Pre-treatment ferritin level and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient can predict mortality rate due to acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia in dermatomyositis treated by cyclosporine a/glucocorticosteroid combination therapy: a case control study [corrected]

Anti-MDA5 Antibody-positive Clinically Amyopathic Dermatomyositis with Rapidly Progressing Interstitial Lung Disease Successfully Treated by Initiation of Combined Immunosuppressive Therapy Plus Plasma Exchange and Subsequently Switching Tacrolimus to Tofacitinib

A 36-year-old man with inverse Gottron's sign was admitted for clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD). Early addition of plasma exchange (PE) to triple therapy improved severe respiratory failure and transiently decreased serum ferritin levels and anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody (anti-MDA5 Ab) titers. Furthermore, switching from tacrolimus to tofacitinib resulted in disease remission. Recognition of the inverse Gottron's sign may allow for the earlier diagnosis of anti-MDA5 Ab-positive dermatomyositis, and early addition of PE to triple therapy and administration of tofacitinib in refractory cases may be effective for anti-MDA5 Ab-positive CADM with RP-ILD under life-threatening conditions.

Pretreatment mortality risk prediction model in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease

OBJECTIVES

Risk prediction for patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease (PM/DM-ILD) is challenging due to heterogeneity in the disease course. We aimed to develop a mortality risk prediction model for PM/DM-ILD.

METHODS

This prognostic study analysed patients with PM/DM-ILD admitted to Nanjing Drum Hospital from 2016 to 2021. The primary outcome was mortality within 1 year. We used a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression model to identify predictive laboratory indicators. These indicators were used to create a laboratory risk score, and we developed a mortality risk prediction model by incorporating clinical factors. The evaluation of model performance encompassed discrimination, calibration, clinical utility and practical application for risk prediction and prognosis.

RESULTS

Overall, 418 patients with PM/DM-ILD were enrolled and randomly divided into development (n=282) and validation (n=136) cohorts. LASSO logistic regression identified four optimal features in the development cohort, forming a laboratory risk score: C reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, CD3+CD4+ T cell counts and PO2/FiO2. The final prediction model integrated age, arthralgia, anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody status, high-resolution CT pattern and the laboratory risk score. The prediction model exhibited robust discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic: 0.869, 95% CI 0.811 to 0.910), excellent calibration and valuable clinical utility. Patients were categorised into three risk groups with distinct mortality rates. The internal validation, sensitivity analyses and comparative assessments against previous models further confirmed the robustness of the prediction model.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed and validated an evidence-based mortality risk prediction model with simple, readily accessible clinical variables in patients with PM/DM-ILD, which may inform clinical decision-making.

A nomogram based on clinical factors and CT radiomics for predicting anti-MDA5+ DM complicated by RP-ILD

OBJECTIVES

Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive (anti-MDA5+) DM complicated by rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) has a high incidence and poor prognosis. The objective of this study was to establish a model for the prediction and early diagnosis of anti-MDA5+ DM-associated RP-ILD based on clinical manifestations and imaging features.

METHODS

A total of 103 patients with anti-MDA5+ DM were included. The patients were randomly split into training and testing sets of 72 and 31 patients, respectively. After image analysis, we collected clinical, imaging and radiomics features from each patient. Feature selection was performed first with the minimum redundancy and maximum relevance algorithm and then with the best subset selection method. The final remaining features comprised the radscore. A clinical model and imaging model were then constructed with the selected independent risk factors for the prediction of non-RP-ILD and RP-ILD. We also combined these models in different ways and compared their predictive abilities. A nomogram was also established. The predictive performances of the models were assessed based on receiver operating characteristics curves, calibration curves, discriminability and clinical utility.

RESULTS

The analyses showed that two clinical factors, dyspnoea (P = 0.000) and duration of illness in months (P = 0.001), and three radiomics features (P = 0.001, 0.044 and 0.008, separately) were independent predictors of non-RP-ILD and RP-ILD. However, no imaging features were significantly different between the two groups. The radiomics model built with the three radiomics features performed worse than the clinical model and showed areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.805 and 0.754 in the training and test sets, respectively. The clinical model demonstrated a good predictive ability for RP-ILD in MDA5+ DM patients, with an AUC, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 0.954, 0.931, 0.837 and 0.847 in the training set and 0.890, 0.875, 0.800 and 0.774 in the testing set, respectively. The combination model built with clinical and radiomics features performed slightly better than the clinical model, with an AUC, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 0.994, 0.966, 0.977 and 0.931 in the training set and 0.890, 0.812, 1.000 and 0.839 in the testing set, respectively. The calibration curve and decision curve analyses showed satisfactory consistency and clinical utility of the nomogram.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the combination model built with clinical and radiomics features could reliably predict the occurrence of RP-ILD in MDA5+ DM patients.

Aggressive multi-combination therapy for anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis-rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease

OBJECTIVES

To elucidate the efficacy and safety of aggressive multi-combination therapy with mycophenolate mofetil, rituximab, and plasma exchange or polymyxin B immobilized fiber column direct hemoperfusion followed by conventional therapy with corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide in patients with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RPILD) with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5)-antibody-positive dermatomyositis (DM).

METHODS

A total of 23 patients with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive DM-RPILD were enrolled, with nine patients in Group A (treated conventionally before March 2015) and 14 patients in Group B (received aggressive treatment after April 2015).

