Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: retrospective study of 91 cases and review of the literature

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare cause of lymphadenopathy, most often cervical. It has been mainly described in Asia. There are few data available on this disease in Europe. We conducted this retrospective, observational, multicenter study to describe KFD in France and to determine the characteristics of severe forms of the disease and forms associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We included 91 cases of KFD, diagnosed between January 1989 and January 2011 in 13 French hospital centers (median age, 30 ± 10.4 yr; 77% female). The ethnic origins of the patients were European (33%), Afro-Caribbean (32%), North African (15.4%), and Asian (13%). Eighteen patients had a history of systemic disease, including 11 with SLE. Lymph node involvement was cervical (90%), often in the context of polyadenopathy (52%), and it was associated with hepatomegaly and splenomegaly in 14.8% of cases. Deeper sites of involvement were noted in 18% of cases. Constitutional signs consisted mainly of fever (67%), asthenia (74.4%), and weight loss (51.2%). Other manifestations included skin rash (32.9%), arthromyalgia (34.1%), 2 cases of aseptic meningitis, and 3 cases of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Biological signs included lymphocytopenia (63.8%) and increase of acute phase reactants (56.4%). Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and anti-DNA antibodies were present in 45.2% and 18% of the patients sampled, respectively. Concomitant viral infection was detected in 8 patients (8.8%). Systemic corticosteroids were prescribed in 32% of cases, hydroxychloroquine in 17.6%, and intravenous immunoglobulin in 3 patients. The disease course was always favorable. Recurrence was observed in 21% of cases. In the 33 patients with ANA at diagnosis, SLE was known in 11 patients, diagnosed concomitantly in 10 cases and in the year following diagnosis in 2 cases; 6 patients did not have SLE, and 4 patients were lost to follow-up (median follow-up, 19 mo; range, 3-39 mo). The presence of weight loss, arthralgia, skin lesions, and ANA was associated with the development of SLE (p < 0.05). Male sex and lymphopenia were associated with severe forms of KFD (p < 0.05). KFD can occur in all populations, irrespective of ethnic origin. Deep forms are common. An association with SLE should be investigated. A prospective study is required to determine the risk factors for the development of SLE.

Obstetrical APS: is there a place for hydroxychloroquine to improve the pregnancy outcome?

The use of the conventional APS treatment (the combination of low-dose aspirin and LMWH) dramatically improved the obstetrical prognosis in primary obstetrical APS (OAPS). The persistence of adverse pregnancy outcome raises the need to find other drugs to improve obstetrical outcome. Hydroxychloroquine is widely used in patients with various autoimmune diseases, particularly SLE. Antimalarials have many anti-inflammatory, anti-aggregant and immune-regulatory properties: they inhibit phospholipase activity, stabilize lysosomal membranes, block the production of several pro-inflammatory cytokines and, in addition, impair complement-dependent antigen-antibody reactions. There is ample evidence of protective effects of hydroxychloroquine in OAPS similar to the situation in SLE arising from in vitro studies of pathophysiological working mechanism of hydroxychloroquine. However, the clinical data on the use of hydroxychloroquine in primary APS are lacking and prospective studies are necessary.

Profound symptomatic hypogammaglobulinemia: a rare late complication after rituximab treatment for immune thrombocytopenia. Report of 3 cases and systematic review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

B-cell depletion with rituximab (RTX) is widely used to treat autoimmune diseases, especially as second-line therapy for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The incidence of RTX-induced hypogammaglobulinemia is unknown because of heterogeneous follow-up and confounding factors such as concomitant immunosuppressive treatments in most patients. We describe 3 cases and attempted to determine the incidence of RTX-induced hypogammaglobulinemia by a systematic review of the literature.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 189 ITP patients receiving RTX in 3 referral centers in France and conducted a systematic review of 32 studies (results published 2001-2014) reporting the use of RTX for ITP, particularly searching for symptomatic secondary hypogammaglobulinemia. We also searched for case reports of hypogammaglobulinemia after RTX initiation for ITP.

RESULTS

Of the 189 patients, 3 showed symptomatic hypogammaglobulinemia more than 2years after RTX infusion (initial immunoglobulin level was normal). All 3 presented recurrent severe infections. In 2, the outcome suggested common variable immunodeficiency. In patient 3, the peripheral blood lacked CD19(+)CD20(+) B cells and the bone-marrow B-cell precursor level was impaired. Among 1245 ITP patients in the literature who received RTX for ITP, gammaglobulin level was monitored before and after RTX initiation for 351 (28%). For 192 (55%), dosages were available and we identified 21 patients with secondary hypogammaglobulinemia, usually not symptomatic, 14 of whom had received concomitant dexamethasone. Finally, we found 4 case reports of ITP and symptomatic hypogammaglobulinemia possibly related to RTX according to the authors.

CONCLUSIONS

This large analysis led us to recommend monitoring serum immunoglobulin level before and repeatedly after RTX initiation for ITP. Physicians should be aware of hypogammaglobulinemia as a rare but severe complication of RTX.

