Exercise tolerance in systemic sclerosis patients without pulmonary impairment: correlation with clinical variables.

OBJECTIVES: In systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients pulmonary vasculopathy (PV) is present in the early stage of disease and impairs dilation of affected pulmonary blood vessels, impeding pulmonary blood flow during exercise. Abnormal gas exchange findings were early investigated by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). METHODS: A total of 34 female and 6 male [median age 49 (20-63) years] SSc patients with normal chest imaging and pulmonary function tests were enrolled. Twenty healthy controls age and sex matched [16 female and 4 male; median age 51 (35-73) years] were also recruited. All subjects underwent a full clinical examination, including a nailfold video capillaros copy (NVC). An incremental symptom-limited CPET was performed with estimation of minute ventilation (VE), workload (WR), peak oxygen uptake (pVO22), and ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope). RESULTS: A reduced exercise tolerance (pVO2<80% of predicted) was documented in 18 out of 40 subjects (45%). Six out of 18 patients with a reduced exercise tolerance showed indirect signs of ventilation perfusion mismatch (VE/ VCO2 slope >34). Patients with digital ulcers (DUs) history showed VE/VCO2slope values significantly higher [31.4 (18-39.6)] than in patients without DUs history [26.9 (22-29.4)] (p<0.0001). VE/VCO2slope values also significantly differed between the three capillaroscopic groups: early [26.3 (18-29.4)], active [28 (26.8-39.6)], and late [32.9 (22.4-39)] (p<0.0001). A positive correlation was found between the VE/ VCO2slope and both Disease Activity Index (p<0.0001, r=0.59) and Disease Severity Scale (p<0.0001, r=0.73). CONCLUSIONS: In SSc patients without evidence of pulmonary and cardiac involvement, CPET might be useful in disclosing an early PV.

Safety and infectious prophylaxis of intravenous immunoglobulin in elderly patients with membranous nephropathy.

A variety of infections has been recognized as an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with nephrotic syndrome, and membranous nephropathy is a common cause of this in the elderly. The reasons for infection risk are due to oedema complications, urinary loss of factor B and D of the alternative complement pathway, cellular immunity, granulocyte chemotaxis, hypogammaglobulinemia with serum IgG levels below 600 mg/dL, and secondary effects of immunosuppressive therapy. Many different prophylactic interventions have been used for reducing the risks of infection in these patients but recommendations for routine use are still lacking. We report two membranous nephropathy cases in the elderly in which Intravenous immunoglobulin were useful in long-term infectious prophylaxis, showing safety in renal function. During immunosuppressant therapy in membranous nephropathy, intravenous immunoglobulin without sucrose are a safe therapeutic option as prophylaxis in those patients with nephrotic syndrome and IgG levels below 600 mg/dL. The long-term goal of infection prevention in these patients is to reduce mortality, prolong survival and improve quality of life.

Sexual distress, sexual dysfunction and relationship quality in women with systemic sclerosis: correlation with clinical variables.

To assess the rate of sexual distress, sexual dysfunction and relationship quality and their association with clinical variables in women with systemic sclerosis (SSc), 102 sexually active women with SSc were recruited. Sexual distress, sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction with relationship quality were investigated by Female Sexual Distress Scale Revised (FSDS-R), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), respectively. The patients underwent medical examinations and nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC). Of the 102 patients, 37 (36%) reported sexual distress with FSDS-R score >11, 45 (44%) had sexual dysfunction with FSFI score <19 and 49 (48%) were not satisfied with relationship quality with DAS score <100. There was a negative correlation (p<0.001, R= -0.30) between FSDS-R and FSFI. No correlation was found between FSDS-R and DAS. FSFI showed a positive correlation with DAS (p<0.0001, R= 0.36). Age correlated negatively (p<0.05, R= -0.26) with FSFI, while FSDS-R and DAS did not correlate (p>0.05) with age. SSc women with digital ulcers (DU) had a reduction of FSFI and DAS compared with women without DU. In patients with late capillaroscopic pattern, mean value of FSFI was significantly lower than the other two capillaroscopic patterns. DAS decreased with progression of capillaroscopic damage. In a high percentage of women with SSc FSDS-R was increased, while FSFI and DAS were reduced. Age correlated negatively with FSFI, while skin score showed a negative correlation with DAS. Digital vascular damage negatively influenced FSFI and DAS.