RESULTS

Pretreatment severity of interstitial lung disease (ILD) did not differ between the two groups. However, Group B exhibited a higher cumulative survival rate at 48 weeks than Group A (64.3% vs. 33.3%). The corticosteroid dose, divided by the initial dose at 3 months and 12 months, was significantly lower in Group B than in Group A (p = .046 and .026, respectively). Among the ILD-related deaths in Group B, there was a tendency toward a higher proportion of males and more severe ILD. The incidence of infection did not differ between the groups, but leukopenia was more common in Group B.

CONCLUSION

This aggressive multi-combination therapy may improve the survival outcome of patients with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive DM-RPILD. However, careful management of complications, such as opportunistic infections and leukopenia, is essential. Future refinement through longitudinal investigations tracking the long-term efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of this treatment strategy is needed.

The prevalence and effects of treatments of rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease of dermatomyositis/polymyositis adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) clearly harms the prognoses of dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM) patients, however there is a dearth of numerical prevalence and therapy comparison in this field. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of RP-ILD in DM/PM patients and compare prognoses, including remission rate and survival data, between treatments. Studies with reports of RP-ILD in DM/PM patients and studies with definite remission and/or survival data of DM/PM-RP-ILD were included in the study. Data sources were Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library without language restrictions. Two authors (WHL and WWQ) extracted independently the data. Estimates of the pooled effects were calculated using the Mantel-Haenszel technique (random effects). The prevalence meta-analysis included 18 papers with 6058 DM/PM patients, and 31 papers were analyzed for treatment effects, including remission rate, 6-month survival rate, 1-year survival rate, and 5-year survival rate. Database search yielded 1816 articles. In the DM/PM population, the combined prevalence of RP-ILD was 8.9% (95% CI, 5.8% to 12.1%). Patients with RP-ILD have a remission rate of 58.4% (95% CI, 47.3% to 69.4%), with biologic treatment with the highest remission rate, followed by triple therapy (defined as adding a third intravenous medication, including cyclophosphamide and immunoglobulin). Biologics therapy had the highest overall survival rate at six months (95% CI, 49.8% to 73.9%), followed by cDMARDs, plasma exchange, and triple therapy. The 1-year survival rate was 77.4% (95% CI, 66.7% to 88.1%), and triple therapy and cDMARDs had the best survival rates. The 5-year survival rate was 40.0% (95% CI, 10.0% to 69.9%). The prevalence of RP-ILD in DM/PM was approximately 8.9%, with a poor long-term prognosis. The use of biological agents appears to provide the best therapeutic outcomes, providing RP-ILD management with a novel evidence-based therapy. The use of strong immunosuppressive treatments may result in life-threatening side effects, thus clinicians must closely monitor the condition.

Alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient nonlinearly impacts the 28-day mortality of patients with sepsis: Secondary data mining based on the MIMIC-IV database

OBJECTIVE

Lung is often implicated in sepsis, resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient [D(A-a)O₂ ] reflects lung diffusing capacity, which is usually compromised in ARDS. But whether D(A-a)O₂ impacts the prognosis of patients with sepsis remains to be explored. Our study aims to investigate the association between D(A-a)O₂ and 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis using a large sample, multicenter Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database.

METHODS

We extracted a data of 35 010 patients with sepsis from the retrospective cohort MIMIC-IV database, by which the independent effects of D(A-a)O₂ on 28-day death risk was investigated, with D(A-a)O₂ as being the exposure variable and 28-day fatality being the outcome variable. Binary logistic regression and a two-piecewise linear model were employed to explore the relationship between D(A-a)O₂ and the 28-day death risk after confounding factors were optimized including demographic indicators, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, drug administration, and vital signs.

RESULTS

A total of 18 933 patients were finally included in our analysis. The patients' average age was 66.67 ± 16.01 years, and the mortality at 28 days was 19.23% (3640/18933). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that each 10-mmHg rise of D(A-a)O₂ was linked with a 3% increase in the probability of death at 28 days either in the unadjusted model or in adjustment for demographic variables (Odds ratio [OR]: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.03). But, each 10 mmHg increase in D(A-a)O₂ was associated with a 3% increase of death (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.023 to 1.033) in the case of adjustment for all covariants. Through smoothed curve fitting and generalized summation models, we found that non-linear relationship existed between D(A-a)O₂ and the death at 28-day, which demonstrated that D(A-a)O₂ had no any impacts on the prognosis of patients with sepsis when D(A-a)O₂ was less than or equal to 300 mmHg, but once D(A-a)O₂ exceeded 300 mmHg, however, every 10 mmHg elevation of D(A-a)O₂ is accompanied by a 5% increase of the 28-day death (OR: 1.05; 95% CI:1.04 to 1.05, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggests that D(A-a)O₂ is a valuable indicator for the management of sepsis patient, and it is recommended that D(A-a)O₂ be maintained less than 300 mmHg as far as possible during sepsis process.

Clinical parameters of therapeutic apheresis induction in clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis patients with rapid progressive interstitial lung disease

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to clarify the clinical parameters of therapeutic apheresis (TA) induction in clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis patients with rapid progressive interstitial lung disease.

METHODS

Literature publications prior to November 2021 from PubMed and Ichushi-Web were used. We collected details of TA and clinical features. The data were divided into two groups determined by the outcome, survived and deceased. Then, we estimated clinical parameters between them.

RESULTS

There were 151 cases, 134 of which had reported outcomes and 64 of which were positive for the anti-MDA5 antibody. Eighty patients survived. Forty-eight patients were treated with plasma exchange and 34 with polymyxin-B immobilized fibers direct hemoperfusion. Regarding clinical parameters, only the PaO2 to FiO2 (P/F) ratio was useful. The cut-off point of the P/F ratio was 174 on the ROC curve.

