Comparative study of granulomatosis with polyangiitis subsets according to ANCA status: data from the French Vasculitis Study Group Registry.

Objective: To investigate whether antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-negative and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA-positive granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) differ from proteinase-3 (PR3)-ANCA-positive GPA.

Methods: Diagnostic characteristics and outcomes of newly diagnosed French Vasculitis Study Group Registry patients with ANCA-negative, MPO-ANCA-positive or PR3-ANCA-positive GPA satisfying American College of Rheumatology criteria and/or Chapel Hill Conference Consensus Nomenclature were compared.

Results: Among 727 GPA, 62 (8.

Localized versus systemic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: data from the French Vasculitis Study Group Registry.

Objective: To describe the main features at diagnosis and evolution over time of patients with localized granulomatosis with polyangiitis (L-GPA) compared with those of systemic GPA (S-GPA).

Methods: EULAR definitions of L-GPA, i.e.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis: Study of 795 patients from the French Vasculitis Study Group registry.

Objective: To describe the characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) from the French Vasculitis Study Group database.

Methods: Patients' clinical and laboratory characteristics, Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS)-assessed disease activity, malignancies, opportunistic infections, and vital status were collected at diagnosis and each visit. Estimated probabilities and predictors of overall (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were analyzed by Cox regression.

Microscopic polyangiitis: Clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of 378 patients from the French Vasculitis Study Group Registry.

Objective: To describe characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), an antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated small-vessel necrotizing vasculitis.

Methods: MPA patients from the French Vasculitis Study Group Registry satisfying the European Medicines Agency algorithm were analyzed retrospectively. Characteristics at diagnosis, treatments, relapses and deaths were analyzed to identify factors predictive of death or relapse.

Long-term efficacy of remission-maintenance regimens for ANCA-associated vasculitides.

Objective: To compare long-term efficacy of remission-maintenance regimens in patients with newly diagnosed or relapsing antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitides.

Methods: The 28-month Maintenance of Remission using Rituximab in Systemic ANCA-associated Vasculitis trial compared rituximab with azathioprine to maintain remission in patients with newly diagnosed or relapsing granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis or renal-limited ANCA-associated vasculitis. Thereafter, prospective patient follow-up lasted until month 60.

Pulmonary hypertension in chronic lung diseases: comparison to other pulmonary hypertension groups.

Group 3 pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of advanced chronic lung disease. Our hypothesis was that group 3 PH is associated with a more severe baseline presentation and a more severe prognosis compared to group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), chronic thromboembolic PH (group 4), and group 5 PH. We retrospectively analyzed consecutive incident PH patients in a single center between January 2006 and November 2014.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia: Correlations between computed tomography findings and cerebral complications.

Objectives: Computed tomography (CT) is the modality of choice to characterise pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Our objective was to determine if CT findings were associated with frequency of brain abscess and ischaemic stroke.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with HHT-related PAVMs.

Pulmonary hypertension subtypes associated with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia: Haemodynamic profiles and survival probability.

Background: Different pulmonary hypertension (PH) mechanisms are associated with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

Methods And Results: We conducted a retrospective study of all suspected cases of PH (echocardiographically estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure [sPAP] ≥ 40 mmHg) in patients with definite HHT recorded in the French National Reference Centre for HHT database. When right heart catheterization (RHC) was performed, PH cases were confirmed and classified among the PH groups according to the European guidelines.

Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features: Clinical, radiologic, and histological characteristics and outcome in a series of 57 patients.

Background: Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) has recently been defined by an international Taskforce to characterize interstitial lung disease associated with systemic manifestations limited to subtle serological and clinical autoimmune abnormalities and not fulfilling the international criteria for the diagnosis of a given connective tissue disease.

Objective: to report on a series of patients with IPAF, and to compare their outcome to that of a cohort of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients in a single institution over a 3-year period.

Efficacy and safety of infliximab therapy in refractory upper respiratory tract sarcoidosis: experience from the STAT registry.

Upper respiratory tract (URT) involvement in sarcoidosis may be refractory to corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Whether TNF-antagonists are efficient and safe in such phenotype is unknown. STAT is a French national drug registry including patients presenting sarcoidosis treated with TNF alpha antagonists.

Respiratory manifestations of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss).

The respiratory manifestations of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) have not been studied in detail.In this retrospective multicentre study, EGPA was defined by asthma, eosinophilia and at least one new onset extra-bronchopulmonary organ manifestation of disease.The study population included 157 patients (mean±sd age 49.

