Identification of RP1 as the genetic cause of retinitis pigmentosa in a multi-generational pedigree using Extremely Low-Coverage Whole Genome Sequencing (XLC-WGS).

MOTIVATION: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies are decisive for discovering disease-causing variants, although their cost limits their utility in a clinical setting. A cost-mitigating alternative is an extremely low coverage whole-genome sequencing (XLC-WGS). We investigated its use to identify causal variants within a multi-generational pedigree of individuals with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Causing progressive vision loss, RP is a group of genetically heterogeneous eye disorders with approximately 60 known causal genes. RESULTS: We performed XLC-WGS in seventeen members of this pedigree, including three individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of RP. Sequencing data were processed using Illumina's DRAGEN pipeline and filtered using Illumina's genotype quality score metric (GQX). The resulting variants were analyzed using Expert Variant Interpreter (eVai) from enGenome as a prioritization tool. A nonsense known mutation (c.1625C > G; p.Ser542*) in exon 4 of the RP1 gene emerged as the most likely causal variant. We identified two homozygous carriers of this variant among the three sequenced RP cases and three heterozygous individuals with sufficient coverage of the RP1 locus. Our data show the utility of combining pedigree information with XLC-WGS as a cost-effective approach to identify disease-causing variants.

Concurrence of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis: Analysis of Seven Cases and Literature Review.

Introduction: The association of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in a single patient is a rarely described phenomenon. AS and RA are conditions that can have a high impact on the morbidity and mortality of patients. Methods: We described the clinical, epidemiological, analytical, and radiological characteristics of 81 patients with concomitant diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Of these patients, seven were diagnosed at our hospital. A literature review was carried out using Medline, Embase, Scopus, and virtual hospital libraries, including the period from January 1950 to April 2020. Results: Regarding the results, 71% of the patients were men, with a mean age of 53 years (±14.83). RA was the first disease diagnosed in 52% of the cases. Approximately 53% of the patients had rheumatoid nodules, and 83% reported inflammatory lumbar pain during their evaluation. Erosions were observed on radiographs of the hands and/or feet in 85% of the cases, and almost all the patients (80/81) had sacroiliitis on imaging studies. Approximately 92% of the cases were rheumatoid factor (RF) positive and 90% HLA B-27 positive. Conclusions: The coexistence of RA and AS is highly uncommon. With the data obtained in this review, it seems that there exist erosive radiological patterns, positivity for RF, involvement of the axial skeleton, and rheumatoid nodules at a higher frequency than those patients with a single diagnosis of the two entities. More data are needed to corroborate this association.

Medical Versus Surgical Approach to Initial Treatment in Septic Arthritis: A Single Spanish Center's 8-Year Experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the functional results of 2 different procedure types, medical or surgical used in treating native joint septic arthritis. METHODS: In this cohort study, we reviewed the clinical registries of patients admitted to a single third-level hospital with the diagnosis of septic arthritis during the period of January 1, 2008, to January 31, 2016. RESULTS: A total of 63 cases of septic arthritis were identified in which the initial approach for 49 patients was medical (arthrocentesis), whereas the initial approach for 14 patients was surgical (arthroscopy or arthrotomy). Of the 49 patients who received initial medical treatment (IMT), 15 patients (30%) later required surgical treatment because of poor progress. The median age of the patients was 60 (SD, 18) years. The group who received IMT were older than those who received initial surgical treatment (median, 64 years [interquartile range {IQR}, 54-76 years], vs. 48 years [IQR, 30-60 years]). There was a larger percentage of male patients in the surgical group (78% vs. 42% [p = 0.018]). Thirty percent of the medical group had been receiving corticosteroid treatment (p = 0.018). Results of complete recovery of joint functionality showed no significant differences after 1 year (68% with MT vs. 67% with ST, p = 0.91). Both groups had similar symptom duration until diagnosis, duration of antibiotic therapy (median, 30 days [IQR, 28-49 days], vs. 29.5 days [IQR, 27-49] days), and mortality rate (3 in the medical group). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study show that initial surgical treatment in patients with native joint septic arthritis is not superior to IMT. However, half of the patients with shoulder and hip infections treated with IMT eventually required surgical intervention, suggesting that perhaps this should be the preferred initial approach in these cases.