CONCLUSION

The parameter for induction is considered when the P/F ratio is lower than 200.

Mortality Risk Stratification Using Cluster Analysis in Patients With Myositis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease Receiving Initial Triple-Combination Therapy

Objective

To stratify patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) who were initially treated with an intensive regimen consisting of high-dose corticosteroids, a calcineurin inhibitor, and intravenous cyclophosphamide (triple-combo therapy) into subgroups based on mortality outcomes by a cluster analysis using a large-scale multicenter retrospective cohort of Japanese patients with myositis-associated ILD (JAMI).

Methods

Two-step cluster analysis of preclustering and subsequent hierarchical clustering was conducted in 185 patients who received triple-combo therapy in an unbiased manner. Initial predictors for mortality previously reported in patients with myositis-associated ILD were used as variables and included age, sex, disease duration, classification of myositis, requirement of supplemental oxygen, anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (ARS) antibody, anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody, and serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6). The cluster model was further applied to 283 patients who received conventional regimens consisting of corticosteroids with or without a single immunosuppressive agent (dual-combo therapy or monotherapy). Cumulative survival rates were compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and the log-rank test was used to test for significant differences between two groups.

Results

We developed a cluster model consisting of 6 clusters, which were categorized by age at onset, clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis, CRP, KL-6, requirement of supplemental oxygen, anti-ARS antibody, and anti-MDA5 antibody. This model was judged to be of good quality based on the silhouette measure of cohesion and separation of 0.6. These clusters were regrouped into three subsets based on low (<10%), moderate (10-50%), and high (>50%) mortality rates. The performance of the clustering was generally replicated in patients who received initial dual-combo therapy or monotherapy. Survival benefits of triple-combo therapy over dual-combo therapy or monotherapy were not observed in any of the clusters.

Conclusion

We successfully developed a cluster model that stratified patients with myositis-associated ILD who were treated with initial triple-combo therapy into subgroups with different prognoses, although this model failed to identify a patient subgroup that showed survival benefits from triple-combo therapy over dual-combo therapy or monotherapy.

Risk Prediction Modeling Based on a Combination of Initial Serum Biomarker Levels in Polymyositis/Dermatomyositis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

OBJECTIVE

To establish predictive models for mortality in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease (PM/DM-ILD) using a combination of initial serum biomarker levels.

METHODS

The Multicenter Retrospective Cohort of Japanese Patients with Myositis-Associated ILD (JAMI) database of 497 incident cases of PM/DM-ILD was used as a derivation cohort, and 111 cases were additionally collected as a validation cohort. Risk factors predictive of all-cause mortality were identified by univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses using candidate serum biomarkers as explanatory variables. The predictive models for mortality were generated in patients with and those without anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA-5) antibody, using a combination of risk factors. Cumulative survival rates were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and were compared between subgroups using the Breslow test.

RESULTS

In the derivation cohort, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL-6) levels were identified as independent risk factors for mortality in both anti-MDA-5-positive and anti-MDA-5-negative patients. We then developed a prediction model based on anti-MDA-5 antibody status, CRP level, and KL-6 level, termed the "MCK model," to identify patients at low (<15%), moderate (15-50%), or high (≥50%) risk of mortality, based on the number of risk factors. The MCK model successfully differentiated cumulative survival rates in anti-MDA-5-positive patients (P < 0.01 for low versus moderate risk and P = 0.03 for moderate versus high risk) and in anti-MDA-5-negative patients (P < 0.001 for low versus moderate risk). The utility of the MCK model was replicated in the validation cohort.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that an evidence-based risk prediction model using CRP and KL-6 levels combined with anti-MDA-5 antibody status might be useful for predicting prognosis in patients with PM/DM-ILD.

Clinical characteristics of refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children treated with glucocorticoid pulse therapy

BACKGROUND

To observe the effect of corticosteroids in the treatment of children with refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) under different doses, to summarize the clinical features of children treated with glucocorticoid pulse therapy.

METHODS

The clinical data of 125 children with RMPP hospitalized in Tianjin Children's Hospital from September 2018 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into two groups according to the dose of hormone. Compare the clinical features, laboratory findings, and imaging between the two groups, and use meaningful related indicators as ROC curves to find reference indicators for pulse therapy.

RESULTS

(1) The median age of the group II was older than that of the group I(P < 0.05). (2) We found more severe presentations, higher incidence of extra-pulmonary complications and more serious radiological findings in group II, which needed oxygen more often, higher the hormone, higher usage rate of gamma globulin, higher usage rate of bronchoscopy, and higher incidence of plastic bronchitis(P < 0.05). (3) WBC, CRP, LDH, FER, D-D dimer, APTT, TT, PCT, IL-6 and the percentage of neutrophils in peripheral blood in Group II were higher than those in Group I(P < 0.05). (4) In ROC curve analysis, CRP, LDH, FER, and neutrophils of leukocyte classification were independent related factors that could be used as valuable predictors of methylprednisolone pulse therapy for RMPP in children. The cut-off values were CRP44.45 mg/L, LDH590IU/L, FER411ng/L, and neutrophils in leukocyte classification were 73.75%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

CRP ≥ 44.45 mg/L, LDH ≥ 590 IU/L, FER ≥ 411 ng/L, neutrophil≥73.75%, lung consolidation, and pleural effusion may be predictors that guide the treatment of RMPP with pulse dose of GC.

