Bronchiectasis is highly prevalent in anti-MPO ANCA-associated vasculitis and is associated with a distinct disease presentation

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of bronchiectasis in a Western cohort with ANCA-positive granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and its correlations with disease presentation and outcome. METHODS: Retrospective study of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients followed at Nantes University Hospital (2005-2015). Clinical, biological, and follow-up data were collected through chart review. Two experienced radiologists blinded to the clinical data interpreted chest high-resolution CTs according to the Feischner Society criteria. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were included: 30 had MPA (51.7%) and 28 had GPA (48.3%). The median age at AAV diagnosis was 65.5 years. Anti-MPO-ANCA and anti-PR3-ANCA were present in 39 (67.2%) and 19 (32.8%) patients, respectively. Overall, bronchiectasis was found in 22 patients (37.9%), all of whom had anti-MPO ANCA. In multivariate analysis, bronchiectasis was independently associated with anti-MPO-ANCA, female gender and age at AAV diagnosis. Furthermore, anti-MPO ANCA patients with bronchiectasis had more frequent peripheral nerve involvement (54.5 vs. 17.6%, p = 0.019) and less frequent renal involvement than those without bronchiectasis (40.9% vs. 82.3%, p = 0.009). Disease course, survival and risk of severe pulmonary infection were similar in patients with and without bronchiectasis on chest CT. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that bronchiectasis is a highly prevalent pre-existing respiratory condition in Caucasian patients with anti-MPO AAV. This subset of patients exhibits a distinct presentation. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and clarify the clinical implications of this association. Whether the respiratory tract could be the site of initiation of anti-MPO auto-immunity remains to be investigated

Myositis in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome: data from a French nationwide survey.

International audienc

Comparison of idiopathic (isolated) aortitis and giant cell arteritis-related aortitis. A French retrospective multicenter study of 117 patients

International audienceObjectives: The aim of the study was to compare clinical/imaging findings and outcome in patients with idiopathic (isolated aortitis, IA) and with giant cell arteritis (GCA)-related aortitis.Methods: Patients from 11 French internal medicine departments were retrospectively included. Aortitis was defined by aortic wall thickening > 2 mm and/or an aortic aneurysm on CT-scan, associated to inflammatory syndrome. Patients with GCA had at least 3 ACR criteria. Aortic events (aneurysm, dissection, aortic surgeries) were reported, and free of aortic events-survival were compared.Results: Among 191 patients with non-infectious aortitis, 73 with GCA and 44 with IA were included. Patients with IA were younger (65 vs 70y, p = 0.003) and comprised more past/current smokers (43 vs 15%, p = 0.0007). Aortic aneurisms were more frequent (38% vs 20%, p = 0.03) and aortic wall thickening was more pronounced in IA. During follow-up (median = 34 months), subsequent development of aortic aneurysm was significantly lower in GCA when compared to IA (p = 0.009). GCA patients required significantly less aortic surgery during follow-up than IA patients (p = 0.02). Mean age, sex-ratio, inflammatory parameters and free of aortic aneurism-survival were equivalent in patients with IA ≥ 60y when compared to patients with GCA-related aortitis.Conclusions: IA is more severe than aortitis related to GCA, with higher proportions of aortic aneurism at diagnosis and during follow-up. IA is a heterogeneous disease and its prognosis is worse in younger patients < 60y. Most patients with IA ≥ 60y share many features with GCA-related aortitis

The immunological footprint of CMV in HIV-1 patients stable on long-term ART

BACKGROUND:Most HIV-infected persons are cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositive and retain latent virus that can be reactivated by immune activation. Their T cell populations express markers reflecting a late stage of differentiation, but the contributions of HIV and CMV to this profile are unclear. We investigated the immunological "footprint" of CMV in HIV patients who had a history of extreme immunodeficiency but were now stable on antiretroviral therapy (ART).RESULTS:Twenty CMV seropositive HIV patients >50years old with nadir CD4 T-cell counts <200 cells/mul were studied after >12years on ART. 16 CMV seropositive and 9 CMV seronegative healthy controls were included. CMV antibody titres were higher in HIV patients than controls (P<0.001-0.003). Levels of soluble B-cell activating factor (sBAFF) were elevated in patients (P=0.002) and correlated with levels of CMV antibodies (P=0.03-0.002), with no clear relationship in controls. CD8 T-cell IFNgamma responses to the IE1 peptide (VLE) remained elevated in HIV patients (P=0.005). The CD57 + CD45RA + CD27 phenotype of CD8 T-cells correlated with age (r=0.60, P=0.006), antibodies against CMV IE1 protein (r=0.44, P=0.06) and CD4 T-cell IFNgamma response to CMV lysate (r=0.45, P=0.05).CONCLUSIONS:Humoral and T-cell responses to CMV remained elevated in HIV patients after >12years on ART. Age and presence of CMV disease influenced CD8 T-cell phenotypes. Elevated levels of sBAFF may be a consequence of HIV disease and contribute to high titres of CMV antibody