Revisiting the systemic vasculitis in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss): A study of 157 patients by the Groupe d'Etudes et de Recherche sur les Maladies Orphelines Pulmonaires and the European Respiratory Society Taskforce on eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss).

Objective: To guide nosology and classification of patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) based on phenotype and presence or absence of ANCA.

Methods: Organ manifestations and ANCA status were retrospectively analyzed based on the presence or not of predefined definite vasculitis features or surrogates of vasculitis in patients asthma, eosinophilia, and at least one systemic organ manifestation attributable to systemic disease.

Results: The study population included 157 patients (mean age 49.

Risk of Direct Oral Anticoagulant Bioaccumulation in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Patients treated for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) frequently receive vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for PAH or validated indications (such as atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism). In these latter indications, VKAs are challenged by direct oral anticoagulants (DOAs). Decreased dosage of DOAs has been proposed in patients at risk of bioaccumulation.

Rituximab versus azathioprine for ANCA-associated vasculitis maintenance therapy: impact on global disability and health-related quality of life.

Objectives: To investigate the effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and functional capability of rituximab vs azathioprine for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) maintenance therapy.

Methods: In a 24-month phase III randomised-controlled trial, 115 patients over time received rituximab or azathioprine for AAV maintenance therapy. Mean changes of 36-item Short-form Health Survey (SF-36) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) scores from baseline were analysed.

Anti-IgE Monoclonal Antibody (Omalizumab) in Refractory and Relapsing Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss): Data on Seventeen Patients.

Objective: To describe the efficacy and safety of omalizumab, an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, in patients with refractory and/or relapsing eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss) (EGPA).

Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective study including EGPA patients who received omalizumab. Response was defined as the absence of asthma and/or sinonasal exacerbations with a prednisone dosage of ≤7.

Long-Term Outcomes Among Participants in the WEGENT Trial of Remission-Maintenance Therapy for Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Wegener's) or Microscopic Polyangiitis.

Objective: Findings from the WEGENT trial and other short-term studies have suggested that azathioprine (AZA) or methotrexate (MTX) could effectively maintain remission of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). This study was undertaken to examine whether differences in rates of relapse or adverse events would appear after discontinuation of these 2 maintenance regimens, when assessed over a longer followup period.

Methods: Long-term outcomes in patients enrolled in the WEGENT trial were analyzed according to their randomized treatment group (AZA or MTX).

Severe pulmonary hypertension associated with COPD: hemodynamic improvement with specific therapy.

Background: There is no recommendation for treating pulmonary hypertension (PH) when associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objective: To evaluate the effect of PH-specific therapy in patients with COPD.

Methods: All successive patients with severe PH [mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) ≥35 mm Hg] and COPD, who received specific PH medication and who underwent right heart catheterization at baseline and after 3-12 months of treatment, were analyzed from a prospective database.

Interstitial lung disease in an adult patient with dermatomyositis and anti-NXP2 autoantibody.

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Prognostic value of right ventricular ejection fraction in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Right ventricle ejection fraction (RVEF) evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging is a strong determinant of patient outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension. We evaluated the prognostic value of RVEF assessed with conventional planar equilibrium radionuclide angiography at baseline and change 3-6 months after initiating pulmonary arterial hypertension-specific therapy. In a prospective cohort of newly diagnosed patients with idiopathic, heritable or anorexigen-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension, RVEF was measured at baseline (n=100) and 3-6 months after initiation of therapy (n=78).

Effectiveness of cladribine therapy in patients with pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Background: Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is a rare disorder characterised by granulomatous proliferation of CD1a-positive histiocytes forming granulomas within lung parenchyma, in strong association with tobacco smoking, and which may result in chronic respiratory failure. Smoking cessation is considered to be critical in management, but has variable effects on outcome. No drug therapy has been validated.

The lymphoid variant of hypereosinophilic syndrome: study of 21 patients with CD3-CD4+ aberrant T-cell phenotype.

The CD3-CD4+ aberrant T-cell phenotype is the most described in the lymphoid variant of hypereosinophilic syndrome (L-HES), a rare form of HES. Only a few cases have been reported, and data for these patients are scarce. To describe characteristics and outcome of CD3-CD4+ L-HES patients, we conducted a national multicentric retrospective study in the French Eosinophil Network.

Rituximab versus azathioprine for maintenance in ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Background: The combination of cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids leads to remission in most patients with antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides. However, even when patients receive maintenance treatment with azathioprine or methotrexate, the relapse rate remains high. Rituximab may help to maintain remission.