The comparison of nailfold videocapillaroscopy findings between anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody and anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase antibody in patients with dermatomyositis complicated by interstitial lung disease

Dermatomyositis (DM) is frequently complicated by interstitial lung disease (ILD), which increases mortality. This study aims to elucidate the clinical significance of nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) on assessing the disease activity and prognosis of DM-ILD. We compared the NVC findings between anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5) antibody-positive and anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (anti-ARS) antibody-positive patients, the survival and ILD-related death groups, and examined the association of NVC findings with prognostic factors of DM-ILD. The median scores of microhemorrhage and capillary disorganization in the anti-MDA5 antibody-positive group were significantly higher than those in the anti-ARS antibody-positive group (P = 0.012 and 0.044, respectively). In contrast, the median scores of tortuous capillaries in the anti-ARS antibody-positive group were significantly higher than those in the anti-MDA5 antibody-positive group (P = 0.002). The median scores of microhemorrhage was significantly higher in the ILD-related death group than the survival group (P = 0.02). The scores of microhemorrhage, capillary disorganization, and neoangiogenesis correlated with known poor prognosis factors of DM-ILD. Additionally, the scores of microhemorrhage and capillary loss correlated significantly with the total fibrosis scores of chest high-resolution computed tomography. These findings suggest that NVC is a useful tool for assessing the disease activity and prognosis of DM-ILD.

Impact of adding tacrolimus to initial treatment of interstitial pneumonitis in polymyositis/dermatomyositis: a single-arm clinical trial

Objective

Interstitial pneumonia is common and has high short-term mortality in patients with PM and DM despite glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. Retrospective studies suggested that the early use of immunosuppressive drugs with GCs might improve its short-term mortality.

Methods

A multicentre, single-arm, 52-week-long clinical trial was performed to test whether the initial combination treatment with tacrolimus (0.075 mg/kg/day, adjusted for the target whole-blood trough levels between 5 and 10 ng/ml) and GCs (0.6–1.0 mg/kg/day of prednisolone followed by a slow taper) improves short-term mortality of PM/DM-interstitial pneumonia patients. The primary outcome was overall survival. We originally intended to compare, by using propensity-score matching, the outcome data of clinical trial patients with that of historical control patients who were initially treated with GCs alone.

Results

The 52-week survival rate with the combination treatment (N = 26) was 88.0% (95% CI, 67.3, 96.0). Safety profiles of the combination treatment were consistent with those known for tacrolimus and high-dose GCs individually. Serious adverse events occurred in 11 patients (44.0%), which included four opportunistic infections. Only 16 patients, including only 1 deceased patient, were registered as historical controls, which precluded meaningful comparative analysis against the clinical trial patients.

Conclusion

Our study provided findings which suggest that initial treatment with tacrolimus and GCs may improve short-term mortality of PM/DM-interstitial pneumonia patients with manageable safety profiles. This was the first prospective clinical investigation conducted according to the Good Clinical Practice Guideline of the International Conference on Harmonization for the treatment of this potentially life-threatening disease.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00504348.

Successful treatment of anti-MDA5 antibody-positive refractory interstitial lung disease with plasma exchange therapy

OBJECTIVES

We examined the effectiveness of plasma exchange (PE) therapy to reduce the mortality of rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) in patients positive for anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibodies.

METHODS

Among 142 patients newly diagnosed with PM/DM or clinically amyopathic DM from 2008 to 2019 at our hospital, 10 were diagnosed with refractory RP-ILD and were positive for anti-MDA5 antibodies. PE was used as an adjunct to standard therapy and consisted of fresh frozen plasma as replacement solution. The primary outcome was non-disease-specific mortality.

RESULTS

Anti-MDA5 antibodies were detected in 28 patients, of whom 21 were diagnosed with RP-ILD and 10 were refractory to intensive immunosuppressive therapy. Six patients received PE (PE group) and four did not (non-PE group). The 1-year survival rate of the PE group was higher than that of the non-PE group (100% and 25%, respectively, P = 0.033). Regarding adverse events associated with PE, two patients had anaphylactic shock, one had high fever due to fresh frozen plasma allergy and one had a catheter infection. All adverse events resolved with appropriate treatment.

CONCLUSION

We evaluated the association between 1-year survival rate and PE for refractory RP-ILD in patients positive for anti-MDA5 antibodies. Intensive immunosuppressive therapy improved the survival rate in RP-ILD patients with anti-MDA5 antibodies, but 20-30% of cases were still fatal. PE could be administered to patients with active infectious disease who were immunocompromised by intensive immunosuppressive therapy. PE may be considered in refractory RP-ILD patients positive for anti-MDA5 antibodies.

Anti-MDA-5 antibody-positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease treated with therapeutic plasma exchange: A case series

We present six cases of antimelanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody (anti-MDA5-Ab)-positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD), which is known to have a poor prognosis. The outcomes of these cases are described after treatment with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Clinical and therapeutic data for patients with CADM with RP-ILD were collected retrospectively from medical records. All six patients received early intensive care including high-dose corticosteroids, intravenous cyclophosphamide, and a calcineurin inhibitor, but lung disease and hypoxia became more severe. TPE was performed over a median of 9.5 sessions (range 3-14) per patient, and the median duration from admission to TPE was 23 days. Three patients received combined direct hemoperfusion using a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column (PMX-DHP) therapy on successive days to manage acute respiratory failure. Four patients survived and two died due to respiratory failure. In the survival cases, ferritin decreased, and ferritin and KL-6 were lower at diagnosis. The patients who died had a higher alveolar-arterial oxygen difference and more severe lung lesions at the time of initiation of TPE. These findings indicate that a combination of conventional therapy and TPE may be useful for improvement of the prognosis of CADM with RP-ILD at the early stage of onset.

