Aicardi-Goutières syndrome: cold-induced acral blemish is not always cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis or chilblain lupus

Clinical spectrum and currently available treatment of type I interferonopathy Aicardi-Goutières syndrome

BACKGROUND

Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) is a genetically determined disorder with a variable phenotype. Since the original description of AGS, advances in gene sequencing techniques have resulted in a significant broadening of the phenotypic spectrum associated with AGS genes, and new clinical pictures have emerged beyond the classic presentation. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the clinical spectrum of AGS and report currently available treatments and new immunosuppressive strategies.

DATA SOURCES

Literature reviews and original research articles were collected from databases, including PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov. Relevant articles about AGS were included.

RESULTS

The involvement of the nervous system certainly represents the major cause of mortality and morbidity in AGS patients. However, other clinical manifestations, such as chilblains, hepatosplenomegaly, and hematological disturbances, may lead to the diagnosis and considerably impact the prognosis and overall quality of life of these patients. Therapeutic approaches of AGS are limited to interventions aimed at specific symptoms and the management of multiple comorbidities. However, advances in understanding the pathogenesis of AGS could open new and more effective therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

The over-activation of innate immunity due to upregulated interferon production plays a critical role in AGS, leading to multi-organ damage with the main involvement of the central nervous system. To date, there is no specific and effective treatment for AGS. New drugs specifically targeting the interferon pathway may bring new hope to AGS patients.

Cutaneous clues to diagnose autoinflammatory diseases

Systemic autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs) are a group of disorders characterized by recurrent episodes of systemic inflammation. Suspecting the diagnosis can be difficult and many of the clinical manifestations are common to different diseases. Although most of the cutaneous manifestations are non-specific, it is important to know them because sometimes they can lead to the diagnosis. The purpose of this review was to synthesize the main cutaneous lesions of autoinflammatory diseases to aid in their diagnosis.