Chronic histiocytic intervillositis: outcome, associated diseases and treatment in a multicenter prospective study

Introduction: In this prospective multicenter study, we aimed to describe (1) the outcome of pregnancy in the case of previous chronic histiocytic intervillositis (CHI), (2) the immunological findings and associated diseases, (3) the treatments, and (4) the factors associated with pregnancy loss.

METHODS

We prospectively included all patients with a prior CHI with ongoing pregnancy between 2011 and 2013.

RESULTS

Twenty-four women (age 34±5 years) were included in this study. An autoimmune disease was present in seven (29%) cases. Twenty-one prospective pregnancies were treated. The number of live births was more frequent comparatively to the previous obstetrical issues (16/24 versus 24/76; p=0.003). Most of the pregnancies were treated (88%), whereas only 13% of previous pregnancies were treated (p<0.05). No difference was found with respect to the pregnancy outcome in the different treatment regimens. In univariate analyses, a prior history of intrauterine death and intrauterine growth restriction and the presence of CHI in prospective placentas were associated with failure to have a live birth.

DISCUSSION

In this multicenter study, we show the frequency of the associated autoimmune diseases in CHI, as well as the presence of autoantibodies without characterized autoimmune disease. The number of live births increased from 32% to 67% in the treated pregnancies. Despite the treatment intervention, the risk of preterm delivery remained at 30%. Last, we show that the recurrence rate of an adverse pregnancy outcome persisted at 30% despite treatment intervention.

CONCLUSION

CHI is associated with high recurrence rate and the combined regimen seems to be necessary, in particular, in the presence of previous intrauterine death.

Lower vitamin D levels are associated with higher systemic lupus erythematosus activity, but not predictive of disease flare-up

Objectives

Growing evidence suggests that vitamin D plays a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recent studies have found an association between lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and higher SLE activity. We studied the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score, and we assessed for the first time the role of vitamin D in predicting SLE flare-ups.

Methods

Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured in 170 patients with SLE who were prospectively followed up for 6 months (Plaquenil LUpus Systemic study, ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00413361).

Results

The mean SLEDAI score was 2.03±2.43 and 12.3% patients had active disease (SLEDAI ≥6). The mean 25(OH)D level was 20.6±9.8 ng/mL. Deficiency (25(OH)D <10 ng/mL) was observed in 27 (15.9%), insufficiency (10≤25(OH)D<30) in 112 (65.9%) and optimal vitamin D status (25(OH)D≥30) in 31 (18.2%) patients. In multivariate analysis, female gender (p=0.018), absence of defined antiphospholipid syndrome (p=0.002) and higher creatinine clearance (p=0.004) were predictive of lower 25(OH)D levels. In multivariate analysis, lower 25(OH)D levels were associated with high SLE activity (p=0.02). Relapse-free survival rate was not statistically different according to the vitamin D status during the 6-month follow-up (p=0.22).

Conclusions

We found a low vitamin D status in the majority of patients with SLE, and a modest association between lower 25(OH)D levels and high disease activity. There was no association between baseline 25(OH)D levels and relapse-free survival rate.

Anti-HMGCR autoantibodies in European patients with autoimmune necrotizing myopathies: inconstant exposure to statin

Necrotizing autoimmune myopathy (NAM) is a group of acquired myopathies characterized by prominent myofiber necrosis with little or no muscle inflammation. Recently, researchers identified autoantibodies (aAb) against 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) in patients with NAM, especially in statin-exposed patients. Here we report what is to our knowledge the first European cohort of patients with NAM.The serum of 206 patients with suspicion of NAM was tested for detection of anti-HMGCR aAb using an addressable laser bead immunoassay. Forty-five patients were found to be anti-HMGCR positive. Their mean age was 48.9 ± 21.9 years and the group was predominantly female (73.3%). Statin exposure was recorded in 44.4% of patients. Almost all patients had a muscular deficit (97.7%), frequently severe (Medical Research Council [MRC] 5 ≤3 in 75.5%). Subacute onset (<6 mo) was noted for most of them (64.4%). Nevertheless, 3 patients (6.6%) had a slowly progressive course over more than 10 years. Except for weight loss (20%), no extramuscular sign was observed. The mean CK level was high (6941 ± 8802 IU/L) and correlated with muscle strength evaluated by manual muscle testing (r = -0.37, p = 0.03). Similarly, anti-HMGCR aAb titers were correlated with muscular strength (r = -0.31; p = 0.03) and CK level (r = 0.45; p = 0.01). Mean duration of treatment was 34.1 ± 40.8 months, and by the end of the study no patient had been able to stop treatment.This study confirms the observation and description of anti-HMGCR aAb associated with NAM. The majority of patients were statin naive and needed prolonged treatments. Some patients had a dystrophic-like presentation. Anti-HMGR aAb titers correlated with CK levels and muscle strength, suggesting their pathogenic role.

