Microvascular status in juvenile Sjögren's disease: the first nailfold videocapillaroscopy investigation

INTRODUCTION

Juvenile Sjögren's disease (jSjD) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by exocrine gland involvement and systemic manifestations, including small vessel vasculitis and Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). We aimed to investigate the microvascular status in jSjD patients by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) and the potential correlations with clinical and serological features.

METHODS

Clinical data from thirteen consecutive jSjD patients (11 females and 2 males), with a mean age of 16 ± 4 years, diagnosed before 16 years of age (mean age at diagnosis 12 ± 3) according to the 2016 American College of Rheumatology/EULAR criteria for adult SjD, were collected including age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Clinical, laboratory, and instrumental data were collected, together with NVC examination. Non-specific and specific NVC parameters were investigated, such as capillary density, capillary dilations, giant capillaries, microhaemorrhages and abnormal shapes. Associations between NVC findings and clinical/serological features were explored and analysed using parametrical and non-parametrical tests.

RESULTS

Capillary density reduction correlated significantly with articular involvement (arthralgias) (p = 0.024). Microhaemorrhages correlated with lower C3 levels (p = 0.034). No specific NVC pattern for jSjD was identified, whereas abnormal capillary shapes were significantly higher in jSjD patients than HCs (p = 0.005). NVC abnormalities were not associated with SjD-specific instrumental tests (biopsy, imaging, Schirmer's test). RP was present in 8% of jSjD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The reduction of capillary density, as well as microhaemorrhages at NVC analysis, are significantly associated with some clinical aspects like articular involvement and serum biomarkers (C3 reduction). The NVC is suggested as safe and further analysis in jSjD patients.

Temporomandibular disorders in immune-mediated rheumatic diseases of the adult: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the literature concerning temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRDs) of the adult. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) outcomes used in clinical studies, the prevalence of TMDs in IMRDs and the risk factors for their development were qualitatively synthetized.

METHODS

A literature search on PubMed Central, Embase and Cochrane Library databases was performed for studies including TMJ outcomes in IMRDs patients compared with healthy controls, other rheumatic diseases or in the assessed IMRDs patients after follow-up and treatment. Among the IMRDs of the adult, original articles investigating TMJ involvement in inflammatory polyarthritides and/or autoimmune connective tissue diseases were considered. The quality of the studies was scored using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS).

RESULTS

Of the 3259 screened abstracts, 56 papers were included in the systematic review. Most of the papers (77%) investigated TMDs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a prevalence of signs and symptoms varying from 8% to 70%. The risk factors for TMDs development in RA were female sex, younger age, anti-citrulline peptide autoantibodies (ACPA) positivity, higher disease activity, cervical spine involvement, cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Ten papers (18%) evaluated TMDs in spondylarthritides (SpA) reporting a prevalence of symptoms and signs in 12%-80% of patients with higher TMDs prevalence in patients with radiographic spine involvement, skin psoriasis and HLADRB1×01 positivity. Among autoimmune connective tissue diseases (CTDs), systemic sclerosis (SSc) displayed the highest evidence of TMDs patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and clinical findings (20-93%), followed by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in 18-85%, primary Sjogren's syndrome (24-54%) and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (4-26%). In SSc and SLE, TMDs were more frequent in patients with higher disease activity and duration, correlating with the extent of skin fibrosis in SSc and with renal involvement in SLE.

CONCLUSION

TMDs in IMRDs display a significant relevance in the rheumatological clinical practice even if often misdiagnosed. This burden is epidemiologically important in terms of PROs and clinical findings which correlate with disease activity in RA, SpA, SSc and SLE. The early recognition and multidisciplinary management of TMDs is warranted and should be aimed at hindering the TMJ structural damage maximizing the quality of life of patients.

AB0738 Do cosmetic silicone implants trigger systemic sclerosis?

Background

The pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is thought to result from interactions between epigenetic features and environmental factors, leading to the onset and progression of the disease in genetically susceptible patients (1). Case reports of women with silicone breast implants who developed SSc have been published, but case-control and prospective studies in connective tissue diseases often failed to find an increased risk of SSc associated with silicone cosmetic surgery (2,3). These studies have several limitations, including heterogeneous cohorts of enrolled patients not selective for SSc, non-homogeneous disease duration or disease stage at study entry. For these reasons, the possible effect of silicone implants as immune adjuvants is highly suspected but remains unclear (4).

Objectives

Retrospective study of SSc patients, to find out who developed SSc after silicone cosmetic surgery.

Methods

The clinical files of 140 female patients with systemic sclerosis were retrospectively evaluated and clinical data collected.

