We aimed to compare the efficacy of steroids alone or associated with immunosuppressive drugs for the prevention of relapse in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS).
In this monocentric multidisciplinary ...retrospective single center study, all consecutive patients with histologically proven sarcoidosis hospitalized from January 2012 to December 2016 were considered. All patients with symptomatic CS were studied. Patients received steroids or steroids plus immunosuppressive drugs (IS) for CS treatment at diagnosis. The efficacy of each treatment strategy (steroids vs steroids + IS) was assessed by the cardiac relapse rate over follow up.
326 consecutive patients with histologically proven sarcoidosis were screened. Among them, 36 (11%) had symptomatic CS (20 (55.5%) men, median age at diagnosis 48.5 22.8–76). Twenty-four patients received steroids and 12 received steroids + IS (azathioprine n = 5, methotrexate n = 5, cyclophosphamide n = 2) at CS diagnosis. Over a median follow up of 3.6 1–15.2 years, 13 (36.1%) patients suffered a cardiac relapse including reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, n = 4), third degree heart block (n = 2), atrio-ventricular (n = 1) or ventricular (n = 1) tachycardia and sudden cardiac death (n = 1). Except for a higher frequency of black patients in patients receiving IS, CS features at diagnosis and median time to relapse did not significantly differ between patients who did or did not receive IS. Relapse rate was 45.8% in the steroids group versus 16.7% in the steroids + IS group (p = 0.048).
In cardiac sarcoidosis, the combination of steroids with immunosuppressive drugs might reduce the risk of cardiac relapse, as compared to steroids alone.
•Heart involvement is the leading cause of death in sarcoidosis•Evidence-based data regarding cardiac sarcoidosis treatment are poor•Steroids and immunosuppressive drugs may be more effective than steroids alone in preventing cardiac sarcoidosis relapse.
The optimal treatment for patients with severe coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) and hyper-inflammation remains debated.
A cohort study was designed to evaluate whether a therapeutic algorithm using ...steroids with or without interleukin-1 antagonist (anakinra) could prevent death/invasive ventilation. Patients with a ≥5-day evolution since symptoms onset, with hyper-inflammation (CRP≥50mg/L), requiring 3-5 L/min oxygen, received methylprednisolone alone. Patients needing ≥6 L/min received methylprednisolone + subcutaneous anakinra daily either frontline or in case clinical deterioration upon corticosteroids alone. Death rate and death or intensive care unit (ICU) invasive ventilation rate at Day 15, with Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% CIs, were determined according to logistic regression and propensity scores. A Bayesian analysis estimated the treatment effects.
Of 108 consecutive patients, 70 patients received glucocorticoids alone. The control group comprised 63 patients receiving standard of care. In the corticosteroid±stanakinra group (n = 108), death rate was 20.4%, versus 30.2% in the controls, indicating a 30% relative decrease in death risk and a number of 10 patients to treat to avoid a death (p = 0.15). Using propensity scores a per-protocol analysis showed an OR for COVID-19-related death of 0.9 (95%CI 0.80-1.01, p = 0.067). On Bayesian analysis, the posterior probability of any mortality benefit with corticosteroids+/-anakinra was 87.5%, with a 7.8% probability of treatment-related harm. Pre-existing diabetes exacerbation occurred in 29 of 108 patients (26.9%).
In COVID-19 non-ICU inpatients at the cytokine release phase, corticosteroids with or without anakinra were associated with a 30% decrease of death risk on Day 15.
Neisseria meningitidis sequence type 11 is an emerging cause of urethritis. We demonstrate by using whole-genome sequencing orogenital transmission of a N. meningitidis sequence type 11 isolate ...causing urethritis in a monogamous couple of men who have sex with men. These results suggest dissemination of this clonal complex among low-risk patients.
Abstract
IFNα and anti-IFNα autoantibodies have been implicated in susceptibility both for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and viral infection. We aimed to analyze the SLE disease phenotype and ...risk for infection associated with anti-IFN-α IgG autoantibodies in SLE patients In this multidisciplinary retrospective single referral center study, all consecutive patients with SLE admitted between January 1st and November 30th 2020 were considered. All subjects fulfilled the ACR/EULAR 2019 criteria for SLE. Anti-IFNα IgG autoantibodies were quantified at admission by ELISA. Demographic, medical history, laboratory, treatment, and outcome data were extracted from electronic medical records using a standardized data collection form. 180 patients female 87.2%, median age of 44.4 (34–54.2) years were included. The median disease duration was 10 years 4–20 with a median SLEDAI score of 2 0–4 at study time. Fifty-four (30%) patients had a past-history of lupus nephritis. One hundred and forty-four (80%) had received long-term glucocorticoids and 99 (55%) immunosuppressive drugs. Overall, 127 infections—mostly bacterial and viral—were reported in 95 (52.8%) patients. Twenty SLE patients (11.1%) had positive anti-IFNα IgG autoantibodies with a titer ranging from 10 to 103 UA/mL. Age, sex, SLE phenotype and treatment did not significantly differ between SLE patients with or without anti-IFNα. Infection rate was similar in both groups except for tuberculosis which was more frequent in patients with anti-IFNα (20% vs. 3.1%,
p
= 0.01). The prevalence of autoantibodies against IFNα is high in SLE and associated with a higher frequency of tuberculosis.
Skin reactions are well described complications of tattooing, usually provoked by red inks. Chemical characterizations of these inks are usually based on limited subjects and techniques. This study ...aimed to determine the organic and inorganic composition of inks using X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES) and Raman spectroscopy, in a cohort of patients with cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions to tattoo. A retrospective multicenter study was performed, including 15 patients diagnosed with skin reactions to tattoos. Almost half of these patients developed skin reactions on black inks. XRF identified known allergenic metals – titanium, chromium, manganese, nickel and copper – in almost all cases. XANES spectroscopy distinguished zinc and iron present in ink from these elements in endogenous biomolecules. Raman spectroscopy showed the presence of both reported (azo pigments, quinacridone) and unreported (carbon black, phtalocyanine) putative organic sensitizer compounds, and also defined the phase in which Ti was engaged. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper reports the largest cohort of skin hypersensitivity reactions analyzed by multiple complementary techniques. With almost half the patients presenting skin reaction on black tattoo, the study suggests that black modern inks should also be considered to provoke skin reactions, probably because of the common association of carbon black with potential allergenic metals within these inks. Analysis of more skin reactions to tattoos is needed to identify the relevant chemical compounds and help render tattoo ink composition safer.
Using X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, the chemical composition of inks was analyzed in a cohort of patients with cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions to tattoo. Known inorganic allergenic metals (titanium, chromium, manganese, nickel and copper) were identified in almost all cases as well as azo pigments, quinacridone, carbon black and phthalocyanine.
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