Neuromyositis Associated with Cytomegalovirus Infection in an Immunocompetent Patient with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies-Associated Vasculitis

Human cytomegalovirus in cancer: the mechanism of HCMV-induced carcinogenesis and its therapeutic potential

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a well-studied herpesvirus, has been implicated in malignancies derived from breast, colorectal muscle, brain, and other cancers. Intricate host-virus interactions are responsible for the cascade of events that have the potential to result in the transformed phenotype of normal cells. The HCMV genome contains oncogenes that may initiate these types of cancers, and although the primary HCMV infection is usually asymptomatic, the virus remains in the body in a latent or persistent form. Viral reactivation causes severe health issues in immune-compromised individuals, including cancer patients, organ transplants, and AIDS patients. This review focuses on the immunologic mechanisms and molecular mechanisms of HCMV-induced carcinogenesis, methods of HCMV treatment, and other studies. Studies show that HCMV DNA and virus-specific antibodies are present in many types of cancers, implicating HCMV as an important player in cancer progression. Importantly, many clinical trials have been initiated to exploit HCMV as a therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer, particularly in immunotherapy strategies in the treatment of breast cancer and glioblastoma patients. Taken together, these findings support a link between HCMV infections and cellular growth that develops into cancer. More importantly, HCMV is the leading cause of birth defects in newborns, and infection with HCMV is responsible for abortions in pregnant women.

Infection-induced myeloperoxidase specific antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) associated vasculitis: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

We conducted a systematic review to identify cases of infection-induced anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

METHODS

PubMed/Medline databases were searched from inception to July of 2020, according to PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

Among the 618 abstracts identified, 18 articles describing 23 patients (60.9% female, mean age 50.5 years) were included. Median time between infection and vasculitis development was 3 months. Five (21.7%) patients expired during follow-up. Vasculitis regressed after the resolution of infection in 12/23 (52.2%). ANCA titers decreased significantly on follow-up in 14/16 patients and in all survivors in which they were measured. Pathogens reported included Mycobacterium spp., Coccidioides spp., Rickettsia rickettsii, Staphylococcus spp., EBV, CMV and Dengue virus.

CONCLUSIONS

MPO-AAV can occur after infection and may regress after its resolution. Infection should be considered in cases of MPO-AAV, as immunosuppressive treatment can have catastrophic results if the infection is not adequately treated.