Efficacy, tolerance and acceptability of pulsed dye laser on facial and neckline telangiectasias in systemic scleroderma: a prospective open-label monocentric study in 21 patients

Facial and neckline telangiectasias have an underestimated yet important impact on quality of life of patients with systemic scleroderma (SSc). This monocentric, prospective, open-label, intra-patient comparative study was conducted in 21 consecutive patients with SSc. Patients underwent 4 sessions of PDL 8 weeks apart. A final quadruple assessment was performed by several raters 2 months after the last session, based on the following criteria: change in telangiectasia number; subjective improvement score (LINKERT scale); impact on the quality of life (QoL; SKINDEX score); visual analog pain scale; adverse effects (AEs), including treatment discontinuation for PDL-induced purpura and patient satisfaction. The mean telangiectasia number decreased by 5 (32%) at the end of the protocol. Eighteen patients (85.7%) reported an improvement or a strong improvement, versus 73.81% for the expert committee. Immediate session pain (mean = 3.4/10) was slightly less than overall pain (mean = 4.6/10). Ten patients (47%) experienced at least one AE (oozing/crusts, edema, epidermal blistering), including PDL-induced purpura in 3 patients (14%). AEs were mostly transient (<1 week) and mild (CTCAE grade 1). All QoL parameters improved after treatment, and 85% of patients were satisfied.

Early infectious risk in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis according to remission-induction therapy

OBJECTIVE

Few comparative data exist on early infections secondary to remission-induction therapy (RIT) with rituximab (RTX) versus cyclophosphamide (CYC) in newly diagnosed anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients. We compared and analysed the rates and predictors of severe infection in such patients within the first 6 months following RIT.

METHOD

From the Caen University Hospital databases, we included all consecutive adults newly diagnosed with ANCA-positive granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis between January 2006 and December 2019. We compared rates of survival without severe infection and survival without infections of any severity within 6 months of RIT and used a multivariate Cox analysis to identify predictors of infection.

RESULTS

We included 145 patients, 27 in the RTX and 118 in the CYC group. Patients in the RTX group more frequently had pneumococcal vaccination (p < 0.01) and creatinine < 150 µmol/L; other characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Overall, 37 severe infections and 65 infections of any severity were recorded. Rates of survival without severe infection were similar in both groups (p = 0.69), but survival without infections of any severity was lower in the RTX group (p = 0.005). In multivariate analysis, risk factors at diagnosis for severe infections included chronic urinary tract disease, dialysis, and absence of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis (p < 0.01 each).

CONCLUSIONS

Within 6 months of RIT, rates of survival without severe infection were similar in newly diagnosed ANCA-positive AAV patients treated with RTX or CYC, but survival rates without infections of any severity appeared to be lower with RTX treatment.

POS0831 EARLY INFECTIOUS RISK IN PATIENTS WITH NEWLY-DIAGNOSED ANTI-NEUTROPHILCYTOPLASMIC ANTIBODY-ASSOCIATED VASCULITIS ACCORDING TO THE REMISSION-INDUCTIONTHERAPY: A FRENCH MONOCENTRIC RETROSPECTIVE STUDY INCLUDING 145 PATIENTS

Background:

Few comparative data exist on early infections secondary to remission-induction therapy (RIT) with rituximab versus cyclophosphamide in newly-diagnosed ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients.

Objectives:

We compared and analyzed the rate and predictors of severe infections in such patients within the first six months following RIT.

Methods:

We included, from the databases of Caen University Hospital, all consecutive adults newly-diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis between January 2006 and December 2019. We compared the survival without severe infections (WSI) and the survival without infection of any severity (WIOAS) within 6 months from the RIT, and used a multivariate cox analysis to identify predictors of infection.

Results:

We included 145 patients, 27 in rituximab group and 118 in cyclophosphamide group. Patients in the rituximab group more frequently had pneumococcal vaccination (p<0.01) and creatinine level <150 µmol/L, while other characteristics, including Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score, were comparable between both groups.