Exploration of pathomechanism using comprehensive analysis of serum cytokines in polymyositis/dermatomyositis-interstitial lung disease

OBJECTIVES

To elucidate the serum cytokine profile and address the pathomechanism of interstitial lung disease (ILD) complicated with PM/DM.

METHODS

Forty patients with PM/DM-ILD were enrolled, and principal components analysis and cluster analysis were performed to classify patients into subgroups. Additionally, we compared cytokine profiles between the survivors and dead patients and between anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody- and anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase antibody-positive ILD patients. We also examined the association of various cytokines with disease activity indicators and prognosis of ILD.

RESULTS

The principal components analysis data allowed classification of the cytokine profile into three groups: group 1, neutrophilic and M1-macrophage-driven cytokines; group 2, type 1 Th cell-driven and M2-macrophage-induced cytokines; and group 3, M2-macrophage-driven cytokines. Cluster analysis showed the presence of PM/DM-ILD patient groups with high or low levels of total cytokines. Ninety percent of patients who died of ILD were included in clusters with high cytokine levels. Serum cytokine levels of all groups were significantly higher in the anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive patients than in the anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase antibody-positive patients. Groups 1 and 2 significantly correlated with known factors for poor prognosis, such as serum ferritin levels and alveolar-arterial oxygen difference. Serum cytokine levels of patients in group 1 were significantly higher initially and at 2 and 4 weeks in those who died.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggested that the activation of monocytes, macrophages and type 1 Th cells, and neutrophils play roles in the pathomechanism of PM/DM-ILD, and group 1 cytokines could be useful biomarkers for predicting prognosis of PM/DM-ILD.

Correlation of increased serum leucine-rich α2-glycoprotein levels with disease prognosis, progression, and activity of interstitial pneumonia in patients with dermatomyositis: A retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether leucine-rich α2-glycoprotein (LRG) can be a biomarker for the disease activity, progression, and prognosis of interstitial pneumonia (IP) in patients with dermatomyositis (DM).

METHODS

Correlations between the clinical findings and serum LRG levels were investigated in 46 patients with DM-IP (33 with acute/subacute IP [A/SIP] and 13 patients with chronic IP [CIP], including 10 fatal cases of IP).

RESULTS

The median serum LRG level of 18.4 (14.6-25.2) μg/mL in DM-IP patients was higher than that in healthy control subjects. The median levels of serum LRG at baseline and at 2 and 4 weeks after the initiation of treatment in the patients who died were significantly higher than those in the surviving patients (P = 0.026, 0.029, and 0.008, respectively). The median level of serum LRG in the DM-A/SIP patients was significantly higher than that in the DM-CIP patients (P = 0.0004), and that in the anti-MDA5-Ab-positive group was slightly higher than that in the anti-ARS-Ab-positive group. The serum LRG levels correlated significantly with the serum levels of LDH, C-reactive protein, ferritin, AaDO2, %DLco, and total ground-glass opacity score. The survival rate after 24 weeks in patients with an initial LRG level ≥ 17.6 μg/mL (survival rate: 40%) was significantly lower than that in patients with an initial LRG level < 17.6 μg/mL (100%) (P = 0.0009).

CONCLUSION

The serum LRG level may be a promising marker of disease activity, progression, and prognosis in patients with DM-IP.

The alveolar-arterial gradient, pneumonia severity scores and inflammatory markers to predict 30-day mortality in pneumonia

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of elevated alveolar-arterial oxygen (A-a O₂) gradient with risk of mortality in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

METHODS

This prospective study included 206 patients diagnosed with CAP admitted to the ED. Demographics, comorbidities, arterial blood gas, serum electrolytes, liver-renal functions, complete blood count, NLR, PLR, CRP, CAR, procalcitonin, A-a O₂ gradient, expected A-a O₂ and A-a O₂ difference were evaluated. PSI and CURB-65 scores were classified as follow: a) PSI low risk (I-III) and moderate-high risk (IV-V) groups; b) CURB-65; low risk (0-2) and high risk (3-5) groups.

RESULTS

The survival rates of the PSI class (I-III) were significantly higher than the ones of the PSI class (IV-V) (92.1% vs. 62.9%, respectively). The percentage of survivors of the CURB-65 score (0-2) group (81.9%) was higher than the survivors of CURB-65 score (3-5) group (27.8%). Creatinine, BUN, uric acid, phosphorus, RDW, CRP, CAR, procalcitonin, lactate, A-a 0₂ gradient, expected A-a 0₂ and A-a 0₂ difference were significantly higher and basophil was lower in non-survivors. A-a O₂ gradient (AUC 0.78), A-a O₂ difference (AUC 0.74) and albumin (AUC 0.80) showed highest 30-day mortality prediction. NLR (AUC 0.58) and PLR (AUC 0.55) showed lowest 30-day mortality estimation. Procalcitonin (AUC 0.65), PSI class (AUC 0.81) and PSI score (AUC 0.86) indicated statistically significant higher 30-day mortality prediction.

CONCLUSION

A-a O₂ gradient, A-a O₂ difference and albumin are potent predictors of 30-day mortality in CAP patients in the ED.

