TLR4基因1837A／G多态性与广西汉族人群原发抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体相关性小血管炎的相关性

目的：探讨TLR4基因启动子区－1837A／G基因多态性与广西汉族人群原发抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体相关性小血管炎（ AAV）易感性之间的关系。方法采用PCR限制性片段长度多态性分析法检测110例AAV患者及101例年龄、性别相匹配的健康成人的TLR4基因1837A／G,行病例－对照研究、临床和病理资料分析。结果（1）110例AAV患者TLR4－1837 A／G多态性AA、AG、GG基因型频率分别为53.64％、40.00％、6.36％, A和G等位基因频率分别为73.64％、26.36％;101例健康人AA、AG、GG基因型频率分别为50.50％、39.60％、9.90％,A和G等位基因频率分别为70.30％、29.70％;两者基因型及等位基因频率比较差异无统计学意义（ P＞0.05）。（2）AA型及GG基因型血尿发生率、C反应蛋白、血沉水平均高于AG基因型,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。（3）3种基因型血红蛋白水平差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）, AG型的血红蛋白水平明显高于AA型及GG型。结论广西汉族人群中, TLR4－1837A／G基因型多态性可能与AAV 患者血尿发生率、血红蛋白、C反应蛋白、血沉水平相关,但可能与AAV患者的遗传易感性不相关联。     

Multiple ulcers of the ileum due toCytomegalovirus infection in a patient who showed no evidence of an immunocompromised state

68-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain and vomiting. After initial conservative therapy, laparotomy showed multiple ulcers of the ileum, one of which had perforated and adhered to the uterus. The affected segment of the ileum was resected. Numerous cytomegalic cells, corresponding to endothelia and macrophages, with intranuclear inclusion bodies, were found in microscopic sections of the ulcerated lesions. These findings were consistent with cytomegalic vasculitis and enteritis.Cytomegalovirus infections of the alimentary tract have been, reported mainly in severely immunocompromised patients or those with predisposing disorders such as ulcerative colitis; their prognosis is usually poor. In our patient, there was no obvious immunocompromised state or other gastrointestinal disorders. The postoperative course has been uneventful for 2 years after surgery. The prognosis ofCytomegalovirus-associated lesions in the alimentary tract may be quite good in the immunocompetent patient.     

Necrotizing small-vessel vasculitis confined to the uterine cervix

OBJECTIVES: To report our experience with five cases of apparently isolated small-vessel vasculitis of the uterine cervix. METHODS: Case study of five patients with necrotizing vasculitis discovered incidentally in surgical specimens of the female genital tract, and a review of the pertinent literature on this subject. RESULTS: All patients lacked clinical and serological features of the well-delineated vasculitic syndromes. Comprehensive workup failed to yield any evidence of an underlying disorder. All patients were managed expectantly and did not develop systemic vasculitis during follow-up ranging from 6 months to 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated vasculitis of the female genital tract can be encountered as an innocuous finding in otherwise healthy individuals. The cause and pathogenesis of this disorder remain obscure. Rheumatologists should be familiar with this rare and vexing form of vasculitis and with its benign prognosis.     

Predictors of Treatment Outcomes in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis with Severe Kidney Failure

Background and objectives

In ANCA-associated GN, severe renal dysfunction portends a poor prognosis for renal recovery and patient survival. This study evaluated the prognostic factors affecting renal and patient outcomes in patients presenting with severe kidney failure to guide immunosuppressive therapy.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

This study retrospectively evaluated clinical and histopathologic characteristics of 155 patients who underwent biopsy between October 1985 and February 2011 (median eGFR at presentation, 7.1 ml/min per 1.73 m²; 87% required hemodialysis), all treated with immunosuppressive medications. Three outcomes of interest were measured: patient survival, renal survival, and treatment response (defined as dialysis-free survival without active vasculitis by 4 months after biopsy). Competing risk, Cox, and logistic regression analyses were conducted for each outcome measure.

Results

Within 4 months after biopsy, treatment response was attained in 51% of patients, 35% remained on dialysis, and 14% died. In a competing risk analysis, estimated cumulative incidence rates of ESRD and disease-related mortality were 26% and 17% at 1 year and 32% and 28% at 5 years, respectively. Cyclophosphamide therapy and treatment response by 4 months were independently associated with patient and renal survival, adjusting for the percentage of normal glomeruli, histopathologic chronicity index score, and baseline clinical characteristics. Only 5% of patients still dialysis dependent at 4 months subsequently recovered renal function. Low chronicity index score (odds ratio [OR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.04 to 1.30, per unit decrease) and baseline eGFR>10 ml/min per 1.73 m² (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.09 to 7.01) were significantly associated with treatment response by 4 months. Among cyclophosphamide-treated patients, the likelihood of treatment response was >14% even with highest chronicity index score and eGFR<10 ml/min per 1.73 m².