Overall, 37 severe infections and 65 infections of any severity were recorded. The survival WSI was similar in both groups (p=0.69), but survival WIOAS was lower in rituximab group (p=0.005).

In multivariate analysis, risk factors at diagnosis for severe infections were chronic urinary tract disease, dialysis and absence of prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (p<0.01 each).

Conclusion:

The survival WIS within the 6 months following RIT was similar in patients with newly-diagnosed AAV treated by rituximab or cyclophosphamide, but survival WIOAS appeared to be lower within the 6 months following rituximab despite a better pneumococcal vaccination coverage.

Figure 1.

Comparison of the 6-month survival without severe infection (A) or without infection of any severity (B) in patients with newly-diagnosed ANCA-associated vasculitis treated by rituximab or cyclophosphamide

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

POS0338 STEROID-SPARING EFFECT OF ANAKINRA IN GIANT-CELL ARTERITIS: A CASE SERIES WITH CLINICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND ICONOGRAPHIC LONG-TERM ASSESSMENTS

Background:

The treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA) relies on corticosteroids but is burdened by a high rate of relapses and adverse effects. Anti-interleukin-6 treatments show a clear benefit with a significant steroid-sparing effect, but late relapses occur after treatment discontinuation. In addition to interleukin-6, interleukin-1 also appears to play a significant role in GCA pathophysiology.

Objectives:

We report herein the efficacy of anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, in 6 GCA patients exhibiting corticosteroid dependence or resistance, specifically analyzing the outcome of aortitis in 4 of them, and including the long-term follow-up of 2 previously described patients (1).

Methods:

This retrospective study analyzed the cases of all GCA patients treated with anakinra from the French Study Group for Large Vessel Vasculitis.

Patients had to satisfy the following two criteria to be enrolled in this retrospective study. First, their diagnosis of GCA should be based on the fulfillment of at least 3 criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) for GCA or on the satisfaction of 2 of these criteria along with the demonstration of LVI on imaging. Second, patients should have received anakinra because of corticosteroid dependence or resistance.

Corticosteroid dependence was defined as ≥2 relapses or the combination of 2 of the following criteria: a daily dose of oral prednisone >20 mg/day (or 0.3 mg/kg) at 6 months; a daily dose of oral prednisone >10 mg/day (or 0.2 mg/kg) at 12 months; and/or a treatment maintained >24 months because of a relapsing disease course. Corticosteroid resistance was defined as persistent increased inflammatory parameters at month 3 despite a steroid dosage over 0.5 mg/kg.

Results:

After a median duration of anakinra therapy of 19 [18–32] months, all 6 patients exhibited complete clinical and biological remission. Among the 4 patients with large-vessel involvement, 2 had a disappearance of aortitis under anakinra, and 2 showed a decrease in vascular uptake. After a median follow-up of 56 [48–63] months, corticosteroids were discontinued in 4 patients, and corticosteroid dosage could be decreased to 5 mg/day in 2 patients. One patient relapsed 13 months after anakinra introduction in the context of increasing the daily anakinra injection interval to every 48 hours. Three patients experienced transient injection-site reactions, and 1 patient had pneumonia.

Figure 1.

Steroid dosages before and after the introduction of anakinra in 6 patients with giant-cell arteritis and corticosteroid dependence or resistance. The black arrow indicates the time of anakinra introduction.

Conclusion:

In this short series, anakinra appears to be an efficient and safe steroid-sparing agent in refractory GCA, with a possible beneficial effect on large-vessel involvement.

References:

[1]Ly K-H, Stirnemann J, Liozon E, Michel M, Fain O, Fauchais A-L. Interleukin-1 blockade in refractory giant cell arteritis. Joint Bone Spine 2014;81:76–8.