Clinical Role of Serum Interleukin-17A in the Prediction of Refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia in Children

Background

Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is a common community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children, which may become refractory MPP (RMPP) to treatment.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of measuring serum interleukin (IL)-17A to predict RMPP.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective clinical study at a single pediatric center included a review of the medical records of all children hospitalized for CAP between November 2015 and October 2019. The diagnosis of MPP was based on clinical presentation, chest radiography, and measurement of serum anti-Mycoplasma immunoglobulin IgM antibody titer using the microparticle agglutination method or sputum samples for Mycoplasma pneumoniae by PCR. Serum levels of IL-18 and IL-17A were determined by ELISA.

Results

Of the 625 children diagnosed with CAP, there were 154 children with MPP and without underlying diseases who were divided into a non-refractory MPP (NRMPP) group (n = 109) and a RMPP group (n = 45). The RMPP group had a higher incidence of tachypnea, cyanosis, hypoxia, segmental or lobar pneumonia, pleural effusion, and a longer period of hospitalization compared with NRMPP group (all P-values < 0.05). A serum IL-17A level above 10.8 pg/mL was a predictor for RMPP: area under the curve (AUC) 0.822; standard error (SE) 0.039; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.746–0.897; diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 77.8% and 77.1%, respectively. An LDH level above 436.5 IU/L and an IL-18 level above 464.5 pg/mL were the second most useful markers for RMPP: AUC 0.775, 0.775; SE 0.038, 0.039; 95% CI 0.700–0.850, 0.698–0.852; sensitivity 77.8%, 82.2%; specificity 62.4%, 59.6%; respectively.

Conclusion

This preliminary study of MPP in a pediatric population has shown that measurement of serum IL-17A may be a useful marker for the predictor of RMPP.

Serum matrix metalloproteinase levels in polymyositis/dermatomyositis patients with interstitial lung disease

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to clarify the clinical significance of serum levels of MMPs in interstitial lung disease (ILD) complicated with PM/DM (PM/DM-ILD).

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed serum levels of seven subsets of MMPs in 52 PM/DM-ILD patients diagnosed at Kyoto University Hospital or Tenri Hospital from January 2005 to December 2014. The patients were sub-grouped based on the presence of anti-amimoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibody (anti-ARS antibody), anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 antibody (anti-MDA5 antibody) or lack of the antibodies (ARS-ILD, MDA5-ILD and other-ILD groups, respectively) and independently analysed. Eighteen PM/DM patients without ILD and 55 healthy control were also analysed. Associations between serum levels of MMPs and clinical findings including mortality were analysed.

RESULTS

Among the MMPs analysed, MMP-7 serum levels in the ARS-ILD group were significantly higher compared with those in any of the other groups of PM/DM patients or in healthy controls. On the other hand, in the MDA5-ILD group, serum MMP-7 levels >5.08 ng/ml were associated with worse overall survival both in univariate (P = 0.017; odds ratio 18.0; 95% CI 1.69, 192.00) and multivariate (P = 0.027; odds ratio 14.60; 95% CI 1.11, 192.00) analyses. Immunohistochemical analysis suggested that MMP-7 was expressed in type II alveolar epithelial cells adjacent to the fibrotic lesions.

CONCLUSION

Serum MMP-7 levels were higher in anti-ARS antibody-positive PM/DM-ILD patients, while higher serum MMP-7 levels among anti-MDA5 antibody-positive PM/DM-ILD patients were associated with a worse prognosis. Fibrotic processes may be associated with the elevation of serum MMP-7 levels.

Liver dysfunction in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive patients with dermatomyositis

The objective was to investigate the clinical and histological features of liver dysfunction in patients with polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM).A total of 115 patients (38 with PM and 77 with DM), who were admitted to our hospital between 2001 and 2012, were retrospectively reviewed. Liver dysfunction was defined as an alanine transaminase (ALT) level ≥ 60 U/l and a disproportionate ALT elevation relative to the creatine kinase level. The histological findings from liver biopsies were also assessed.The frequencies of liver dysfunction were 3% and 17% in the patients with PM and DM, respectively. Liver dysfunction was not observed in the patients who had malignancies. Among the patients with DM with no malignancies (n = 50), 20% had liver dysfunction, and all of the patients with liver dysfunction were positive for the anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody. Compared with those in the patients who did not have liver dysfunction, the ALT, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transferase, and KL-6 levels were significantly elevated in the patients who had liver dysfunction. Six patients, comprising four with DM and two with PM, underwent liver biopsies, and the common histological findings associated with DM were steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, increases in the pigmented macrophage numbers, and glycogenated nuclei. Hemophagocytosis was detected in two of three patients with DM who underwent liver biopsies and bone marrow aspirations. In conclusion, Liver dysfunction might be an extramuscular manifestation in patients with DM who are anti-MDA5 antibody-positive. Steatosis and hepatocyte ballooning could be common histological features.

Efficacy and safety of oral high-trough level tacrolimus in acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia with dermatomyositis

OBJECTIVES

We assessed the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with glucocorticoids and high-trough level tacrolimus (TAC) for the treatment of acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia (A/SIP) in patients with dermatomyositis (DM).

METHODS

Eleven DM-A/SIP patients were enrolled. The combination therapy with glucocorticoids and TAC was started as early as possible after DM-A/SIP was diagnosed. We monitored the trough concentration of TAC. In the initial 3 months, we maintained the trough concentration of TAC at relatively high levels within a range of 15-20 ng/mL. Then, we decreased the TAC doses stepwise to keep the trough concentration at 10-15 ng/mL in the next 3 months and 5-10 ng/mL as a maintenance dose.