Anti-TNFα therapy and switching in severe uveitis related to Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome.

The study aimed to describe the effectiveness of switching the anti-TNFα agent when an acceptable clinical response has not been obtained with the first anti-TNFα agent in patients with uveitis in VKH syndrome. Patients diagnosed with VKH syndrome being evaluated from the uveitis unit of a single tertiary hospital from January 1, 2000, to October 30, 2015. Patients who presented uveitis with an inadequate response to a first anti-TNFα and required switching to a second anti-TNFα were selected. Complete clinical response was assumed in patients whose visual acuity was normal and those who showed absence of inflammatory findings (inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber and vitritis) or absence of macular thickening in upon OCT. A systematic review of the literature of anti-TNFα agents in VKH syndrome was performed. Five patients met the criteria of VKH syndrome. Two cases of VKH syndrome with uveitis and inadequate clinical response to an initial anti-TNFα (both IFX) were presented. After switching to Adalimumab (ADA), a satisfactory clinical response was noted in the first month. For the first time, we present two patients with severe uveitis due to VKH syndrome who after inadequately responding to the first anti-TNFα agent showed complete and maintained clinical improvement when switched to a second anti-TNFα agent.

Mieloma múltiple oligosecretor: presentación clínica inhabitual de una enfermedad poco frecuente / Oligosecretory multiple myeloma: unusual presentation of a rare clinical disease

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Zoledronic Acid Treatment in Primary Bone Marrow Edema Syndrome.

Primary bone marrow edema syndrome (BMES) is characterized by the combination of joint pain and distinctive magnetic resonance imaging changes. It has been suggested that the use of bisphosphonate drugs reduce symptom severity. Our objective was to review cases of patients diagnosed with BMES in the last 7 years who had been treated with zoledronic acid. Access to a pharmaceutical database was gained in order to obtain a list of zoledronic acid prescriptions. Based on clinical and MRI criteria for BMES, patients were selected. Baseline pain intensity was evaluated on a scale of 0 to 3 and was also assessed after 3 and 12 months. Functional recovery was evaluated by noting if a patient had returned to carrying out his or her normal daily activities. Out of 633 patients, 17 cases of BMES were identified (8 men), with a median age of 54 ± 14.1 years. The most frequently affected joint was the ankle (9), followed by the hip. Sixteen patients presented with moderate to severe pain initially. Of those patients, 13 had no pain after 12 months. Zoledronic acid is a option in the management of BMES, since 75% of patients treated with it presented with a complete response.

Deficiencia de mevalonato quinasa (síndrome de hiper-IgD) y solapamiento con mutación de fiebre mediterránea familiar / Mevalonate kinase deficiency (hyper-IgD syndrome) overlap mutation familial Mediterranean fever

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Neumonitis aguda en un paciente con enfermedad de Still del adulto tras tratamiento con tocilizumab con buena respuesta a anakinra / Acute pneumonitis in a patient with adult-onset disease after toclizumab treatment with good response to anakinra

La afectación pulmonar en forma de neumonitis aguda en la enfermedad de Still del adulto (ESA) es una manifestación infrecuente, existiendo pocos casos descritos en la literatura. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 61 años con ESA de 3 años de evolución, en tratamiento con metotrexato (MTX) y corticoides a dosis medias, que comenzó con cuadro de fiebre, disnea y tos seca a las 3 semanas de recibir la primera dosis de tocilizumab (TCZ). En la analítica destacaban leucocitosis con desviación izquierda, ferritina sérica muy elevada y proteína C reactiva normal. La TAC de tórax mostró un patrón en vidrio deslustrado de predominio central y lóbulos superiores, y el BAL, un incremento del porcentaje de linfocitos, con subpoblaciones normales y cultivos negativos. Se suspendieron el MTX y el TCZ, se aumentó la prednisona a 30mg/día y al cabo de una semana se inició anakinra 100mg/día por vía subcutánea, observando en pocos días una mejoría progresiva espectacular clínica, analítica y radiológica (AU)