Ulcers caused by bullous morphea: successful therapy with N-acetylcysteine and topical wound care.

Bullous morphea is an uncommon form of localized scleroderma. The pathogenesis is unknown and treatment of coexistent ulcers is difficult. The pathogenesis of bullae formation in morphea is multifactorial, but reactive oxygen species production appears to play a key role. We report a patient with bullous morphea with long-standing ulcers whom we successfully treated with N-acetylcysteine and topical wound care. N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant sulfhydryl substance, promotes the healing of ulcers in patients with bullous morphea.

Doppler ultrasound study of penis in men with systemic sclerosis: a correlation with Doppler indices of renal and digital arteries.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) prevalence in male systemic sclerosis (SSc) is high and its pathogenesis is unclear. The aim of the study is to assess correlation between Doppler ultrasound indices of penis and kidneys or digital arteries in male systemic sclerosis. Fourteen men with systemic sclerosis were enrolled in this study. Erectile function was investigated by the International Index of Erectile Function-5. Peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, resistive index, pulsative index, and systolic/diastolic ratio were measured on the cavernous arteries at the peno-scrotal junction in the flaccid state, on the interlobar artery of both kidneys and all ten proper palmar digital arteries. Ten (71 percent) patients have an International Index of Erectile Function-5 less than 21. Reduction of penis peak systolic velocity was observed in all SSc subjects. Doppler indices of cavernous arteries correlate with the International Index of Erectile Function-5. The renal and digital arteries resistive index demonstrated a good correlation (p less than 0.0001) with International Index of Erectile Function-5. A positive correlation exists between penis and kidney arteries Doppler indices: end diastolic velocity (p less than 0.05, r=0.54), resistive index (p less than 0.0001, r=0.90), systolic/diastolic ratio (p less than 0.01, r=0.69). A positive correlation was observed between penis and digital arteries Doppler indices: peak systolic velocity (p less than 0.01, r=0.68), end diastolic velocity (p less than 0.01, r=0.75), resistive index (p less than 0.001, r=0.79), systolic/diastolic ratio (p less than 0.05, r=0.59). A correlation exists between arterial impairment of penis and renal or digital arteries.

Skewed T-cell receptor variable ß repertoire and massive T-cell activation in idiopathic orofacial granulomatosis.

Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is a clinicopathologic entity describing oral lesions with noncaseating granulomas including a spectrum of diseases such as the Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. The involvement of abnormal T-cell responses has been suggested in the pathogenesis of OFG although few and contrasting data are currently available on this issue. In a patient with OFG, we observed virtually complete CD4 and CD8 T-cell receptor (TCR) ß-chain variable region (BV) repertoires at the lesion level and in circulation. However, oligoclonal profiles were found in CD4 and, to a greater extent, in CD8 subsets. These findings were seen in association with a massive peripheral T-cell activation, decreased naive T cells, reduced thymic output, altered cytokine production, and increased apoptosis. Our data, pointing to a random influx of T cells at the site of inflammation, argue against the hypothesis of a main allergen acting at the level of oral mucosa. The profound dysregulation of the peripheral T-cell compartment suggests that OFG should be regarded as a systemic disorder with localized manifestations.

Clinical and histological outcome predictors in renal limited pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis: a single centre experience.

Renal-limited vasculitis is a pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis with no signs of systemic involvement, representing one of the most common causes of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. The study aims to examine clinical and histological features in twenty-four patients with RLV diagnosed by the Nephrology Department of Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, evaluating the role of these parameters in predicting renal survival. Patients details, clinical and histological features and outcomes were recorded at the time of renal biopsy and over a mean follow-up period of 36±6 months. In our study, serum creatinine at presentation was significantly higher in patients who had a poor outcome than in those who survived with independent renal function (6.3±2.47 mg/dl vs 2.84±2.01 mg/dl, P= 0.002). The presence of C3c was found in the area of glomerular fibrinoid necrosis and in small arteries and arterioles with fibrinoid necrosis in 17 patients (P= 0.018). In conclusion, serum creatinine at presentation and focal C3c depositions in areas of glomerular and arteriolar fibrinoid necrosis were the best determinants of poor renal outcome, maybe underlining the pathogenic role of alternative pathway activation of complement system but also demonstrating the focal distribution of necrotizing lesions.