Disclosure of Interests:

Samuel Deshayes: None declared, Kim LY: None declared, Virginie Rieu: None declared, Gwénola Maigné: None declared, Nicolas Martin Silva: None declared, Alain Manrique: None declared, Jacques Monteil: None declared, Hubert de Boysson Speakers bureau: Roche-Chugai, Grant/research support from: Roche-Chugai, Achille Aouba Grant/research support from: SOBI

IVIg increases interleukin-11 levels, which in turn contribute to increased platelets, VWF and FVIII in mice and humans

The mechanisms of action of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) in autoimmune diseases are not fully understood. The fixed duration of efficacy and noncumulative effects of IVIg in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and acquired von Willebrand disease (AVWD) suggest other mechanisms besides immunological ones. Additionally to the peripheral destruction of platelets in ITP, their medullary hypoproduction emerged as a new paradigm with rescue of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA). In an ITP mouse model, interleukin (IL)-11 blood levels increase following IVIg. IL-11 stimulates the production of platelets and other haemostasis factors; recombinant IL-11 (rIL-11) is thus used as a growth factor in post-chemotherapy thrombocytopenia. We therefore hypothesized that IVIg induces IL-11 over-production, which increases platelets, VWF and factor VIII (FVIII) levels in humans and mice. First, in an ITP mouse model, we show that IVIg or rIL-11 induces a rapid increase (72 h) in platelets, FVIII and VWF levels, whereas anti-IL-11 antibody greatly decreased this effect. Secondly, we quantify for the first time in patients with ITP, AVWD, inflammatory myopathies or Guillain-Barré syndrome the dramatic IL-11 increase following IVIg, regardless of the disease. As observed in mice, platelets, VWF and FVIII levels increased following IVIg. The late evolution (4 weeks) of post-IVIg IL-11 levels overlapped with those of VWF and platelets. These data may explain thrombotic events following IVIg and open perspectives to monitor post-IVIg IL-11/thrombopoietin ratios, and to assess rIL-11 use with or without TPO-RA as megakaryopoiesis co-stimulating factors to overcome the relative hypoproduction of platelets or VWF in corresponding autoimmune diseases, besides immunosuppressant.

Hemolysis and schistocytosis in the emergency department: consider pseudothrombotic microangiopathy related to vitamin B12 deficiency

BACKGROUND

Hemolytic anemia with thrombocytopenia and schistocytosis is suggestive of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). However, these features can occur in the context of vitamin B12 deficiency.

AIM

To identify simple means of distinguishing between TTP and pseudothrombotic microangiopathies related to vitamin B12 deficiency (pseudo-TMA) at the bedside.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Retrospective study of patients with pseudo-TMA compared with patients with TTP. The patients with pseudo-TMA were further compared with other cases of cobalamin deficiency, in order to detect factors associated with microangiopathic hemolysis during vitamin B12 deprivation.

RESULTS

Seven patients with pseudo-TMA were compared with six patients with TTP. The pseudo-TMA patients had higher median lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (7310 vs. 1460 IU/l, P = 0.01), a higher platelet count (73 vs.12.5 × 10(9)/l, P = 0.0023), a lower reticulocyte count (13.1 vs. 265.5 × 10(9)/l, P = 0.0012) and a lower neutrophil count (1.3 vs. 5.1 × 10(9)/l, P = 0.0023). When compared with 21 patients with vitamin B12 deficiency and anemia (but no schistocytosis), the pseudo-TMA patients were more likely to present with pernicious anemia [7 out of 21 (33.3%) vs. 5 out of 7 (71.4%), respectively] and had lower vitamin B12 levels (105 vs. 45 µmol/l, respectively). Vitamin supplementation led to hematological improvements in all pseudo-TMA patients.

CONCLUSION

In a context of mechanical hemolysis with thrombocytopenia in a patient admitted to the emergency department, very high LDH levels and a low reticulocyte count are strongly suggestive of pseudo-TMA and should prompt the physician to screen for cobalamin deficiency.