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Ferri C, Raimondo V, Giuggioli D, Gragnani L, Lorini S, Dagna L, Bosello SL, Foti R, Riccieri V, Guiducci S, Cuomo G, Tavoni A, De Angelis R, Cacciapaglia F, Zanatta E, Cozzi F, Murdaca G, Cavazzana I, Romeo N, Codullo V, Pellegrini R, Varcasia G, De Santis M, Selmi C, Abignano G, Caminiti M, L'Andolina M, Olivo D, Lubrano E, Spinella A, Lumetti F, De Luca G, Ruscitti P, Urraro T, Visentini M, Bellando-Randone S, Visalli E, Testa D, Sciascia G, Masini F, Pellegrino G, Saccon F, Balestri E, Elia G, Ferrari SM, Tonutti A, Dall’Ara F, Pagano Mariano G, Pettiti G, Zanframundo G, Brittelli R, Aiello V, Dal Bosco Y, Foti R, Di Cola I, Scorpiniti D, Fusaro E, Ferrari T, Gigliotti P, Campochiaro C, Francioso F, Iandoli C, Caira V, Zignego AL, D'Angelo S, Franceschini F, Matucci-Cerinic M, Giacomelli R, Doria A, Santini SA, Fallahi P, Iannone F, Antonelli A. Impact of COVID-19 and vaccination campaign on 1,755 systemic sclerosis patients during first three years of pandemic. Possible risks for individuals with impaired immunoreactivity to vaccine, ongoing immunomodulating treatments, and disease-related lung involvement during the next pandemic phase. J Transl Autoimmun 2023; 7:100212. [PMID: 37854035 PMCID: PMC10580042 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2023.100212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The impact of COVID-19 pandemic represents a serious challenge for 'frail' patients' populations with inflammatory autoimmune systemic diseases such as systemic sclerosis (SSc). We investigated the prevalence and severity of COVID-19, as well the effects of COVID-19 vaccination campaign in a large series of SSc patients followed for the entire period (first 38 months) of pandemic. Patients and method This prospective survey study included 1755 unselected SSc patients (186 M, 1,569F; mean age 58.7 ± 13.4SD years, mean disease duration 8.8 ± 7.3SD years) recruited in part by telephone survey at 37 referral centers from February 2020 to April 2023. The following parameters were carefully evaluated: i. demographic, clinical, serological, and therapeutical features; ii. prevalence and severity of COVID-19; and iii. safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Results The prevalence of COVID-19 recorded during the whole pandemic was significantly higher compared to Italian general population (47.3 % vs 43.3 %, p < 0.000), as well the COVID-19-related mortality (1.91 % vs 0.72 %, p < 0.001). As regards the putative prognostic factors of worse outcome, COVID-19 positive patients with SSc-related interstitial lung involvement showed significantly higher percentage of COVID-19-related hospitalization compared to those without (5.85 % vs 1.73 %; p < 0.0001), as well as of mortality rate (2.01 % vs 0.4 %; p = 0.002). Over half of patients (56.3 %) received the first two plus one booster dose of vaccine; while a fourth dose was administered to 35.6 %, and only few of them (1.99 %) had five or more doses of vaccine. Of note, an impaired seroconversion was recorded in 25.6 % of individuals after the first 2 doses of vaccine, and in 8.4 % of patients also after the booster dose. Furthermore, the absence of T-cell immunoreactivity was observed in 3/7 patients tested by QuantiFERON® SARSCoV-2 Starter Set (Qiagen). The efficacy of vaccines, evaluated by comparing the COVID-19-related death rate recorded during pre- and post-vaccination pandemic periods, revealed a quite stable outcome in SSc patients (death rate from 2.54 % to 1.76 %; p = ns), despite the significant drop of mortality observed in the Italian general population (from 2.95 % to 0.29 %; p < 0.0001). Conclusions An increased COVID-19 prevalence and mortality rate was recorded in SSc patients; moreover, the efficacy of vaccines in term of improved outcomes was less evident in SSc compared to Italian general population. This discrepancy might be explained by concomitant adverse prognostic factors: increased rate of non-responders to vaccine in SSc series, low percentage of individuals with four or more doses of vaccine, ongoing immunomodulating treatments, disease-related interstitial lung disease, and/or reduced preventive measures in the second half of pandemic. A careful monitoring of response to COVID-19 vaccines together with adequate preventive/therapeutical strategies are highly recommendable in the near course of pandemic in this frail patients' population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena & RE., School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
- Rheumatology Clinic ‘Madonna Dello Scoglio’ Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Raimondo
- Rheumatology Clinic ‘Madonna Dello Scoglio’ Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Dilia Giuggioli
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena & RE., School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Serena Lorini
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Laura Bosello
- Division of Rheumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Rosario Foti
- AOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, Catania, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Rossella De Angelis
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Clinical & Molecular Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Giuseppe Murdaca
- Ospedale Policlinico S. Martino-University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria De Santis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Selmi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Caminiti
- UOD Reumatologia- Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Massimo L'Andolina
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, ASP- Vibo Valentia-Tropea Hospital, Italy
| | - Domenico Olivo
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Crotone, Italy
| | - Ennio Lubrano
- Rheumatology, Università Del Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Amelia Spinella
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena & RE., School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | - Federica Lumetti
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena & RE., School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Piero Ruscitti
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Teresa Urraro
- Rheumatology Unit, "M. Scarlato" Hospital, Scafati, Italy
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Davide Testa
- Clinical Immunology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Eugenia Balestri
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Martina Ferrari
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio Tonutti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Dall’Ara
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric Service (UONPIA) Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Vincenzo Aiello
- Rheumatology Clinic ‘Madonna Dello Scoglio’ Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Foti
- AOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, Catania, Italy
| | - Ilenia Di Cola
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Enrico Fusaro
- Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Francesca Francioso
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Clinical & Molecular Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Carlo Iandoli