RESULTS

Seven patients had clinically amyopathic DM. Six patients were positive for anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibody and two were positive for anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody. Ten patients survived for the period of the 24-week follow up. One patient died under a tentative diagnosis of viral encephalitis at 4 months after the treatment. In the 10 surviving patients, interstitial pneumonia improved in eight patients and was not worse in two patients. Clinical examinations, including the Krebs von den Lungen-6 levels, % forced vital capacity, and chest computed tomography score, were significantly improved by this combination therapy. Although grade 1 and 2 renal damage occurred in 4 and 2 patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings suggest that early therapeutic intervention by a combination with glucocorticoids and initial high-trough level TAC is effective for DM-A/SIP although consideration of the risks of infection and renal damage is required.

Clinical effects of direct hemoperfusion using a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column in clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis-associated rapidly progressive interstitial pneumonias

Background

Rapidly progressive interstitial pneumonias (RPIPs) associated with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) are highly resistant to therapy and have a poor prognosis. Multimodal therapies, including direct hemoperfusion using a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column (PMX-DHP), have a protective effect on RPIPs. We evaluated the effects of PMX-DHP on CADM-associated RPIPs.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 14 patients with CADM-associated RPIPs and acute respiratory failure treated with PMX-DHP, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive agents. Clinical manifestations were compared between survivors and non-survivors at 90 days after PMX-DHP.

Results

The survival rate at 90 days after PMX-DHP was 35.7% (5/14). Before PMX-DHP, the survivor group exhibited a significantly higher PaO₂/FiO₂ (P/F) ratio and serum surfactant protein-D (SP-D) levels and significantly lower lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ferritin levels than the non-survivor group. Platelet counts were significantly decreased after PMX-DHP therapy in both groups, but remained higher in the survivor group than the non-survivor group over the course of treatment. Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA-5) antibody positive patients demonstrated a poor 90-day survival rate, lower platelet counts and P/F ratio, and higher LDH levels than anti-MDA-5 antibody negative patients.

Conclusions

CADM-associated RPIPs with anti-MDA-5 antibody is associated with a very poor prognosis. A higher P/F ratio and SP-D level, lower LDH and ferritin levels, higher platelet counts, and anti-MDA-5 antibody negativity are important prognostic markers in patients with CADM-associated RPIPs treated with PMX-DHP.

Evaluation of clinical prognostic factors for interstitial pneumonia in anti-MDA5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis patients

OBJECTIVES

We retrospectively investigated clinical prognostic factors for interstitial pneumonia (IP) in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody (Ab)-positive dermatomyositis (DM) patients.

METHODS

Subjects comprised 18 patients with anti-MDA5 Ab-positive DM-IP (9 survivors; 9 deaths).

RESULTS

Initial serum albumin levels, ferritin levels, and ground-glass opacity (GGO) scores in the right middle lobes were significantly higher in the death group than in the survivor group (p = .033, .013, and .005, respectively). Initial alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (P[A-a]O₂) was also higher in the death group than in the survivor group (p = .064). Initial serum ferritin, P[A-a]O₂, and right middle lobe GGO score were found to significantly relate to death. Survival rates after 24 weeks were significantly lower among patients with an initial ferritin level of ≥450 ng/mL (25%), P[A-a]O₂ of ≥30 mmHg (31%), and a right middle lobe GGO score of ≥2 (11%) than each of the others (p = .006, .020, and .002, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

An initial serum ferritin level of ≥450 ng/mL, P[A-a]O₂ of ≥30 mmHg, and right middle lobe GGO score of ≥2 (GGO ≥5% of the lobe) were identified as poor prognostic factors for anti-MDA5 Ab-positive DM-IP patients.

Chemokine profiles of interstitial pneumonia in patients with dermatomyositis: a case control study

Chemokines play an important role in the pathophysiology of dermatomyositis (DM) with interstitial pneumonia (IP). However, the relation between chemokines and the disease activity or prognosis of DM-IP has not been elucidated. We evaluated the serum C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) 2, Th1 chemokines (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand [CXCL] 9, CXCL10, CXCL11), and Th2 chemokine (CCL17) profiles of 30 patients, and examined the relation between these chemokines and the disease activity or prognosis of DM-IP. Initial serum CCL2 level was higher in the death group (P = 0.007). To determine the cut-off points effective as poor prognostic factors of DM-IP, ROC curve analysis was carried out on initial serum CCL2 level. The value that maximized the area under the ROC curve was 894 pg/mL (sensitivity: 100%, specificity: 70.8%). Serum CCL2, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 levels were lower at 2 weeks after treatment initiation than before treatment. Serum CCL2, CXCL10, and CXCL11 levels at 2 weeks after treatment initiation were higher in the death group. Serum levels of chemokines such as CCL2, CXCL10, and CXCL11 may be possible biomarkers of disease activity and prognosis in DM-IP, and serum CCL2 level may be useful when deciding initial treatment.

Clinical significance of soluble CD163 in polymyositis-related or dermatomyositis-related interstitial lung disease

Background

Macrophage activation is involved in the pathogenesis of polymyositis (PM)/dermatomyositis (DM). CD163, a scavenger receptor expressed on the surface of activated macrophages, mediates anti-inflammatory functions. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of soluble CD163 (sCD163) in PM/DM-related interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods

The main subjects were 48 patients with PM/DM-related ILD. As controls, 10 patients with PM/DM without ILD and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled. In patients with PM/DM-related ILD, the baseline characteristics and clinical course were obtained through a review of patient medical records. Serum sCD163 levels at ILD diagnosis were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which were compared with the other baseline clinical factors and evaluated for potential as a prognostic biomarker. In addition, immunohistochemistry analysis using anti-human CD163 antibody was performed on the lung sections of two patients with DM-related ILD (a survivor and non-survivor, respectively) and one patient with early-stage lung cancer as a normal control.

