Plasma levels of E-selectin are associated with retinopathy in sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND: The vascular endothelium is markedly disrupted in sickle cell disease (SCD) and is the converging cascade of the complex pathophysiologic processes linked to sickle cell vasculopathy. Circulating endothelial activation and/or apoptotic markers may reflect this endothelial activation/damage that contributes to the pathophysiology of the SCD vascular complications. METHODS: Plasmatic levels of circulating endothelial cells (CECs), E-selectin, progenitor's endothelial cells (EPCs), and circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) were evaluated in 50 SCD patients, 16 with vasculopathy. The association between these markers and the occurrence of disease-related microvascular injuries of the eye (retinopathy), kidney (nephropathy), and skin (chronic active ulcers) was explored. RESULTS: Among the endothelial activation markers studied, only higher plasma levels of E-selectin were found in SCD patients with vasculopathy (p = .015). Increased E-selectin levels were associated with retinopathy (p < .001) but not with nephropathy or leg ulcers. All patients, at steady state, with or without vasculopathy, did not display a high count of CEC and EPC, markers of endothelial injury and repair. We did not show any significant differences in EVs levels between vasculopathy and not vasculopathy SCD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies will be required to determine whether the E-selectin could be used as an early biomarker of retinopathy sickle cell development.

Acute polyarthritis in a young patient caused by meningococcal and parvovirus B19 infections: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Meningococcal infection is a multifaceted disease including acute polyarthritis. This presentation should be known by clinicians in order to prevent delay in treatment. We report what we believe to be the first case of an association of parvovirus B19 and meningococcal polyarthritis in a young adult. CASE PRESENTATION: A 19-year-old Caucasian woman presented to our hospital with fever, intense leg pain, and a transient rash. A physical examination showed asymmetric polyarthritis and no neurological abnormalities. A parvovirus B19 polymerase chain reaction performed using a blood sample and knee fluid aspirate came back positive, but serology was negative for immunoglobulin M and positive for immunoglobulin G. A blood culture was positive for serotype C meningococcus; a polymerase chain reaction performed for Neisseria meningitidis was positive in joint fluid but negative in blood samples (performed after antibiotic treatment had begun). Our patient was treated with ceftriaxone for 15 days, associated with analgesic therapy. Hydroxychloroquine treatment was introduced 5 months after the onset of polyarthritis because of persisting inflammatory arthralgia. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of polyarthritis caused by concomitant meningococcal and parvovirus B19 infections. This unusual presentation of meningococcal disease may have resulted from the persistent parvovirus B19 infection. Our experience with this case illustrates the need for a systematic approach to the diagnosis of febrile acute polyarthritis. Only long-term follow-up will reveal if this infectious polyarthritis will evolve towards an autoimmune rheumatism.