High-Emergency Lung Transplantation for Interstitial Lung Disease Associated With Anti-MDA5 Dermatomyositis: A Case Report

Current evidence for janus kinase inhibitors in adult and juvenile dermatomyositis and key comparisons

INTRODUCTION

Adult dermatomyositis (DM) and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) are rare autoimmune diseases with characteristic skin rashes, weakness, and other systemic features. Upregulated interferon signaling has been consistently described in both adult and juvenile DM which makes janus kinase inhibitors (jakinibs) an attractive therapeutic agent that has a targeted mechanism of action.

AREAS COVERED

Herein is a review of the growing literature of jakinib use in adult and juvenile DM, including reports on specific disease features and safety of jakinibs in this population and a comparison between adult and juvenile DM. We performed a literature review using PubMed including all English-language publications before 1 February 2024 and abstracts from key recent rheumatology conferences.

EXPERT OPINION

Jakinibs are an exciting and promising treatment in both adult and juvenile DM. Current Phase 2 and 3 randomized placebo-controlled trials of jakinibs in both adult and JDM will provide significant insights into the efficacy of this class of medication as a potentially more mechanistically targeted treatment of both skin and muscle disease. In fact, these results will likely inform the treatment paradigm of dermatomyositis in that it may even be considered as first or second line. The next five years in the therapeutic landscape of both juvenile and adult DM is an exciting time for both patients and medical providers.

Baricitinib for anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease: a case series and literature review on Janus kinase inhibitors for the disease

Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis (anti-MDA5-DM) is frequently complicated by progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD), the prognosis of which is poor, and management is a major challenge. We treated three patients with anti-MDA5-DM-associated ILD (anti-MDA5-DM-ILD) using the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, baricitinib, which improved lung opacities and saved two patients. We reviewed 6 patients with anti-MDA5-DM-ILD who had been treated with tofacitinib at our institution. Five of the patients survived, although discontinuation of tofacitinib due to complications was frequently observed. In addition, a literature search of patients with anti-MDA5-DM-ILD who were treated with JAK inhibitors yielded 21 articles involving 79 cases. All patients except one were treated with tofacitinib, and the survival rate was 75.9%. Although not statistically confirmed, the deceased patients tended to be older and had higher ferritin levels. A total of 92 complications were observed, 11 of which resulted in JAK inhibitor discontinuation. Cytomegalovirus reactivation comprised a substantial percentage of all complications and of those patients who required JAK inhibitor discontinuation. Five cases with fatal infective complications were also observed. While tofacitinib has been proposed to be a therapeutic option for anti-MDA5-DM-ILD, other JAK inhibitors, including baricitinib, are a treatment option. Further investigation is warranted to optimize treatment of anti-MDA5-DM-ILD.

Anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis: pathogenesis and clinical progress

Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) antibody-positive dermatomyositis (MDA5-DM) is a subtype of dermatomyositis. Although the aetiology and pathology remain unclear, increasing evidence suggests that viral infection is a potential trigger of MDA5-DM. Multiple factors, including T cells, B cells, neutrophils and macrophages, are implicated in the pathophysiology of MDA5-DM. Distinctive skin rashes, rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease, peripheral lymphopenia and elevated serum ferritin levels are the most prominent clinical and laboratory features of MDA5-DM. Concomitant infection is a common complication of MDA5-DM. The proper evaluation of patients with MDA5-DM requires knowledge of the disease heterogeneity and clinical course variability. Several biomarkers, including serum levels of anti-MDA5 antibodies and biomarkers related to macrophage activation, have been identified as useful tools for monitoring disease activity and prognosis. MDA5-DM shows a poor response to conventional glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant therapy and has a poor overall prognosis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore the key pathogenic mechanisms of MDA5-DM and develop novel therapeutic options for patients. This Review discusses recent clinical progress and pathogenic findings of MDA5-DM.

Lung Transplantation: A Viable Option for Connective Tissue Disease?

