Spectrum and Prognosis of Noninfectious Renal Mixed Cryoglobulinemic GN

Noninfectious mixed cryoglobulinemic GN (MCGN) has been poorly investigated. We analyzed presentation and outcome of 80 patients with biopsy-proven MCGN, which were identified in the retrospective French CryoVas survey. MCGN was related to primary Sjögren's syndrome in 22.5% of patients and to lymphoproliferative disorders in 28.7% of patients, and was defined as essential in 48.8% of patients. At presentation, hematuria, proteinuria ≥1 g/d, hypertension, and renal failure were observed in 97.4%, 84.8%, 85.3%, and 82.3% of cases, respectively. Mean±eGFR was 39.5±20.4 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) Membranoproliferative GN was the predominant histologic pattern, observed in 89.6% of cases. Renal interstitium inflammatory infiltrates were observed in 50% of cases. First-line treatment consisted of steroids alone (27.6%) or in association with rituximab (21.1%), alkylating agents (36.8%) or a combination of cyclophosphamide and rituximab (10.5%). After a mean follow-up of 49.9±45.5 months, 42.7% of patients relapsed with a renal flare in 75% of cases. At last follow-up, mean eGFR was 50.2±26.1 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)with 9% of patients having reached ESRD; 59% and 50% of patients achieved complete clinical and renal remission, respectively. A rituximab+steroids regimen prevented relapses more effectively than steroids alone or a cyclophosphamide+steroids combination did, but was associated with a higher rate of early death when used as first-line therapy. Severe infections and new-onset B-cell lymphoma occurred in 29.1% and 8.9% of cases, respectively; 24% of patients died. In conclusion, noninfectious MCGN has a poor long-term outcome with severe infections as the main cause of death.

Efficacy of anti-TNF alpha in severe and/or refractory Behçet's disease: Multicenter study of 124 patients

OBJECTIVE

To report the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF agents in patients with severe and/or refractory manifestations of Behçet's disease (BD).

METHODS

We performed a multicenter study of main characteristics and outcomes of anti-TNF alpha treatments [mainly infliximab (62%), and adalimumab (30%)] in 124 BD patients [48% of men; median age of 33.5 (28-40) years].

RESULTS

Overall response (i.e. complete and partial) rate was 90.4%. Clinical responses were observed in 96.3%, 88%, 70%, 77.8%, 92.3% and 66.7% of patients with severe and/or refractory ocular, mucocutaneous, joint, gastro-intestinal manifestations, central nervous system manifestations and cardiovascular manifestations, respectively. No significant difference was found with respect to the efficacy of anti-TNF used as monotherapy or in association with an immunosuppressive agent. The incidence of BD flares/patient/year was significantly lower during anti-TNF treatment (0.2 ± 0.5 vs 1.7 ± 2.4 before the use of anti-TNF, p < 0.0001). The prednisone dose was significantly reduced at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, retinal vasculitis was negatively associated with complete response to anti-TNF (OR = 0.33 [0.12-0.89]; p = 0.03). The efficacy and relapse free survival were similar regardless of the type of anti-TNF agent used. After a median follow-up of 21 [7-36] months, side effects were reported in 28% of patients, including infections (16.3%) and hypersensitivity reactions (4.1%). Serious adverse events were reported in 13% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Anti-TNF alpha therapy is efficient in all severe and refractory BD manifestations. Efficacy appears to be similar regardless of the anti-TNF agent used (infliximab or adalimumab).

Primary Sjögren's syndrome and occupational risk factors: A case-control study

OBJECTIVES

A case-control study was carried out to investigate the relation between primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and occupational exposure.

METHODS

One hundred seventy five cases of pSS followed up into the internal medicine departments of three French university hospitals from 2010 to 2013 were included. For each case, two age and gender matched controls were selected during the same period in the same departments. Occupational exposure was assessed retrospectively by industrial hygienists and occupational practitioners. Exposure to occupational factors such as organic solvents or silica was investigated using semiquantitative estimates of exposure. An exposure score was calculated for each subject based on probability, intensity, daily frequency, and duration of exposure for each period of employment. The final cumulative exposure score was obtained, taking into account all periods of employment.