Epidemiology of primary Sjögren's syndrome in a French multiracial/multiethnic area

OBJECTIVE

To describe the epidemiology of primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) in a multiracial/multiethnic population.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study with 5 case-retrieval sources identified adults with primary SS living in the Greater Paris area (population 1,172,482 adults) in 2007. Diagnoses were verified by the American-European Consensus Group (AECG) criteria and study-specific enlarged criteria based on the presence of ≥3 of 4 AECG items among subjective oral or ocular dryness, anti-SSA/SSB positivity, and positive minor salivary gland biopsy results. Prevalence estimates were standardized to those for the world population and a 5-source capture-recapture analysis (CRA) was used. Racial/ethnic differences in primary SS features were evaluated.

RESULTS

In all, 133 subjects met the AECG criteria and 203 met the enlarged criteria. The 2007 prevalence of primary SS was 1.02 cases per 10,000 adults (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.85-1.22) for the AECG criteria and 1.52 cases per 10,000 adults (95% CI 1.30-1.76) for the enlarged criteria. The CRA indicated completeness of case findings of ∼90%. Compared to subjects with European backgrounds, those with non-European backgrounds had 2.1-2.3 times higher primary SS prevalence and were younger (P < 0.0001) and were more likely to have polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia (P < 0.0001) and anti-SSA/SSB antibodies (P = 0.0005 and P < 0.0001 for the AECG and enlarged criteria, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The figure of 1.02–1.52 cases per 10,000 adults we found and estimates from the few other population-based census surveys support that the prevalence of diagnosed primary SS is between 1 and 9 cases per 10,000 (0.01-0.09%) [corrected] in the general population. Non-European race/ethnicity may be associated with increased primary SS risk and a distinct disease profile.

Autoimmune diseases in HIV-infected patients: 52 cases and literature review

OBJECTIVES

1) To describe autoimmune diseases (AD) in HIV-infected people; and 2) to perform a literature review concerning this issue.

DESIGN

52 HIV-infected patients that presented an AD in 14 medical departments in Paris and Ile-de-France area were retrospectively included in this study.

RESULTS

The ADs were vasculitis (11), immune cytopenias (8), rheumatic diseases (8), lupus (7), sarcoidosis (7), thyroid diseases (6), hepatic diseases (5), and antiphospholipid syndrome (4). Four patients presented 2 ADs. In 5 patients the AD preceded HIV infection, in 14 HIV infection was diagnosed at the same time as the AD and 34 were HIV-infected when they developed an AD. 40 ADs (80%) occurred in patients with a CD4 T lymphocyte count of more than 200/mm(3). Cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemia occurred only in patients severely immunodepressed. In five patients (a vasculitis case, a sarcoidosis case, three thyroid disease cases) the AD presented as a form of immune restoration inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). Some ADs allowed HIV-infection diagnosis at a stage of moderate immune deficiency (vasculitis, antiphospholipid syndrome, immune thrombocytopenia). 37 patients received immunosuppressant treatments with good tolerance. These results confirm in a large series of patients previous data concerning autoimmune diseases occurrence in HIV-infected people.

CONCLUSION

In the HAART era, when HIV-infected people are treated more and more early, autoimmune diseases can occur, mainly at the phase of immunological recovery. HIV infection should not limit immunosuppressant treatment use.

Inflammatory arthritis in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: a multicenter retrospective study and literature review of 68 cases

We describe the characteristics and outcome of inflammatory arthritis in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in a French multicenter retrospective study. Twenty-two patients with MDS (median age, 77.5 yr [interquartile range, 69-81]; 10 women) were included. Inflammatory arthritis presented as polyarthritis in 17 cases (77%) and with symmetric involvement in 15 cases (68%). At diagnosis, the median disease activity score 28 based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) was 4.5 [2-6.5]. Two patients had anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), and 1 had radiologic erosions. The median time between the diagnoses of arthritis and MDS was 10 months [6-42], with a median articular symptom duration of 3 months [2-8]. The diagnosis of both diseases was concomitant in 6 cases (27%); arthritis preceded MDS in 12 cases (55%), and occurred after MDS in 4 (18%). While the number of swollen and tender joints significantly decreased during follow-up, as did the median DAS28-CRP (from 4.3 [3.8-4.6] at baseline to 2.9 [1.75-3.3]; p < 0.05), CRP remained elevated (CRP >20 mg/L) in 8 patients (42%). Nevertheless, radiographic progression and new ACPA positivity were not observed during a median follow-up of 29 months [9-76]. While most of the patients were treated with steroids (n = 16) for arthritis, additional treatment was administered in only 4 patients (hydroxychloroquine, n = 2; sulfasalazine [Salazopyrin] and etanercept, n = 1, respectively). Eleven patients died during follow-up from acute myeloid leukemia (n = 5); infections (n = 3); or cerebral bleeding, cardiorespiratory failure, or undetermined cause (n = 1, respectively). Inflammatory arthritis associated with MDS can have various presentations and is often seronegative and nonerosive. Steroids alone are the most common treatment in MDS-associated arthritis, but that treatment is insufficient to control arthritis. Steroid-sparing strategies need to be identified.