ACTH and azathioprine: antiproteinuric and lipid-lowering effect in the course of idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis.

Idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis is a frequent cause of nephrotic syndrome and may have a variable course, from spontaneous remission to progression on renal failure. The therapy is based on alternating steroids and chlorambucil or cyclophosphamide (Ponticelli protocol) for six months. In absence of complete or partial remission after protocol, cyclosporine, adrenocorticotropic hormone, mycophenolate mofetil, rituximab can be used for potential therapy. We report here the case of a woman with idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis unresponsive to the Ponticelli regimen and treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone in association with azathioprine, showing a dramatic decrease of proteinuria and beneficial effects on lipid profile. After 36 months, no relapse of disease has occurred. Although larger cohorts of patients are needed to evaluate the long-term effects, adrenocorticotropic hormone plus azathioprine in association could be a possible therapeutic option for unresponsive idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis.

The combination of laser Doppler perfusion imaging and photoplethysmography is useful in the characterization of scleroderma and primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate simultaneously skin perfusion and digital artery pulsatility of hands in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: In 100 SSc patients, 92 PRP patients, and 80 healthy controls, perfusion and digital artery pulsatility of the hands were investigated by laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) and photoplethysmography (PPG), respectively. RESULTS: Both the mean value of mean perfusion and the mean value of sphygmic wave amplitude were lower (p < 0.0001) in the PRP group than in the SSc group, and also in the SSc group compared with the healthy controls. A positive correlation (r = 0.95) was found between the mean value of mean perfusion and the mean value of sphygmic wave amplitude. A homogeneous perfusion distribution pattern was present in 95% of the healthy controls, 93% of the PRP patients, and 4% of the SSc patients. PPG shows a homogeneous pattern in 95% of the healthy controls, 93% of the PRP patients, and 28% of the SSc patients. LDPI and PPG showed a positive concordance (p < 0.05) in homogeneous pattern evaluation. In the SSc patients, no correlation (r = 0.38) was observed between the mean value of sphygmic wave amplitude and the mean value of mean perfusion of each finger. CONCLUSION: LDPI and PPG can provide useful information in distinguishing patients with PRP and SSc, although nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is the best method for analysing microvascular damage in rheumatic diseases.

Subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy in a patient with myopathic dropped head syndrome and common variable immunodeficiency.

Prominent neck extension weakness is an uncommon clinical entity, also termed dropped-head syndrome, that may be part of a generalized neuromuscular disorder. We report here the case of a woman with dropped-head syndrome and pulmonary arterial hypertension secondary to systemic sclerosis. Subsequently, she developed common variable immunodeficiency and subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy was started. After two months from the start of therapy we did not observe any improvement in the degree of flexion of the head, although the clinical examination shows an improvement in neck extensor muscle strength. Subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy could be a possible therapeutic option for the treatment of myopathic neck extensor weakness.

Recurrent infections in children with nickel allergic contact dermatitis.

Some patients with nickel (Ni) allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) suffer from systemic symptoms after ingestion of Ni-rich foods, a condition termed Systemic Nickel Allergy Syndrome (SNAS). The aim of this study is to investigate in children the relationship between Ni ACD and lymphocyte subsets or susceptibility to infections. Nineteen children with Ni ACD and 18 controls matched for sex and age were enrolled. All participants underwent patch test, skin prick test and clinical assessment. Serum immunoglobulins and flow cytometry for lymphocyte subset study were also evaluated. In children with Ni ACD a higher incidence of recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and recurrent otitis media were detected. Serum levels of immunoglobulins and lymphocyte subsets did not show significant changes (p>0.05) between the two groups studied. We can hypothesize that in children with Ni ACD the risk of recurrent infections is increased. Although the clinical manifestations of SNAS are still controversial, we can suppose that recurrent infections may be considered a clinical symptom of this syndrome.

Current strategies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune disease therapy may be considered a puzzle under construction. Current treatments for autoimmune diseases include physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, disease-modifying anti-inflammatory drugs (DMARDs), anticytokine therapies, inhibition of intracellular-signaling pathways, costimulation inhibition, biological inhibitors of T cell function, B-cell anergy and depletion, regulatory T cells, stem cell transplantion. New biologic drugs that target specific cells or cytokines involved in the early inflammatory response started because of their improved efficacy and limited toxicity. The hematopoietic stem cell transplantation represents a possible therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases resistant to available treatments.