Pulmonary involvement in the form of acute pneumonitis in adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is an uncommon manifestation, with few cases reported in the literature. We report the case of a 61-year-old male with 3 years of AOSD evolution, treated with methotrexate (MTX) and half-dose corticosteroids, which debuted with symptoms of fever, dyspnea and dry cough after 3 weeks of receiving the first dose of tocilizumab (TCZ). In the follow-up study showed leukocytosis with left shift, elevated serum ferritin and C-reactive protein standard. The chest CT scan showed ground-glass pattern predominantly in central and upper lobes and the BAL shows an increase in the percentage of lymphocyte with normal subpopulations and negative cultures. MTX and TCM were suspended, prednisone was increased to 30mg/day and within a week Anakinra 100mg/day SC was iniciated, noting in a few days a progressive clinical, analytical and radiological improvement (AU)

Sialodochitis fibrinosa (kussmaul disease) report of 3 cases and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Sialodochitis fibrinosa is a rare disease which is characterized by recurring episodes of pain and swelling of the salivary glands due to the formation of mucofibrinous plugs. Analytic studies ascertain elevated levels of eosinophils and immunoglobulin E (IgE). Imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and sialography reveal dilation of the main salivary duct (duct ectasia). Treatment is initially supportive, consisting of compressive massages, and use of antihistamines and/or corticosteroids. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the following, 3 cases of sialodochitis fibrinosa are presented which were diagnosed in a third level hospital during the period of 2008 and 2016, as well as a literature review of all cases reported to our knowledge. RESULTS: Of the 41 cases found, including the 3 of this article, 66% were women with an average age of 45 years old. However, 75% of reported cases were of Japanese heritage. Involvement of the parotid glands was more frequent than the submandibular glands. In more than half of all cases treatment with compressive massages, antihistamines and/or corticosteroids was effective. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should consider sialodochitis fibrinosa as a diagnostic possibility when presented with cases of recurring parotid and submandibular gland tumescence.

Síndrome del mentón entumecido secundario a schwannoma solitario / Numb chin syndrome secondary to solitary schwannoma

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Acute pneumonitis in a patient with adult-onset disease after toclizumab treatment with good response to anakinra. / Neumonitis aguda en un paciente con enfermedad de Still del adulto tras tratamiento con tocilizumab con buena respuesta a anakinra.

Pulmonary involvement in the form of acute pneumonitis in adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is an uncommon manifestation, with few cases reported in the literature. We report the case of a 61-year-old male with 3 years of AOSD evolution, treated with methotrexate (MTX) and half-dose corticosteroids, which debuted with symptoms of fever, dyspnea and dry cough after 3 weeks of receiving the first dose of tocilizumab (TCZ). In the follow-up study showed leukocytosis with left shift, elevated serum ferritin and C-reactive protein standard. The chest CT scan showed ground-glass pattern predominantly in central and upper lobes and the BAL shows an increase in the percentage of lymphocyte with normal subpopulations and negative cultures. MTX and TCM were suspended, prednisone was increased to 30mg/day and within a week Anakinra 100mg/day SC was iniciated, noting in a few days a progressive clinical, analytical and radiological improvement.

Salud ósea, vitamina D y lupus / Bone health, vitamin D and lupus

Los pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico presentan una prevalencia elevada de deficiencia e insuficiencia de vitamina D. Esto se debe probablemente a las medidas de fotoprotección y a factores intrínsecos de la enfermedad. Los niveles bajos de vitamina D aumentan el riesgo de presentar una densidad mineral ósea reducida y de fractura. El déficit de vitamina D podría también tener efectos no deseados sobre la respuesta inmune de los pacientes, potenciando mecanismos de pérdida de tolerancia y autoinmunidad. Los niveles de vitamina D deberían ser monitorizados periódicamente y los pacientes deberían ser tratados con el objetivo de alcanzar unos niveles de vitamina D superiores a 30-40 ng/ml (AU)

The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is high. This is likely due to photoprotection measures in addition to intrinsic factors of the disease. Low levels of vitamin D increase the risk of low bone mineral density and fracture. Vitamin D deficiency could also have undesirable effects on patients’ immune response, enhancing mechanisms of loss of tolerance and autoimmunity. Vitamin D levels should be periodically monitored and patients should be treated with the objective of reaching vitamin D levels higher than 30-40 ng/ml (AU)

