IgG4-related disease: results from a multicenter Spanish registry

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare entity consisting of inflammation and fibrosis that has been described in multiple organs. Concrete diagnostic criteria have been established recently and there is a lack of large series of patients.To describe the clinical presentation, histopathological characteristics, treatment and evolution of a series of IgG4-RD Spanish patients.A retrospective multicenter study was performed. Twelve hospitals across Spain included patients meeting the current 2012 consensus criteria on IgG4-RD diagnosis.Fifty-five patients were included in the study, 38 of whom (69.1%) were male. Median age at diagnosis was 53 years. Thirty (54.5%) patients were included in the Histologically Highly Suggestive IgG4-RD group and 25 (45.5%) in the probable IgG4-RD group. Twenty-six (47.3%) patients had more than 1 organ affected at presentation. The most frequently affected organs were: retroperitoneum, orbital pseudotumor, pancreas, salivary and lachrymal glands, and maxillary sinuses.Corticosteroids were the mainstay of treatment (46 patients, 83.6%). Eighteen patients (32.7%) required additional immunosuppressive agents. Twenty-four (43.6%) patients achieved a complete response and 26 (43.7%) presented a partial response (<50% of regression) after 22 months of follow-up. No deaths were attributed directly to IgG4-RD and malignancy was infrequent.This is the largest IgG4-RD series reported in Europe. Patients were middle-aged males, with histologically probable IgG4-RD. The systemic form of the disease was frequent, involving mainly sites of the head and abdomen. Corticosteroids were an effective first line treatment, sometimes combined with immunosuppressive agents. Neither fatalities nor malignancies were attributed to IgG4-RD

Malaltia relacionada amb la IgG4

La malaltia relacionada amb la IgG4 (IgG4-RD) és una patologia fibroinflamatòria autoimmune sistèmica, caracteritzada pel desenvolupament de masses fibròtiques que poden portar a l’alteració de l’arquitectura dels teixits i a la disfunció orgànica. En aquesta tesi doctoral s’ha estudiat per primera vegada aquesta malaltia a Espanya, creant un registre nacional, basat en els criteris de consens internacional en patologia en IgG4-RD. El primer estudi ha mostrat que els pacients amb IgG4-RD han estat predominantment homes d’edat mitjana. La malaltia va afectar múltiples òrgans en un 47% dels casos. Les zones més freqüentment afectades van ser el retroperitoneu, l’òrbita, les glàndules salivals i el pàncrees. Després de completar un primer tractament, el 39% dels pacients van presentar una recidiva. El segon estudi va mostrar que només un 55% dels participants tenien valors en sèrum de IgG4 >135 mg/dL. Els tractaments més utilitzats (constituint un 73% dels realitzats) van ser glucocorticoides (GC), GC amb cirurgia, GC amb azatioprina , i cirurgia sola. Tots els tractaments utilitzats van tenir un elevat grau de resposta però amb freqüents recidives. L’IgG4 responder index (IgG4-RI) modificat va correspondre’s amb l’activitat de la malaltia. Cap pacient va desenvolupar càncer en el primer any des del diagnòstic de la malaltia. En conclusió, les característiques de la IgG4-RD a Espanya s’ajusten a les descrites a la literatura. L’elevació sèrica de IgG4 va ser inferior que en poblacions asiàtiques. El tractament amb GC va ser el més utilitzat, però els fàrmacs antireumàtics modificadors de la malaltia podrien ser d’utilitat. L’IgG4-RI modificat va ser útil per valorar la resposta. La incidència de neoplàsies va ser escassa.IgG4-Related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare systemic autoimmune fibroinflammatory condition, characterized by the development of fibrotic masses and organ dysfunction. In this doctoral thesis, IgG4-RD was studied in Spanish patients for the first time creating a nationwide registry, based on the international consensus criteria on IgG4-RD pathology. The first study showed that patients with IgG4-RD were predominantly middle-aged men. The disease involved multiple organs in 47% of the cases. The most frequently involved zones were retroperitoneum, orbit, salivary glands and pancreas. After completing the first treatment, 39% of the patients had flares. The second study found that only 55% of the participants had serum IgG4 levels over 135 mg/dL. The most commonly used treatments (73% of all) were glucocorticoids (GC), GC with surgery, GC with azathioprine, and surgery alone. They all had a high response rates, but relapses were frequent. The modified IgG4-responder index (IgG4-RI) corresponded to the disease’s activity. No patients developed cancer in the first year after the disease’s diagnosis. In conclusion, IgG4-RD characteristics in Spain were similar to the ones described in the literature. Serum IgG4 elevation was lower than in Asian populations. Treatment with GC was the most frequently used, but disease modifying antirheumatic drugs could be useful. Modified IgG4-RI was useful to monitor the outcomes. The incidence of malignancy was low

