dermatomyositis (DM). CD163, a scavenger receptor expressed on the surface of activated macrophages, mediates anti-inflammatory functions. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of soluble CD163 (sCD163) in PM/DM-related interstitial lung disease (ILD). METHODS: The main subjects were 48 patients with PM/DM-related ILD. As controls, 10 patients with PM/DM without ILD and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled. In patients with PM/DM-related ILD, the baseline characteristics and clinical course were obtained through a review of patient medical records. Serum sCD163 levels at ILD diagnosis were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which were compared with the other baseline clinical factors and evaluated for potential as a prognostic biomarker. In addition, immunohistochemistry analysis using anti-human CD163 antibody was performed on the lung sections of two patients with DM-related ILD (a survivor and non-survivor, respectively) and one patient with early-stage lung cancer as a normal control. RESULTS: The median value of serum sCD163 in patients with PM/DM-related ILD was 818 ng/mL, which was higher than that of PM/DM patients without ILD and healthy volunteers (716 ng/mL and 340 ng/mL, respectively). Significant but mild correlations with serum sCD163 levels were observed for serum C-reactive protein levels (r = 0.322) and % predicted forced vital capacity (r = -0.301) in patients with PM/DM-related ILD. A Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that patients with PM/DM-related ILD and higher sCD163 levels had worse prognosis (age-adjusted and gender-adjusted hazard ratio per 100 ng/mL increase 1.27, 95% confidence interval 1.11-1.45, P <0.001). In immunohistochemistry analysis, compared with normal lung, alveolar infiltration of CD163-positive macrophages was evident in the lungs of patients with DM-related ILD. Especially, the finding was more severe in the non-survivor's lung. CONCLUSIONS: Serum sCD163 might be a potential biomarker for predicting the severity and prognosis of PM/DM-related ILD. Our results suggest the importance of macrophage activation in the disease.