Dermatomiositis y miastenia gravis: una asociación infrecuente con implicaciones terapéuticas / Dermatomyositis and myastenia gravis: an uncommon association with therapeutic implications

La asociación de dermatomiositis y miastenia gravis (MG) es infrecuente, habiéndose comunicado hasta la actualidad únicamente 26 casos. Se presenta el caso de un varón de 69 años diagnosticado de MG 2 años atrás, en tratamiento con piridostigmina, que inicia cuadro agudo de debilidad muscular proximal, artralgias en hombros y elevación de creatincinasa (CK); así como aparición de eritema facial generalizado y pápulas de Gottron. En el estudio de laboratorio se evidenció positividad de anticuerpos antinucleares y anti-Mi2. Ulteriores determinaciones de CK mostraron niveles por encima de 1.000 U/l. Se discute el manejo clínico de este paciente y las implicaciones terapéuticas que plantea la coexistencia de ambas entidades (AU)

The association of dermatomyositis with myasthenia gravis (MG) is uncommon, having been reported so far in only 26 cases. We report the case of a 69 year-old man diagnosed with MG two years ago and currently treated with piridostigmyne. The patient developed acute proximal weakness, shoulder pain and elevated creatine-kinase (CK). He also developed generalized facial erythema and Gottron's papules. Laboratory tests showed positive antinuclear and anti-Mi2 antibodies. Further analysis confirmed CK levels above 1000 U/l. The clinical management of the patient and the therapeutic implications derived from the coexistence of both entities are discusssed (AU)

Bone health, vitamin D and lupus.

The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is high. This is likely due to photoprotection measures in addition to intrinsic factors of the disease. Low levels of vitamin D increase the risk of low bone mineral density and fracture. Vitamin D deficiency could also have undesirable effects on patients' immune response, enhancing mechanisms of loss of tolerance and autoimmunity. Vitamin D levels should be periodically monitored and patients should be treated with the objective of reaching vitamin D levels higher than 30-40 ng/ml.

Dermatomyositis and myastenia gravis: An uncommon association with therapeutic implications.

The association of dermatomyositis with myasthenia gravis (MG) is uncommon, having been reported so far in only 26 cases. We report the case of a 69 year-old man diagnosed with MG two years ago and currently treated with piridostigmyne. The patient developed acute proximal weakness, shoulder pain and elevated creatine-kinase (CK). He also developed generalized facial erythema and Gottron's papules. Laboratory tests showed positive antinuclear and anti-Mi2 antibodies. Further analysis confirmed CK levels above 1000 U/l. The clinical management of the patient and the therapeutic implications derived from the coexistence of both entities are discusssed.

Transient ischaemic attack secondary to paraneoplastic erythrocytosis.

A 67-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus was admitted to the hospital due to aphasia and left-sided hemiparesis during the past 5 h with resolution of symptoms within 24 h. On admission laboratory analysis showed haemoglobin 19.2 g/dL and haematocrit 55.1%. Cerebral CT scan was also performed on admission revealing periventricular leucoaraiosis. Studies to investigate the cause of erythrocytosis were started and elevated erythropoietin levels were found. In order to investigate a secondary cause of erythrocytosis an abdominal ultrasound was conducted revealing a left renal mass. CT scans of thorax, abdomen and pelvis confirmed renal mass 8 × 8 cm of diameter, suggestive of neoplasm without associated lymphadenopathy or metastases. Radical nephrectomy was performed and a pathological diagnosis demonstrated clear cell renal cell carcinoma and was staged as T2aN0M0.

Cutis verticis gyrata as a clinical manifestation of Touraine-Solente-Gole' syndrome (pachydermoperiostosis).

Cutis verticis gyrata is a descriptive term for a condition of the scalp consisting of deep grooves and convolutions that resemble the surface of the brain. We present a case of a 22-year-old man who presented with pain and swelling of both knees and hands. Enlarged wrists, ankles and feet were also noted, along with facial seborrhoea, thickening of the skin and deformity of the fingers. Physical examination of the scalp showed a cerebriform appearance with accentuating folds and deep furrows (cutis verticis gyrata), thickening in the face, frontal and parietal regions. Bone enlargement of the hands, knees, ankles and feet was also found. Secondary causes of pachydermoperiostosis were negative.