In SAPHO syndrome anti-TNF-alpha therapy may induce persistent amelioration of osteoarticular complaints, but may exacerbate cutaneous manifestations.

OBJECTIVES: SAPHO syndrome (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis) is a rare disease combining skin, bone and joint manifestations. In recent years new therapeutic strategies have been tried, among them TNF-alpha-blocking agents. We report our experience with infliximab in four cases of SAPHO syndrome refractory to conventional therapies. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2005, four cases of SAPHO syndrome (two females and two males; mean age 49.7 yr) responding poorly to conventional drugs were treated with infliximab. The dose was 5 mg/kg, according to the protocol used in spondyloarthropathies, with infusions at 0, 2 and 6 weeks followed by 6 weeks intervals. No active cutaneous manifestations were present at the time of starting therapy. RESULTS: Complete remission of osteoarticular involvement was achieved after the second or third infusion, and the positive response was maintained for up to 12 months. A patient relapsed after discontinuation of infliximab, because of infectious complication. Palmoplantaris pustulosis relapsed in two patients after three and six infusions, respectively; there was slight improvement after discontinuation of anti-TNF-alpha drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab seems to be a very effective therapy for osteoarticular complaints of SAPHO syndrome. Cutaneous involvement responded less favourably, palmoplantaris pustulosis relapse being a possible complication.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis: a rare cause of erosive arthropathy of the distal interphalangeal finger joints.

BACKGROUND: Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH) is a rare systemic disease, presenting with typical skin abnormalities and erosive polyarthritis, which is often associated with malignancy. CASE REPORT: A case of MRH arthropathy, in which the typical nodular skin manifestation of the disease was absent, is described in a patient with a past history of breast cancer and no evidence of recurrent or new malignancy. RESULTS: Careful clinical and roentgenological evaluation disclosed important clues to differentiate this condition from other more common distal interphalangeal arthritides--namely, osteoarthritis and its "erosive" variant, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, tophaceous gout, dialysis related hand arthropathy, and from the rarer fibroblastic rheumatism, all of which can be mimicked by MRH. Histopathology showed the characteristic histiocytic and multinucleated giant cell infiltrate with ground glass cytoplasm, and immunohistochemical analysis showed markers evocative of a monocyte/macrophage origin of MRH.

HBV-related cutaneous periarteritis nodosa in a patient 16 years after renal transplantation: efficacy of lamivudine.

Cutaneous periarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a clinical feature characterized by chronic, benign course; its pathogenesis is unknown. In patients submitted to renal transplantation cutaneous PAN is a rare complication. We report a case of cutaneous PAN associated with the reappearance of hepatitis B antigen 16 years after kidney transplantation. A 44-year-old man underwent successful renal transplantation in June 1980. In December 1996 he presented multiple painful erythematous subcutaneous nodules on both legs. Skin lesion biopsy showed the presence of cutaneous PAN. Six months later laboratory data demonstrated the presence of HbsAg. HBeAg, HBcAb and detectable HBV-DNA serum by polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) assay. Anti-HBs and anti-HBe proved negative. In July 1998 the laboratory tests showed an important increase of HBV-DNA (5.1 billion by Branched DNA), and so lamivudine (100 mg/day) was introduced. HBV-DNA became undetectable by PCR after 3 months of therapy. Seven months later a new skin biopsy was performed. The typical signs of PAN were no longer evident. As HBV infecion was demonstrated six months after the clinical appearance of the PAN, in a patient who was believed to be immune to the virus, it is possible that, in the early stages, the hepatitis B antigen title was methodologically indeterminable, but sufficient to form circulating immune complexes responsible for vasculitis primer. Lamivudine therapy resulted efficacious in favouring the regression of cutaneous PAN, but its long-term efficacy requires further evaluation as regards potential selection of drug resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutants during treatment.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura after Salmonella hirschfeldii infection.

The authors present a case of Henoch-Schönlein purpura in a young soldier (19 years old) which they consider important for its etiology and the length of its oligoanuric phase. The syndrome followed a Salmonella hirschfeldii infection, and a protracted oligoanuric phase was followed by nephrotic syndrome and selective glomerular proteinuria which lasted for 1 year. The young man recovered after the eradication of the Salmonella. It seems possible that there was an overall anomalous regulation of the 'lymphoid system of the mucosa', perhaps dependent on a genetic predisposition.

Radiological features of dialysis amyloid spondyloarthropathy.

Nine patients undergoing regular dialytic treatment (RDT) for more than 60 months (mean 125 +/- 33 months) showed clinical and radiological evidence of non-infective destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA). The cervical spine was the skeletal segment most affected (100% of cases). Three patients were found also to be suffering from discal and bone alterations of the dorsal column, and in two other patients the vertebral bodies L4-L5 were changed. Typical radiological pictures showed a narrowing of intervertebral spaces with the destruction or sclerosis of adjacent subchondral bones, erosions of vertebral body plates and cavitations. CT studies of the altered spines confirmed discal lesions and osteolytic areas with bone condensation at each level. Ligamentous lesions resulting in severe disorders of spinal statics were discovered during autopsy of three patients. Histological study of disc and peridiscal ligaments indicated the presence of large amyloid deposits containing beta-2-microglobulin (B2-m). It is possible that the minor biocompatibility of the cuprophan membrane of dialyzers is the most significant factor responsible for the hyperproduction of B2-m and thus of the osteo-articular deposition of a new type of amyloidosis.