N-acetylcysteine infusion improves hepatic perfusion in the early stages of systemic sclerosis.

The aim of our study is to evaluate portal and hepatic hemodynamic changes after N-acetylcysteine infusion in patients with systemic sclerosis. In an open-label study 40 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were treated with 15 mg/kg/hour intravenous N-acetylcysteine for 5 consecutive hours in a single day. Hepatic flow volume, congestion index, portal flow volume, resistance index and pulse rate index were measured in each subject before and after infusion. In all patients mean hepatic flow volume (HFV) and mean portal flow volume (PFV) values after the five-hour infusion with NAC increased not significantly. In 22 selected patients with active capillaroscopic pattern, modified Rodnan Total Skin Score (mRTSS)<18 and mild-moderate score to vascular domain of disease severity scale (DSS), mean HFV increased significantly when compared with mean HFV of 18 SSc patients with late capillaroscopic pattern, mRTSS>18 and severe-end stage score to vascular domain of DSS. The results of our study demonstrate that NAC is able to increase HFV and total liver perfusion after a single infusion in SSc patients with low disease activity and severity scores.

Recurrent infections in patients with nickel allergic hypersensitivity.

Nickel (Ni) is the most common contact allergen among the general population in the industrialized world. Ni has been shown to exhibit immunomodulatory, if not immunotoxic, effects in several experiments conducted on humans and on rodents. This study tests the incidence of different infectious diseases in 100 patients with Ni hypersensitivity and compares it to data from 100 healthy volunteers. One hundred subjects with Ni hypersensitivity were enrolled. A group of 100 matched healthy volunteers with negative European standard patch test were enrolled as healthy controls. In patients with Ni hypersensitivity a higher incidence of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL), urinary tract infections (RUTI), genital candidiasis, and upper respiratory tract infections (RURTI) was detected. Fifteen patients with nickel allergic hypersensitivity (NAH) followed a Ni-poor diet. After a one-year diet a net reduction of incidence of RHL was found. Indeed, the number of episodes of RHL per year decreased from 6 +/- 2.75 to 2.4 +/- 1.2. Conversely, among the matched control group with NAH following a normal daily dietary nickel intake the RHL number did not show any statistically significant changes (6.1 +/- 1.7 vs 6 +/- 1.5 ). In conclusion, our study demonstrates a higher incidence of recurrent infections among patients with NAH. A low-Ni diet reduces the number of RHL episodes per year.

Plasma adrenomedullin and endothelin-1 levels are reduced and Raynaud's phenomenon improved by daily tadalafil administration in male patients with systemic sclerosis.

The aim of our study is to evaluate in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) male patients the tadalafil effects on Raynaud's phenomenon and on AM and ET-1 plasma levels. In an open-label study 20 consecutive male patients with SSc were enrolled and received 10 mg of tadalafil daily for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the subjective reduction of frequency and duration of Raynaud's attacks measured with a 10-point Raynaud's Condition Score; the secondary aim was to modify Adrenomedullin (AM) and Endothelin-1 (ET-1) plasma levels. After the treatment Raynaud's phenomenon was improved by once-daily tadalafil (decrease of mean number of Raynaud's attacks and of Raynaud's Condition Score) and plasma AM and ET-1 levels decreased. The results of our study lead us to postulate the beneficial effect of adding long term inhibition of Phosphodiesterase type 5 to Systemic Sclerosis' therapy.

Digital ischemic necrosis in a patient with systemic sclerosis: the role of laser Doppler perfusion imaging.

The impairment of microcirculation is a cardinal feature of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Raynaud's phenomenon and SSc can cause painful digital ulcers on the fingers or toes, with resulting complications such as serious infections, gangrene or possible amputation. This case report shows the possible role laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) could play in diagnosis and follow-up of digital arterial obstructions in SSc patients. LDPI is a non-invasive microvascular imaging technique able to provide maps of the cutaneous blood flow (CBF). We describe here the case of a woman affected by SSc who suddenly presented with pallor and pain; afterwards an area of necrosis became clearly visible at the distal phalanx of the third right finger. The LDPI of the dorsal surface of that finger showed a reduction of CBF. Selective arteriography was performed in order to assess the degree and location of the obstruction before proceeding with adventitiectomy. Following this procedure LDPI showed a normal CBF in the distal phalanx and complete healing of the necrotic area. Consequently, we can state that LDPI alone provides an indirect functional estimation of possible digital artery obstruction. Further, we can assert that the overall effect of the adventitiectomy resulted in an increase of the CBF.