RESULTS

Significant associations with pSS were observed for dichloromethane (OR 9.28, 95%CI 2.60-33.03), perchlorethylene (OR 2.64, 95%CI 1.20-5.77) chlorinated solvents (OR 2.95, 95%CI 1.77-4.93), benzene (OR 3.30, 95%CI 1.07-10.26), toluene (OR 4.18 95%CI 1.41-12.43), white spirit (OR 3.60, 95%CI 1.39-9.33), aromatic solvents (OR 3.03, 95%CI 1.41-6.50) and any types of solvents (OR 2.76, 95%CI 1.70-4.47). Risk of pSS was significantly associated with a high cumulative exposure score of occupational exposure to toluene (OR 4.69, 95%CI 1.42-15.45), white spirit (OR 3.30, 95%CI 1.07-10.26), aromatic solvents (OR 2.50, 95%CI 1.06-5.91) and any types of solvents (OR 2.25, 95%CI 1.20-4.22).

CONCLUSION

This work suggests the influence of occupational risk factors in the occurrence of pSS.

Fecal calprotectin in systemic sclerosis and review of the literature

Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a simple, non-invasive and reproducible test, which has been described to be highly elevated in patients with active inflammatory bowel diseases. Recently, few authors have reported increased levels of FC in SSc patients, although the relationship between FC levels and the degree of gastrointestinal involvement has not yet been determined in patients with SSc. Thus, this prospective study aimed to: 1) determine the prevalence of increased fecal calprotectin (FC) levels in unselected patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc); 2) make prediction about which SSc patients exhibit increased levels of FC; and 3) evaluate the correlation between increased levels of FC and digestive symptoms, and gastrointestinal involvement, including the presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) using glucose H2/CH4 breath test. 125 consecutive patients with SSc underwent FC levels and glucose H2/CH4 breath test. All of the patients with SSc also completed a questionnaire on digestive symptoms, and a global symptom score (GSS) was calculated. 93 (74.4%) patients had abnormal levels of FC (>50 μg/g); 68 patients (54.4%) exhibited highly elevated levels of FC (>200 μg/g). A marked correlation was found between abnormal FC levels and GSS score of digestive symptoms, esophageal involvement and delayed gastric emptying. Moreover, we found a strong association between abnormal levels of FC and the presence of SIBO on glucose H2/CH4 breath test, with the higher correlation between the presence of SIBO and the level of FC ≥275 μg/g with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.97 ± 0.001 (CI: 0.93-0.99; p<10(-6)); the sensitivity of FC level ≥275 μg/g for predicting SIBO was as high as 0.93, while the specificity was 0.95. Finally, eradication of SIBO was obtained in 52.4% of the SSc patients with a significant improvement of intestinal symptoms. Finally, after 3 months of rotating courses of alternative antibiotic therapy, eradication of SIBO was associated with significant decrease of FC levels in SSc patients. The current study underscores that abnormal FC levels were correlated with gastrointestinal impairment, especially SIBO. Because FC levels ≥275 μg/g were markedly associated with the presence of SIBO, our findings suggest that FC may be a helpful test in identifying the group of SSc patients at high risk for SIBO requiring glucose breath test to detect SIBO. Finally, we also suggest that FC levels may be helpful in SSc patients to assess SIBO eradication, as long-term antibiotic therapy is costly and carries risks such as the onset of pseudo-membranous colitis and SIBO-related antibiotic resistance.

[Psoriatic arthritis during rituximab treatment of granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a new paradoxical side effect?]

INTRODUCTION

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody targeting the CD20 molecule of the B lymphocyte. Its efficacy has been recently reported in ANCA-associated vasculitis. We report a case of psoriatic arthritis that occurs during a treatment with rituximab in granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

CASE REPORT

A 66-year-old woman, without past history of psoriasis, presented with a relapsing granulomatosis with polyangiitis in July 2010 with sinus and lung involvement. Treatment with rituximab was started, allowing a complete remission in 6 months. Two months after the first two infusions of rituximab she developed asymmetric arthritis of 3 distal interphalangeal joints. A few months later, the clinical presentation showed asymmetrical arthritis of the hands and wrists and dactylitis. Standard radiographs and MRI showed an inflammatory impairment according with psoriatic arthritis.