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) caused by connective tissue disease (CTD) are one of the main causes of morbidity and death in patients. Although the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplant suggested that ILD and PH related to CTD are rare indications for lung transplantation in 2006, many lung transplantation centers are concerned that the multisystem involvement of CTD will affect survival outcomes after lung transplantation, and CTD is regarded as a relative contraindication for lung transplantation. However, long-term and short-term survival after lung transplantation in CTD patients is similar compared with survival in common indications for lung transplantation such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and no higher incidence of complications after transplantation in many lung transplant centers. This suggests that lung transplantation may be beneficial in CTD patients with disease that progresses to end-stage lung disease, and CTD should not be considered a contraindication for lung transplantation. In the future, more prospective studies are needed to analyze the risk factors of lung transplantation in CTD patients to improve survival rates and reduce the risk of complications. This narrative review summarizes the selection and evaluation of candidates for CTD before lung transplantation and describes the clinical outcomes in CTD after lung transplantation in large-capacity lung transplantation center. The purpose of this review is to help rheumatologists decide when to refer patients with CTD-related lung involvement to a lung transplantation center and the conditions to consider before transplantation and to provide confidence to lung transplant experts.

Lung transplantation for anti-MDA5-positive dermatomyositis-associated rapid progressive interstitial lung disease: report of two cases and review of the literature

Lung transplantation is an ultimate lifesaving treatment for many patients with end-stage lung disease, whereas whether it is an optional intervention for the anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5)-positive dermatomyositis (DM)-associated rapid progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) remain controversial. We report two patients diagnosed with anti-MDA5-positive DM-associated RP-ILD, who were both bridging to lung transplant with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after failing to respond to extensive immunosuppressants. The first patient received full rehabilitation, but the second patient died of DM flare at the early-stage post-lung transplantation. Most of the clinical information was parallel in these two patients except the anti-MDA5 antibody level, which gradually decreased and became negative in the first patient but always hovering in high titers in the second patient, although both of the two patients received standard immunosuppressive regimen for prevention of rejection after lung transplantation. A total of 11 patients with anti-MDA5-positive DM-associated RP-ILD who underwent lung transplantation from the literature were identified. Most patients (10/11, 90.1%) were successfully discharged and without DM flare during the follow-up period post-lung transplantation. Nine of them were followed up more than 1 year, and anti-MDA-5 antibody was reported to be negative in four patients, whereas the others were unavailable. Combined with the case series in the literature, our limited experience suggests that lung transplantation is a promising therapeutic option for end-stage patients with anti-MDA5-positive DM-associated RP-ILD, with ECMO as a bridge to lung transplantation, if necessary. However, clearance or a downtrend of anti-MDA5 antibody may be required pre-transplant to avoid DM flare and recurrent RP-ILD post-transplantation.

COVID-19 as a putative trigger of anti-MDA5-associated dermatomyositis with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring lung transplantation, a case report

Background

Autoimmune disease following COVID-19 has been studied intensely since the beginning of the pandemic. Growing evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection, by virtue of molecular mimicry can lead to an antigen-mediated cross-reaction promoting the development of a plethora of autoimmune spectrum diseases involving lungs and extrapulmonary tissues alike. In both COVID-19 and autoimmune disease, the immune self-tolerance breaks, leading to an overreaction of the immune system with production of a variety of autoantibodies, sharing similarities in clinical manifestation, laboratory, imaging, and pathology findings. Anti-Melanoma Differentiation-Associated gene 5 dermatomyositis (anti-MDA5 DM) comprises a rare subtype of systemic inflammatory myopathies associated with characteristic cutaneous features and life-threatening rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD). The production of anti-MDA5 autoantibodies was proposed to be triggered by viral infections.

Case presentation

A 20-year-old male patient with polyarthritis, fatigue and exertional dyspnea was referred to our department. An elevated anti-MDA5 autoantibody titer, myositis on MRI, ground glass opacifications on lung CT and histological features of Wong-type dermatomyositis were confirmed, suggesting the diagnosis of an anti-MDA5 DM. Amid further diagnostic procedures, a serologic proof of a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection emerged. Subsequently, the patient deteriorated into a fulminant respiratory failure and an urgent lung transplantation was performed, leading to remission ever since (i.e. 12 months as of now).

Conclusions

We report a unique case of a patient with a new-onset anti-MDA5 DM with fulminant ARDS emerging in a post-infectious stage of COVID-19, who underwent a successful lung transplantation and achieved remission. Given the high mortality of anti-MDA5 DM associated RP-ILD, we would like to highlight that the timely recognition of this condition and urgent therapy initiation are of utmost importance.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41927-022-00271-1.