Comparison of thermal infrared and laser doppler imaging in the assessment of cutaneous tissue perfusion in scleroderma patients and healthy controls.

In this study we propose a non-invasive method to calculate blood flow by means of thermal infrared imaging and bio-heat transfer modeling. The method is able to provide high time-resolution series of cutaneous blood flow images with the same spatial resolution of the thermal images. The method was tested against a standard laser Doppler imaging system, which to date is considered the gold standard for non-invasive assessment of cutaneous blood flow, on both healthy subjects and patients suffering from systemic sclerosis (SSc; a pathological condition with microvessel endothelium injury). Twenty healthy subjects and twenty SSc patients simultaneously underwent laser Doppler and thermal imaging of the dorsum of the hand. A linear correlation between perfusion values obtained with the two methods was found for the healthy control group (R = 0.85, Pearson Product Moment Correlation). A significant correlation was not observed for the SSc patient group. The results of this study suggest that combined laser Doppler, thermal imaging and bio-heat transfer modeling could effectively discriminate between healthy vs. impaired conditions of the cutaneous tissue thermal properties and cutaneous vasculature. Such method, in addition to providing a potential effective imaging-based tool for a variety of biomedical and clinical applications ranging from diagnostics to treatment follow-up, may help the understanding of the morphological and functional impairment secondary to the disease. The thermal imaging-based method provided faster and better time-resolved imaging of cutaneous perfusion than standard laser Doppler techniques as the thermal cameras can provide up to 100 complete 524 x 524 pixel images per second, thus allowing real time monitoring of tissue perfusion rates.

Immunity, autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases in older people.

Immunosenescence is defined as all the changes occurring in the immune system in the aged. Recent studies suggest that in older patients the immune system undergoes a functional remodelling. Two contrasting phenomena coexist in immunosenescence: the decreasing of immune response and the autoantibody production. Possible consequences are an increase of autoimmune phenomenon, neoplasia incidence, and predisposition to infections. The study of autoimmune manifestations in the elderly population should be considered as a priority for future medical research because of the increase in life expectancy, especially in developed countries. This review analyzes the clinical expression of systemic autoimmune diseases in older patients.

Penile cutaneous temperature in systemic sclerosis: a thermal imaging study.

Systemic Sclerosis is a connective tissue disorder featuring vascular alterations and an immunological activation leading to a progressive and widespread fibrosis of several organs such as the skin, lung, gastrointestinal tract, heart and kidney. Moreover men with systemic sclerosis (SSc) present an increased risk of developing erectile dysfunction (ED). Recently, we evaluated the extent of penile vascular damage in sclerodermic patients using Duplex ultrasonography. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether penile thermal differences exist between sclerodermic patients and healthy controls. For this reason 10 men with SSc receiving current treatment for their disease, and 10 healthy controls were enrolled; penile thermal properties were assessed through non-contact thermal imaging (functional Infra Red Imaging fIRI); erectile function was evaluated using the sexual health inventory for men (SHIM) questionnaire. The SHIM results confirmed the presence of ED in sclerodermic patients. Baseline penile temperature in patients (32.1 +/- 1.4 degrees C) was lower than in controls (34.1 +/- 0.9 degrees C). Recovery from cooling test was seen to be faster in healthy controls than in patients, both in terms of recovery amplitude (patients 3.75 +/- 2.09 degrees C, controls 9.80 +/- 2.77 degrees C) and amplitude to time constant ratio (patients 1.21 +/- 0.64 degrees C/min, controls 1.96 +/- 0.48 degrees C/min). These results show that penile thermal abnormalities occur in almost all sclerodermic patients. Non-contact thermal imaging not only identifies thermal alterations but also clearly distinguishes between SSc patients and healthy controls and therefore could represent a valuable instrument in identifying early ED in SSc patients.