Results

The median value of serum sCD163 in patients with PM/DM-related ILD was 818 ng/mL, which was higher than that of PM/DM patients without ILD and healthy volunteers (716 ng/mL and 340 ng/mL, respectively). Significant but mild correlations with serum sCD163 levels were observed for serum C-reactive protein levels (r = 0.322) and % predicted forced vital capacity (r = −0.301) in patients with PM/DM-related ILD. A Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that patients with PM/DM-related ILD and higher sCD163 levels had worse prognosis (age-adjusted and gender-adjusted hazard ratio per 100 ng/mL increase 1.27, 95% confidence interval 1.11–1.45, P <0.001). In immunohistochemistry analysis, compared with normal lung, alveolar infiltration of CD163-positive macrophages was evident in the lungs of patients with DM-related ILD. Especially, the finding was more severe in the non-survivor’s lung.

Conclusions

Serum sCD163 might be a potential biomarker for predicting the severity and prognosis of PM/DM-related ILD. Our results suggest the importance of macrophage activation in the disease.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-016-1214-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

An Atypical Clinical Course of Anti-MDA5 Antibody-positive Interstitial Lung Disease in a Patient with Three Deteriorations in 9 years

Anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) are at high risk of developing rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD), which is associated with a high mortality rate. Approximately half of the patients with ILD recover; however, the long-term clinical course of these patients has not been fully reported and is not completely understood. This report describes the atypical clinical course of an anti-MDA5 antibody-positive CADM patient who experienced three deteriorations of ILD in 9 years. These findings indicate that the ILD in anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients may not only be rapidly progressive, but may also be chronic and recurrent.

Initial limited three-level thin-section computed tomography scorings predict the prognosis of acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia in patients with dermatomyositis

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the prediction of outcomes of patients with dermatomyositis with acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia (DM-A/SIP) on the basis of chest computed tomography (CT) images.

METHODS

In 20 patients with DM-A/SIP (13 survivors; seven deaths), the relationships between prognostic outcomes and chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings or limited three-level thin-section CT scoring on the first examination were retrospectively investigated.

RESULTS

No significant difference was noted in chest HRCT findings between the survivor group and death group. The ground-glass opacity (GGO) scores of the right upper and middle lobes and left upper lobe, and the fibrosis score of the right middle lobe were significantly higher in the death group than in the survivor group (p = 0.01, 0.001, 0.02, and 0.02, respectively). The influence of the GGO score of the right middle lobe on death from IP was the strongest among the items examined, and it was independently significant (p = 0.01). A right middle lobe GGO score of ≥3 (GGO ≥ 25% of the lobe) was determined to be the best cut-off value for a poor prognosis (sensitivity: 85.7%, specificity: 85.7%), and the survival rate after 24 weeks was significantly lower in patients with a right middle lobe GGO score of ≥3 (survival rate: 0.0%) than in those with a score of< 3 (92.9%) (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of patients with DM-A/SIP was poor when the range of right middle lobe GGO was 25% or higher on limited three-level thin-section CT.

Increased Serum LIGHT Levels Correlate with Disease Progression and Severity of Interstitial Pneumonia in Patients with Dermatomyositis: A Case Control Study

BACKGROUND

Activated CD8+ T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis (DM) with interstitial pneumonia (IP). Serum CD8+ T-cell activator, LIGHT, and Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines were measured in DM-IP patients and compared with clinical parameters to investigate their usefulness.

METHODS

The correlations between the clinical findings and serum LIGHT and Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine levels were investigated in 21 patients with DM-IP (14 with rapidly progressive IP [RPIP] and 7 with chronic IP [CIP], including 4 fatal cases of IP).

RESULTS

The median serum LIGHT level was 119 (16-335.4) pg/ml, which was higher than that in healthy control subjects and DM patients without IP. The median serum IL-6 level was 14.7 (2.4-154.5) pg/ml (n = 13). The other cytokines were detected in only a few patients. The median serum LIGHT level in DM-RPIP patients (156 [49.6-335.4] pg/ml) was significantly higher than that in DM-CIP patients (94.3 [16-164.2] pg/ml) (P = 0.02). The serum IL-6 level did not correlate with either progression or outcome of DM-IP. ROC curve analysis determined a serum LIGHT level of ≥120 pg/ml to be the cut-off value for the rapid progression of DM-IP. Serum LIGHT levels correlated significantly with %DLco (R = 0.55, P = 0.04) and total ground-glass opacity scores (R = 0.72, P = 0.0002). The serum LIGHT level significantly decreased to 100.5 (12.4-259.3) pg/ml 4 weeks after treatment initiation (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

The serum LIGHT level may be a promising marker of disease progression and severity in patients with DM-IP.

Successful treatment with intravenous high-dose immunoglobulin for cardiomyopathy in dermatomyositis complicated with rapid progressive interstitial pneumonia

Cardiomyopathy and rapid progressive interstitial pneumonia (IP) are potentially fatal complications in polymyositis/dermatomyositis. We experienced a dermatomyositis patient with multiple adverse prognostic factors, complicating rapid progressive IP, macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), and cardiomyopathy. IP and MAS improved with strong immunosuppressive therapy, despite which cardiomyopathy developed. Therefore, we applied intravenous high-dose immunoglobulin therapy (IVIg), and cardiac function improved dramatically. This is the first report to present the effectiveness of IVIg for cardiomyopathy in dermatomyositis.