Malaltia relacionada amb la IgG4

La malaltia relacionada amb la IgG4 (IgG4-RD) és una patologia fibroinflamatòria autoimmune sistèmica, caracteritzada pel desenvolupament de masses fibròtiques que poden portar a l'alteració de l'arquitectura dels teixits i a la disfunció orgànica. En aquesta tesi doctoral s'ha estudiat per primera vegada aquesta malaltia a Espanya, creant un registre nacional, basat en els criteris de consens internacional en patologia en IgG4-RD. El primer estudi ha mostrat que els pacients amb IgG4-RD han estat predominantment homes d'edat mitjana. La malaltia va afectar múltiples òrgans en un 47% dels casos. Les zones més freqüentment afectades van ser el retroperitoneu, l'òrbita, les glàndules salivals i el pàncrees. Després de completar un primer tractament, el 39% dels pacients van presentar una recidiva. El segon estudi va mostrar que només un 55% dels participants tenien valors en sèrum de IgG4 >135 mg/dL. Els tractaments més utilitzats (constituint un 73% dels realitzats) van ser glucocorticoides (GC), GC amb cirurgia, GC amb azatioprina , i cirurgia sola. Tots els tractaments utilitzats van tenir un elevat grau de resposta però amb freqüents recidives. L'IgG4 responder index (IgG4-RI) modificat va correspondre's amb l'activitat de la malaltia. Cap pacient va desenvolupar càncer en el primer any des del diagnòstic de la malaltia. En conclusió, les característiques de la IgG4-RD a Espanya s'ajusten a les descrites a la literatura. L'elevació sèrica de IgG4 va ser inferior que en poblacions asiàtiques. El tractament amb GC va ser el més utilitzat, però els fàrmacs antireumàtics modificadors de la malaltia podrien ser d'utilitat. L'IgG4-RI modificat va ser útil per valorar la resposta. La incidència de neoplàsies va ser escassa.IgG4-Related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare systemic autoimmune fibroinflammatory condition, characterized by the development of fibrotic masses and organ dysfunction. In this doctoral thesis, IgG4-RD was studied in Spanish patients for the first time creating a nationwide registry, based on the international consensus criteria on IgG4-RD pathology. The first study showed that patients with IgG4-RD were predominantly middle-aged men. The disease involved multiple organs in 47% of the cases. The most frequently involved zones were retroperitoneum, orbit, salivary glands and pancreas. After completing the first treatment, 39% of the patients had flares. The second study found that only 55% of the participants had serum IgG4 levels over 135 mg/dL. The most commonly used treatments (73% of all) were glucocorticoids (GC), GC with surgery, GC with azathioprine, and surgery alone. They all had a high response rates, but relapses were frequent. The modified IgG4-responder index (IgG4-RI) corresponded to the disease's activity. No patients developed cancer in the first year after the disease's diagnosis. In conclusion, IgG4-RD characteristics in Spain were similar to the ones described in the literature. Serum IgG4 elevation was lower than in Asian populations. Treatment with GC was the most frequently used, but disease modifying antirheumatic drugs could be useful. Modified IgG4-RI was useful to monitor the outcomes. The incidence of malignancy was low

Detection of the synthetic cannabinoids AB-CHMINACA, ADB-CHMINACA, MDMB-CHMICA, and 5F-MDMB-PINACA in biological matrices: a systematic review.

New synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are emerging rapidly and continuously. Biological matrices are key for their precise detection to link toxicity and symptoms to each compound and concentration and ascertain consumption trends. The objective of this study was to determine the best human biological matrices to detect the risk-assessed compounds provided by The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction: AB-CHMINACA, ADB-CHMNACA, MDMB-CHMICA, and 5F-MDMB-PINACA. We carried out a systematic review covering 2015 up to the present date, including original articles assessing detection in antemortem human biological matrices with detailed validation information of the technique. In oral fluid and blood, SC parent compounds were found in oral fluid and blood at low concentrations and usually with other substances; thus, the correlation between SCs concentrations and severity of symptoms could rarely be established. When hair is used as the biological matrix, there are difficulties in excluding passive contamination when evaluating chronic consumption. Detection of metabolites in urine is complex because it requires prior identification studies. LC-MS/MS assays were the most widely used approaches for the selective identification of SCs, although the lack of standard references and the need for revalidation with the continuous emergence of new SCs are limiting factors of this technique. A potential solution is high-resolution mass spectrometry screening, which allows for non-targeted detection and retrospective data interrogation