Results

Five patients showing a history of silicone cosmetic surgery (3.6%) before SSc development were identified. The brief clinical histories of the five patients are below reported, showing very similar outcomes after silicone implant. 1. TC 47-year-old female underwent cosmetic breast prosthesis: twelve months later she experienced Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) and diffuse cutaneous SSc after 10 further months; antinuclear antibodies were positive with a speckled and nucleolar pattern, but specific SSc-related autoantibodies negative. 2. LS 28-year-old female underwent cosmetic breast prosthesis: twenty-two months later RP appeared and anticentromere antibodies (ACA) positive aggressive diffuse SSc was diagnosed one year later. 3. PJ 38-year-old female underwent cosmetic breast prosthesis: eleven months later she experienced RP and after 10 further months, aggressive diffuse cutaneous SSc; antinuclear antibodies were positive with a speckled patter, but specific SSc-related autoantibodies were negative. 4. CM 58-year-old female who underwent cosmetic lip silicone application: one year later she complained of simultaneous onset of RP and very aggressive diffuse cutaneous SSc with anti-topoisomerase positivity; she died during follow-up. 5. BS 33-year-old female who underwent cosmetic breast prosthesis: twenty months later she complained of RP and after ten further months, limited cutaneous SSc with ACA positivity; SSc clinical condition partially improved and its progression stopped after prosthesis removal. Globally, after silicone implant, RP occurred in a mean time of 15±5 months and SSc in 23±8 months.

Conclusion

This study reports a prevalence of 3.6% of silicone cosmetic surgery before SSc onset, interestingly with a close and similar temporal association between silicone implant and disease development. This finding suggests a possible role of silicone in SSc pathogenesis (ASIA syndrome). Specifically addressed large clinical studies or big-data studies need to rule out this matter.

References

[1]Denton C, et al. Lancet 2017; 390: 1685–99.

[2]Marie I et al. Semin Immunopathol 2015; 37:463–473.

[3]Coroneos CJ et al. Ann Surg. 2019 Jan;269(1):30-36.

[4]Watad A et al. Lupus. 2017; 26:675-681.

Disclosure of Interests

Adriano Lercara: None declared, Alberto Sulli: None declared, Carmen Pizzorni: None declared, Emanuele Gotelli: None declared, Sabrina Paolino: None declared, ANDREA CERE: None declared, Maurizio Cutolo Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Pfizer, Boehringer-Ingelheim

AB0739 Aminaphtone tolerability and safety in scleroderma patients: a four-year follow-up

Background

Recent studies show that Aminaphtone is effective in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) symptoms in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and an increase in peripheral blood perfusion was demonstrated by Laser speckle contrast analysis in treated patients (1,2). Unfortunately, the drug is only available in a few countries.

Objectives

To evaluate long-term tolerability and safety of Aminaphtone in SSc patients with secondary RP.

Methods

Seventy SSc patients (EULAR/ACR criteria) (mean disease duration 8±7 years, mean age 61±10 years) who started Aminaphtone treatment due to active RP were enrolled and followed for at least 4 years. Patients were also taking various concomitant treatments, including immunomodulators, cyclic intravenous iloprost, endothelin receptor antagonists and aspirin. None was taking sildenafil or selexipag. Survival of Aminaphtone in therapy was assessed along with possible drug-related side effect. The Raynaud condition score (RCS) to asses disease severity and blood examinations were routinely performed.

Results

The mean follow-up of patients was 49±11 months. Aminaphtone was orally administered at 75 mg twice daily, as standard initial posology in our clinical practice. During the follow-up, six patients (8,6%) referred headache as side effect and had to reduce Aminaphtone posology to 75 mg per day, while maintaining clinical benefits. No other side effect related to the drug was observed during the follow-up. Seven patients increased the posology to 75 mg three times daily due to poor effectiveness, and further seven patients increased the posology to 75 mg three times daily only during the colder months of the year. Conversely, thirty-five patients reduced the dosage to 75 mg once daily only during the hottest months of the year, due to partial remission of the RP. During follow-up, blood tests did not reveal any significant alteration ascribable to Aminaphtone. A subjective improvement of Raynaud’s symptoms (assessed by the RCS) was already evident after 1-2 months of treatment in fifty-six patients (80%). Globally, the patients referred a sustained improvement followed by stabilization of Raynaud’s symptoms during the follow-up.

Conclusion

During an average observation period of four years, Aminaphtone showed a good tolerability and safety profile along with sustained efficacy in patients with SSc-related RP, without disabling or serious side effects. A randomized controlled trial for Aminaphtone use in the management of SSc-related RP is desirable to better assess the clinical efficacy of the drug over time.

References

[1]Parisi S, et al. Am J Int Med. 2015;3:204–209. 2. Ruaro B et al. 2019. Front Pharmacol 10:293.