CONCLUSION

Accountability of rituximab was retained in the development of the disease given the chronology of psoriatic arthritis development. It may be a paradoxical reaction, by analogy to those observed in anti-TNFα.

Digital ischemia associated with cancer: results from a cohort study

Digital ischemia associated with cancer (DIAC) is increasing in frequency and recent reports have suggested the concept of paraneoplastic manifestation. The aims of this study were to characterize the clinical presentation of DIAC and identify clinical features that could lead physicians to diagnose underlying cancer.From January 2004 to December 2011, 100 patients were hospitalized in the Department of Internal Medicine at Rouen University Hospital, France for a first episode of DI. Fifteen (15%) exhibited symptomatic or asymptomatic cancer during the year preceding or following vascular episode and constituted the DIAC group. Other patients without cancer made up the digital ischemia (DI) group.Median time between diagnosis of cancer and episode of digital necrosis was 2 months [0.25-9]. Diagnosis of DI and concomitant cancer was made in 7 of the 15 patients, while DI preceded the malignant disorder in 2 cases and followed it in 6 cases. Histological types were adenocarcinoma for 7 (46.7%), squamous cell carcinoma for 4 (26.7%), and lymphoid neoplasia for 3 patients (20%). Six patients (40%) had extensive cancer. Three patients were lost to follow-up and 5 patients died <1 year after diagnosis of cancer. Cancer treatment improved vascular symptoms in 6 patients (40%). Patients with DIAC, compared to patients with DI, were significantly older (56 years [33-79] vs 46 [17-83] P =0.005), and had significantly lower hemoglobin and hematocrit levels (12.7 g/dl vs 13.9 g/dl; P =0.003 and 38% vs 42%; P =0.003, respectively). Patients with DIAC had a higher platelet rate (420 vs 300 G/L P =0.01), and 6 patients with DIAC (40%) had thrombocytosis. There was no difference between groups either in C-reactive protein level (12 mg/L vs 5 mg/L; P =0.08) or regarding cardiovascular risk factors, presence of autoimmunity, or monoclonal protein.This retrospective study suggests that DIAC may be more prevalent than previously reported. Outcomes of the 2 diseases were not strictly chronologically parallel. However, in the majority of cases, treatment of the tumor resolved vascular involvement. Our findings suggest that age >50 years and thrombocytosis should alert physicians to consider a possible occult malignancy when digital necrosis occurs.

Gastrointestinal mucosal abnormalities using videocapsule endoscopy in systemic sclerosis

BACKGROUND

To date, there are no large studies on videocapsule endoscopy in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Consequently, the prevalence and features of gastrointestinal mucosal abnormalities in SSc have not been determined.

AIMS

To determine both prevalence and characteristics of gastrointestinal mucosal abnormalities in unselected patients with SSc, using videocapsule endoscopy. To predict which SSc patients are at risk of developing potentially bleeding gastrointestinal vascular mucosal abnormalities.

METHODS

Videocapsule endoscopy was performed on 50 patients with SSc.

RESULTS

Prevalence of gastrointestinal mucosal abnormalities was 52%. Potentially bleeding vascular mucosal lesions were predominant, including: watermelon stomach (34.6%), gastric and/or small intestinal telangiectasia (26.9%) and gastric and/or small intestinal angiodysplasia (38.5%). SSc patients with gastrointestinal vascular mucosal lesions more often exhibited: limited cutaneous SSc (P = 0.06), digital ulcers (P = 0.05), higher score of nailfold videocapillaroscopy (P = 0.0009), anaemia (P = 0.02), lower levels of ferritin (P < 0.0001) and anti-centromere antibody.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identifies a high frequency of gastrointestinal mucosal abnormalities in SSc, with a marked predominance of vascular mucosal damage. Furthermore, our study shows a strong correlation between gastrointestinal vascular mucosal lesions and presence of severe extra-digestive vasculopathy (digital ulcers and higher nailfold videocapillaroscopy scores). This latter supports the theory that SSc-related diffuse vasculopathy is responsible for both cutaneous and digestive vascular lesions. Therefore, we suggest that nailfold videocapillaroscopy may be a helpful test for managing SSc patients. In fact, nailfold videocapillaroscopy score should be calculated routinely, as it may result in identification of SSc patients at higher risk of developing potentially bleeding gastrointestinal vascular mucosal lesions.