- University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Virginia Caira
- U.O.S. Reumatologia, Ospedale Castrovillari, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Roberto Giacomelli
- Clinical and Research Section of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Doria
- Rheumatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Angelo Santini
- Department of Basic, Clinical, Intensive and Perioperative Biotechnological Sciences, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
- Synlab Lazio, Roma, Italy
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - for the COVID-19 & ASD Italian Study Group
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena & RE., School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
- Rheumatology Clinic ‘Madonna Dello Scoglio’ Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
- Department of Ospedale S. Raffaele, Milano, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- AOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, Catania, Italy
- Rheumatology, Sapienza-University of Rome, Roma, Italy
- Rheumatology, University of Florence, Italy
- University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy
- Clinical Immunology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Clinical & Molecular Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
- UO Reumatologia - DETO, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
- Rheumatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Ospedale "Villa Salus", Mestre, Italy
- Ospedale Policlinico S. Martino-University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- Rheumatology, Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- ASO S. Croce e Carle, Cuneo, Italy
- Rheumatology, Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- U.O.C. Medicina Interna 'M.Valentini" P.O, Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy
- U.O.S. Reumatologia, Ospedale Castrovillari, Cosenza, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- AOR San Carlo di Potenza, Potenza, Italy
- UOD Reumatologia- Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Reggio Calabria, Italy
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, ASP- Vibo Valentia-Tropea Hospital, Italy
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Crotone, Italy
- Rheumatology, Università Del Molise, Campobasso, Italy
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
- Rheumatology Unit, "M. Scarlato" Hospital, Scafati, Italy
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric Service (UONPIA) Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza, Torino, Italy
- U.O.T. Specialistica Ambulatoriale ASP 201, Cosenza, Italy
- Clinical and Research Section of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
- Department of Basic, Clinical, Intensive and Perioperative Biotechnological Sciences, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
- Synlab Lazio, Roma, Italy
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Cuomo G, Iandoli C, Galiero R, Caturano A, Di Vico C, Perretta D, Adamo PV, Ferrara R, Rinaldi L, Romano C, Sasso FC. Liver Involvement in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: Role of Transient Elastography in the Assessment of Hepatic Fibrosis and Steatosis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13101766. [PMID: 37238250 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13101766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare, multisystemic disorder of connective tissue characterized by widespread inflammation, vascular abnormalities, and both skin and visceral organ fibrosis. Tissue fibrosis is the final phase of a complex biological process of immune activation and vascular damage. Objectives The aim of the study was to assess hepatic fibrosis and steatosis in SSc patients by transient elastography (TE). Methods Fifty-nine SSc patients fulfilling the 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria were recruited. Clinical and laboratory findings, modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), activity index, videocapillaroscopy, echocardiography, and lung function data were analyzed. Liver stiffness (LS) was measured by transient elastography (TE), with 7 kPa used as the cut-off value for significant liver fibrosis. In addition, hepatic steatosis was evaluated by means of controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) findings. Specifically, CAP values ≥ 238 ≤ 259 dB/m were considered consistent with mild steatosis (S1), values ≥ 260 ≤ 290 dB/m were compatible with moderate steatosis (S2), and values ≥ 291 dB/m were indicative of severe steatosis (S3). Results The median age of patients was 51 years, with a median disease duration of 6 years. The median LS was 4.5 (2.9-8.3) kPa; 69.5% of patients had no evidence of fibrosis (F0); 27.1% displayed LS values between 5.2 and 7 kPa; and only 3.4% of patients had LS values > 7 kPa (F3). The median CAP value for liver steatosis was 223 dB/m (IQR: 164-343). Overall, 66.1% of patients did not show evidence of steatosis (CAP values < 238 dB/m); 15.2% showed values consistent with mild (S1) steatosis (CAP value ≥ 238 ≤ 259 dB/m); 13.5% had moderate (S2) steatosis (CAP value ≥ 260 ≤ 290 dB/m); and 5.1% were deemed to have severe steatosis (S3) due to CAP values ≥ 291 dB/m. Conclusions Although systemic sclerosis is associated with fibrosis of the skin and several organs, only 3.4% of our patient population showed evidence of marked liver fibrosis, which is the same prevalence as that expected in the general population. Therefore, fibrosis of the liver did not appear to be a significant concern in SSc patients, albeit moderate fibrosis could still be detected in a significant proportion of subjects. A prolonged follow-up may clarify whether liver fibrosis in SSc patients may still progress. Likewise, the prevalence of significant steatosis was low (5.1%) and depended on the same variables associated with fatty liver disease in the general population. TE was shown to be an easy and valuable method for detection and screening of hepatic fibrosis in SSc patients with no additional risk factors for liver disease and may be useful to assess the potential progression of liver fibrosis over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Cuomo
- Department of Precision Medicine, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Carlo Iandoli
- Department of Precision Medicine, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Raffaele Galiero
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Alfredo Caturano
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Claudio Di Vico
- Department of Precision Medicine, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Danilo Perretta
- Department of Precision Medicine, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Pier Vincenzo Adamo
- Department of Precision Medicine, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Ferrara
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Rinaldi
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Ciro Romano
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Carlo Sasso
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, 80138 Naples, Italy
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