Disclosure of Interests

ANDREA CERE: None declared, Emanuele Gotelli: None declared, Adriano Lercara: None declared, Carmen Pizzorni: None declared, Sabrina Paolino: None declared, Elisa Alessandri: None declared, Maurizio Cutolo Grant/research support from: Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Alberto Sulli: None declared

AB0438 SERUM HOMOCYSTEINE AND BONE STATUS IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

Background:

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by self-amplifying microvascular damage sustained by autoimmune response and progressive skin and visceral fibrosis. Besides, SSc patients show higher incidence of bone micro/macroarchitectural damages and bone fractures. Emerging data demonstrate that high serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy) could modulate osteoclastogenesis and are recognized as risk factors for osteoporosis (2). Furthermore, serum levels of Hcy were found to be higher in SSc patients than in healthy controls (3).

Objectives:

to evaluate the bone status according to HCy serum levels in a cohort of SSc patients.

Methods:

20 female patients fulfilling ACR 2013 criteria for SSc underwent a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan (DXA) (Lunar Prodigy) to evaluate bone status. We analysed bone quantity and quality respectively by bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS). According to the WHO criteria, osteoporosis was defined as a bone density of 2.5 standard deviations below that of a young adult (T-Score). Fasting blood samples were obtained from all patients in order to test serum Hcy level and bone turnover markers after obtaining the informed consent. All subjects underwent morphometric spine X-Ray to evaluate vertebral fractures. Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric tests.

Results:

The mean age of patients was 64.15 ± 10.8 years with a mean disease duration of 9.1 ± 2.3 years. The mean modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) was 10.7 ± 8.5. All patients showed a “scleroderma pattern” at nailfold Videocapillaroscopy (NVC): in particular, 7 patients showed the “Late” pattern, 9 patients the “Active” pattern and 4 patients the “Early” NVC pattern. Hyperomocisteinemia (HHcy) was found in 25% of patients. Interestingly, SSc patients with the “Late” NVC pattern showed a significantly higher serum level of Hcy compared to the “Early/Active” group (11.15 ± 4.4 vs 17.17 ± 6.4, p=0.03). No significant differences were observed in relation to the autoantibody profiles. Of note, 60% of patients with HHcy were found osteoporotic and 40% had bone fractures.

Considering the bone status, patients with Hcy showed a significantly lower TBS (p=0.03); the average values of BMD on the lumbar spine (p=0.79) and femoral neck (p=0.13) were found lower compared to, but without any statistical significance. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in bone turnover markers according to Hcy levels.

Conclusion:

The study demonstrates a relationship between higher levels of Hcy and lower TBS values within SSc patients, particularly in those with most severe microvascular damage al NVC (“Late” SSc pattern). Therefore it is concluded that higher serum levels of Hcy associate to both bone microarchitectural and microvascular damage in SSc.

References:

[1]Cutolo M et al Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2019; 15: 753-64

[2]Behera J et al. J Cell Physiol 2017;232(10):2704-2709

[3]Yan-lie Zhang et al. Rheumatol 2018; 28(4):681-689

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Nutritional Status and Bone Microarchitecture in a Cohort of Systemic Sclerosis Patients

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by initial microvascular damage, immune system activation and progressive fibrosis with insufficiency of internal organs. Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement is characterized by atrophy of the smooth muscle and small bowel hypomotility, mainly resulting from an autonomic nerve dysfunction. These modifications significantly affect gut transit and nutrient absorption, thus leading to malnutrition deficit induced by malabsorption. Nutritional deficit induced by malabsorption might also lead to bone alterations. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between malnutrition and bone status. Thirty-six postmenopausal female patients fulfilling the ACR 2013 criteria for SSc underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan (DXA) to detect quantitative lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) analysis to detect bone quality. Data from DXA also allow to assess body composition and provide several quantitative parameters, including free fat mass index (FFMI) that identifies the patient with malnutrition (values <15 kg/m² in women and 17 kg/m² in men), according to the ESPEN criteria. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for all SSc patients and every patient completed a diary reporting GI symptoms. Two groups of SSc patients with or without diagnosed malnutrition according to FFMI parameter were identified. Malnourished SSc patients showed significantly lower weight (p = 0.01) and BMI (p = 0.001), as well as lower serum levels of hemoglobin (p = 0.009), albumin (p = 0.002), PTH (p = 0.02) and 25OH-vitamin D (p = 0.008). DXA analysis showed significantly lower lumbar L1-L4 T-score (p = 0.009) and BMD values (p = 0.029) in malnourished SSc patients. Consistently, TBS values were significantly lower in malnourished patients (p = 0.008) and correlated with BMD (at any site) and serum albumin levels (p = 0.02). In addition, FFMI positively correlated with bone parameters as well as with symptoms of intestinal impairment in malnourished SSc patients. Finally, GI symptoms significantly correlated with BMD but not with TBS. This pilot study shows that in malnourished SSc patients (2015 ESPEN criteria: FFMI<15 kg/m²), an altered bone status significantly correlates with GI involvement, in terms of symptoms being mainly due to intestinal involvement together with the presence of selected serum biomarkers of malnutrition.