Treatment Algorithms for Systemic Sclerosis According to Experts

Objective: There is a lack of agreement regarding treatment for many aspects of systemic sclerosis (SSc). We undertook this study to generate SSc treatment algorithms endorsed by a high percentage of SSc experts. Methods: Experts from the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium and the Canadian Scleroderma Research group (n = 170) were asked whether they agreed with SSc algorithms from 2012. Two consensus rounds refined agreement; 62, 54, and 48 experts (36%, 32%, and 28%, respectively) completed the first, second, and third surveys, respectively. Results: For treatment of scleroderma renal crisis, 81% of experts agreed (first-, second-, and third-line treatments were angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, then adding calcium-channel blockers [CCBs], then adding angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs], respectively). For pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), 81% of experts agreed (for mild PAH, treatments were phosphodiesterase 5 [PDE5] inhibitors, then endothelin receptor antagonists plus PDE5 inhibitors, then prostanoids, respectively; for severe PAH, prostanoids were first-line treatment). For mild Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), 79% of experts agreed (treatments were CCBs, then adding PDE5 inhibitors, then ARBs or switching to another CCB, respectively; after the third line of treatment, mild RP was deemed severe). For severe RP, the first- through fourth-line treatments were CCBs, then adding PDE5 inhibitors or prostanoids, then adding PDE5 inhibitors (if not added as second-line treatment) or prostanoids (if not added as second-line treatment), then switching to another CCB, respectively. For active treatment of digital ulcers, 66% of experts agreed (first- and second-line treatments were CCBs and PDE5 inhibitors, respectively). For interstitial lung disease, 69% of experts agreed (for induction therapy, treatments were mycophenolate mofetil [MMF], intravenous cyclophosphamide [IV CYC], and rituximab, respectively; for maintenance, first-line treatment was MMF). For skin involvement, 71% of experts agreed (for a modified Rodnan skin thickness score [MRSS] of 24, first- and second-line treatments were methotrexate [MTX] and MMF, respectively; for an MRSS of 32, first- through fourth-line treatments were MMF, MTX, IV CYC, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, respectively). For inflammatory arthritis, 79% of experts agreed (first- through fourth-line treatments were MTX, low-dose glucocorticoids, hydroxychloroquine, and rituximab or tocilizumab, respectively). Algorithms for cardiac and gastrointestinal involvement had ≥75% agreement. Conclusion: Total agreement for SSc algorithms was considerable. These algorithms may guide treatment

Sclerosing Cholangitis Related to IgG4: Not Always a Curable Entity

IgG4-related disease is a recently-described fibro-inflammatory condition with characteristic histopathological findings in the organs involved. The most commonly affected organs are pancreas, lymph nodes, and retroperitoneum. Liver disease usually involves bile structures and therefore IgG4-related disease is considered a cause of secondary sclerosing cholangitis. One out of three patients with IgG4 sclerosing cholangitis also presents autoimmune pancreatitis, although it can be associated with manifestations in other organs. One of the main features of IgG4-related disease is its good prognosis due to the great response to glucocorticoid therapy. However, relapse of the disease is not uncommon, especially when steroid therapy is decreased or stopped. Rituximab seems to be an effective treatment to achieve remission of the disease. We report the case of a 74 year-old man diagnosed with IgG4-related disease based on increase of serum IgG4 levels, imaging and histopathological findings, with systemic involvement including sclerosing cholangitis. Despite the absence of liver fibrosis at onset, the early use of glucocorticoids and rituximab therapy, the patient presented clinical and analytical deterioration, leading to secondary biliary cirrhosis. In conclusion, this clinical case highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and therapeutics for sclerosing cholangitis secondary to IgG4-related disease in order to avoid progression of the disease and development of liver cirrhosis, as well as the refractory, aggressive nature of the disease in some cases as this one

IgG4-Related Disease: Results From a Multicenter Spanish Registry.

Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Observational Study;IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare entity consisting of inflammation and fibrosis that has been described in multiple organs. Concrete diagnostic criteria have been established recently and there is a lack of large series of patients.To describe the clinical presentation, histopathological characteristics, treatment and evolution of a series of IgG4-RD Spanish patients.A retrospective multicenter study was performed. Twelve hospitals across Spain included patients meeting the current 2012 consensus criteria on IgG4-RD diagnosis.Fifty-five patients were included in the study, 38 of whom (69.1%) were male. Median age at diagnosis was 53 years. Thirty (54.5%) patients were included in the Histologically Highly Suggestive IgG4-RD group and 25 (45.5%) in the probable IgG4-RD group. Twenty-six (47.3%) patients had more than 1 organ affected at presentation. The most frequently affected organs were: retroperitoneum, orbital pseudotumor, pancreas, salivary and lachrymal glands, and maxillary sinuses.Corticosteroids were the mainstay of treatment (46 patients, 83.6%). Eighteen patients (32.7%) required additional immunosuppressive agents. Twenty-four (43.6%) patients achieved a complete response and 26 (43.7%) presented a partial response (<50% of regression) after 22 months of follow-up. No deaths were attributed directly to IgG4-RD and malignancy was infrequent.This is the largest IgG4-RD series reported in Europe. Patients were middle-aged males, with histologically probable IgG4-RD. The systemic form of the disease was frequent, involving mainly sites of the head and abdomen. Corticosteroids were an effective first line treatment, sometimes combined with immunosuppressive agents. Neither fatalities nor malignancies were attributed to IgG4-RD.Ye