Conclusions

Although low baseline renal function and severe renal scarring are associated with lower treatment response rate, no “futility” threshold could be identified. Conversely, continued immunosuppressive therapy beyond 4 months is unlikely to benefit patients who remain dialysis dependent.     

Neutrophils from vasculitis patients exhibit an increased propensity for activation by anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies

Anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are thought to be pathogenic in ANCA‐associated vasculitis (AAV) by stimulating polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) to degranulate and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this study was to investigate if PMNs from AAV patients are stimulated more readily by ANCA compared with PMNs from healthy controls (HCs). Differences in ANCA characteristics that can account for different stimulation potential were also studied. PMNs from five AAV patients and five HCs were stimulated with 10 different immunoglobulins (Ig)Gs, purified from PR3–ANCA‐positive patients, and ROS production, degranulation and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation was measured. ANCA levels, affinity and clinical data of the AAV donors were recorded. The results show that PMNs from AAV patients produce more intracellular ROS (P = 0·019), but degranulate to a similar extent as PMNs from HCs. ROS production correlated with NET formation. Factors that may influence the ability of ANCA to activate PMNs include affinity and specificity for N‐terminal epitopes. In conclusion, our results indicate that PMNs from AAV patients in remission behave quite similarly to HC PMNs, with the exception of a greater intracellular ROS production. This could contribute to more extensive NET formation and thus an increased exposure of the ANCA autoantigens to the immune system.     

系统性血管炎与肾脏

系统性血管炎是一大类以血管壁炎症为特征的多系统损害的自身免疫性疾病。肾脏复杂的血管结构不仅是保 证肾脏发挥生理功能的基础,也是导致肾脏成为系统性血管炎最常受累器官。根据受累血管大小不同,肾脏受累临 床表现多样。文章根据大、中、小系统性血管炎肾脏受累的临床特征、发病机制、合并症及治疗现状做一概述。在临 床工作中重视肾脏相关表现,有助于系统性血管炎的及时诊断与规范治疗。     

颞动脉炎

颞动脉炎是好发于老年人的系统性血管炎,是老年人头痛、失明的重要原因之一,如未及时治疗可导致失明等严重并发症.典型临床表现包括颞部头痛、间歇性下颌运动障碍和视力障碍(视物模糊、复视、短暂失明等).但部分患者症状不典型,漏诊和延误诊断发生率高.颞动脉活检是确诊本病的金标准.颞动脉炎首选激素治疗,同时应予以低剂量阿司匹林降低缺血性事件的发生.早期诊疗可显著减少失明和脑卒中等严重并发症的发生.     

A comprehensive review of myelodysplastic syndrome patients with autoimmune diseases

Primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are heterogeneous clonal hemopoietic disorders clinically presented with a varying degree of peripheral cytopenias and an increased probability of leukemic evolution. A distinct subset of MDS patients manifests overt autoimmune-inflammatory manifestations, the underlying pathogenesis and prognostic significance of which still remain controversial. In this review we attempt to analyze clinical aspects of MDS-related rheumatoid disease, and discuss pathophysiologic associations between autoimmunity and distorted BM function in preleukemic states in light of recent findings, in vivo and in vitro. We further explore the potential of recent biological and molecular advances to forward therapeutic targeting against both autoimmune and malignant process.     

老年抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体相关性小血管炎肺部损害29例临床分析

目的 探讨老年抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体(ANCA)相关性小血管炎肺脏损害的临床特征.方法 分析2002年9月至2011年9月住院的29例60岁以上的ANCA相关性小血管炎肺损害患者的临床资料.结果 29例ANCA相关性小血管炎肺脏损害患者.常见症状有咳嗽、咯痰(19/29,65.5%);呼吸困难(14/29,48.2%);咯血(7/29,24.1%)和发热(16/29,55.1%).所有患者ANCA均阳性,其中髓过氧化物酶(MPO)-ANCA阳性率89.7%(26/29),蛋白酶3(PR3)-ANCA阳性率10.3%(3/29).胸部影像学表现为肺间质纤维化16例,磨玻璃影者6例,浸润影5例,结节性病变1例,胸腔积液1例.24例(82.8%)合并肾脏受累表现.经激素和免疫抑制剂治疗后短期预后较好,9例(31%)于初诊及随访期间因肺部感染呼吸衰竭等死亡.结论 老年原发性ANCA相关性小血管炎患者常有肺脏损害,其临床表现无特异性,肺间质纤维化、磨玻璃影为常见影像学表现,且多合并肾脏受累.