AB0408 DOES THE PRESENCE IN THE SERUM OF ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODIES CORRELATE WITH SPECIFIC/NON SPECIFIC CAPILLAROSCOPIC ABNORMALITIES?

Background:

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by specific vascular and obstetric manifestations and by antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) positivity [1].

To date, little is known regarding nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) alterations in APS patients and in asymptomatic aPL-carriers, non-specific abnormalities being the most frequently reported [2,3,4].

Objectives:

To retrospectively analyze NVC alterations in APS patients and in asymptomatic aPL-carriers and to correlate NCV alterations with both clinical manifestations and serum aPL profile.

Methods:

Thirty-five aPL positive patients having received at least one NCV investigation (mean age 47 years, range 16-81, 31 female and 4 male) were retrospectively included in the study. For each patient complete medical history was collected with a particular attention to past vascular thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity. Patients were classified as affected by APS according to the updated Sapporo classification criteria [5]. Lupus anticoagulant (LAC), IgM and IgG anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACL) and IgM and IgG anti-Beta2 Glycoprotein 1 (anti-B2GP1) were assessed in each patient according to the recommended procedures [5]. NCV parameters were analyzed in each patient, with a particular interest to hemorrhages or nailfold bed-parallel hemosiderin deposits (“comb-like”hemorrhages) presence [2,6]. Statistical analysis was performed by parametric and non-parametric tests.

Results:

Seventeen patients (mean age 49 years, range 16-81 years) were asymptomatic aPL-carriers and 18 (mean age 46 years, range 26-71 years) were affected by APS. Within APS patients, 16 had a history of vascular thrombosis and 2 had pregnancy morbidity; in 6 patients APS was secondary to other autoimmune rheumatologic conditions (3 to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, 2 to vasculitides and 1 to Mixed Connective Tissue Disease).

Among the total number of aPL-carriers and APS patients six patients showed a normal NVC pattern, 24 patients had non-specific NVC abmormalities and 5 patients had a “scleroderma-like” pattern. Interestingly, NCV microhemorrhages were significantly more frequent in APS patients than in asymptomatic aPL-carriers, both in score and in absolute (p=0.05 andp=0.04, respectively). Particularly, in APS patients “comb-like”hemorrhages had a statistically significant higher prevalence than isolated hemorrhages (p=0.03). Dilated capillaries score was significantly higher in APS patients than in asymptomatic aPL-carriers (p=0.01).

Not any statistically significant difference was observed regarding other capillary parameters (score of giant capillaries, loss of capillaries, or anormal shpaes, i.e. angiogenesis). Not any statistical correlation was observed between NVC parameters and different aPL profile.

Conclusion:

The study shows that the total number of microhemorrhages and in particular the“comb-like”subtype, are significantly the most frequent specific abnormalities in APL patients when compared to asymptomatic aPL carriers. The presence of the “scleroderma like” NVC pattern may suggest a concomitant overlap syndrome. Not any correlation was found between aPL profile and other NVC parameters. Further studies need to develop a more specific APS NVC pattern for APS patients.

References:

[1]Tektonidou MG, et al RMD Open 2019; 5(1);

[2]Cutolo M, Elsevier 2010, pp141-143;

[3]Candela M, et al.1998:444-9;

[4]Aslanidis S, et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2011, 29:307-9;

[5]Miyakis S, et al. J Thromb Haemost 2006, 4:295–306;

[6]Cutolo M, et al Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2008, 22:1093-108

Disclosure of Interests: :

Giorgia Ferrari: None declared, Sabrina Paolino: None declared, Alberto Sulli Grant/research support from: Laboratori Baldacci, Carmen Pizzorni: None declared, Greta Pacini: None declared, Emanuele Gotelli: None declared, Adriano Lercara: None declared, Vanessa Smith Grant/research support from: The affiliated company received grants from Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO), Belgian Fund for Scientific Research in Rheumatic diseases (FWRO), Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co and Janssen-Cilag NV, Consultant of: Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co, Speakers bureau: Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co and UCB Biopharma Sprl, Maurizio Cutolo Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Actelion, Celgene, Consultant of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Speakers bureau: Sigma-Alpha