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Patients with immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-related disease) can present to any clinical specialty. It is an uncommon, immune-mediated, fibroinflammatory process that can progress to organ failure and death if untreated. [...]

ObjectiveTo determine the rates of asymptomatic viral carriage and seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers.DesignA cross-sectional study of asymptomatic healthcare workers undertaken on 24/25 April 2020.SettingUniversity Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHBFT), UK.Participants545 asymptomatic healthcare workers were recruited while at work. Participants were invited to participate via the UHBFT social media. Exclusion criteria included current symptoms consistent with COVID-19. No potential participants were excluded.InterventionParticipants volunteered a nasopharyngeal swab and a venous blood sample that were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein antibodies, respectively. Results were interpreted in the context of prior illnesses and the hospital departments in which participants worked.Main outcome measureProportion of participants demonstrating infection and positive SARS-CoV-2 serology.ResultsThe point prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 viral carriage was 2.4% (n=13/545). The overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 24.4% (n=126/516). Participants who reported prior symptomatic illness had higher seroprevalence (37.5% vs 17.1%, χ2=21.1034, p<0.0001) and quantitatively greater antibody responses than those who had remained asymptomatic. Seroprevalence was greatest among those working in housekeeping (34.5%), acute medicine (33.3%) and general internal medicine (30.3%), with lower rates observed in participants working in intensive care (14.8%). BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) ethnicity was associated with a significantly increased risk of seropositivity (OR: 1.92, 95% CI 1.14 to 3.23, p=0.01). Working on the intensive care unit was associated with a significantly lower risk of seropositivity compared with working in other areas of the hospital (OR: 0.28, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.78, p=0.02).Conclusions and relevanceWe identify differences in the occupational risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 between hospital departments and confirm asymptomatic seroconversion occurs in healthcare workers. Further investigation of these observations is required to inform future infection control and occupational health practices.

BackgroundMild oropharyngeal symptoms to peanut/hazelnut occur in ~30% of patients with pollen-food syndrome (PFS). Component tests are considered a useful adjunct to the diagnosis and may help differentiate PFS from those at a risk of anaphylaxis due to storage protein/lipid transfer protein (LTP) sensitisation.AimsTo assess concordance between component tests and clinical history in suspected PFS to peanut/hazelnut in a specialist clinic.MethodsAdult patients were classified into PFS (group 1, n=69) and PFS with mild systemic symptoms (group 2, n=45) based on clinical history. Specific IgE (sIgE) of ≥0.35 kUA/L was considered positive as per manufacturers’ recommendation. Kappa (κ) inter-rater agreement was calculated for concordance between clinical classification and test profiles.ResultsGroup 1 hazelnut: 85% monosensitised to Cor a1, 12% to storage protein/s or LTP and 3% negative to all components. Group 1 peanut: 41% monosensitised to Ara h8, 44% to storage protein/s or ±LTP and 15% negative to all components. Group 2 hazelnut: 67% monosensitised to Cor a1, 16% sensitised to storage protein/s and 17% negative to all components. Group 2 peanut: 19% monosensitised to Ara h8, 62% sensitised to storage protein/s and/or LTP and 19% negative to all components.SIgE to Ara h8 and Cor a1 were greater in group 1 versus group 2: (median (IQR) kUA/L; hazelnut: 12.1 (7.8-25.2) vs 2.4 (0.36-6.3), p<0.001; peanut: 2.4 (0.10-21.1) vs 0.3 (0-3), p<0.01)).ConclusionConcordance between component tests and clinical history for adults with PFS was good for hazelnut (κ=0.63) but poor for peanut (κ=−0.12). Food challenges are warranted in discordant cases for an accurate diagnosis.

Constitutive heterozygous GATA2 mutation is associated with deafness, lymphedema, mononuclear cytopenias, infection, myelodysplasia (MDS), and acute myeloid leukemia. In this study, we describe a cross-sectional analysis of 24 patients and 6 relatives with 14 different frameshift or substitution mutations of GATA2. A pattern of dendritic cell, monocyte, B, and natural killer (NK) lymphoid deficiency (DCML deficiency) with elevated Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) was observed in all 20 patients phenotyped, including patients with Emberger syndrome, monocytopenia with Mycobacterium avium complex (MonoMAC), and MDS. Four unaffected relatives had a normal phenotype indicating that cellular deficiency may evolve over time or is incompletely penetrant, while 2 developed subclinical cytopenias or elevated Flt3L. Patients with GATA2 mutation maintained higher hemoglobin, neutrophils, and platelets and were younger than controls with acquired MDS and wild-type GATA2. Frameshift mutations were associated with earlier age of clinical presentation than substitution mutations. Elevated Flt3L, loss of bone marrow progenitors, and clonal myelopoiesis were early signs of disease evolution. Clinical progression was associated with increasingly elevated Flt3L, depletion of transitional B cells, CD56bright NK cells, naïve T cells, and accumulation of terminally differentiated NK and CD8+ memory T cells. These studies provide a framework for clinical and laboratory monitoring of patients with GATA2 mutation and may inform therapeutic decision-making.

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of population level implementation of a test-and-treat approach to correction of suboptimal vitamin D status (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) <75 nmol/L) on risk of all cause acute respiratory tract infection and covid 19.DesignPhase 3 open label randomised controlled trial.SettingUnited Kingdom.Participants6200 people aged ≥16 years who were not taking vitamin D supplements at baseline.InterventionsOffer of a postal finger prick test of blood 25(OH)D concentration with provision of a six month supply of lower dose vitamin D (800 IU/day, n=1550) or higher dose vitamin D (3200 IU/day, n=1550) to those with blood 25(OH)D concentration <75 nmol/L, compared with no offer of testing or supplementation (n=3100). Follow-up was for six months.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was the proportion of participants with at least one swab test or doctor confirmed acute respiratory tract infection of any cause. A secondary outcome was the proportion of participants with swab test confirmed covid-19. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and associated 95% confidence intervals. The primary analysis was conducted by intention to treat.ResultsOf 3100 participants offered a vitamin D test, 2958 (95.4%) accepted and 2674 (86.3%) had 25(OH)D concentrations <75 nmol/L and received vitamin D supplements (n=1328 lower dose, n=1346 higher dose). Compared with 136/2949 (4.6%) participants in the no offer group, at least one acute respiratory tract infection of any cause occurred in 87/1515 (5.7%) in the lower dose group (odds ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 0.96 to 1.66) and 76/1515 (5.0%) in the higher dose group (1.09, 0.82 to 1.46). Compared with 78/2949 (2.6%) participants in the no offer group, 55/1515 (3.6%) developed covid-19 in the lower dose group (1.39, 0.98 to 1.97) and 45/1515 (3.0%) in the higher dose group (1.13, 0.78 to 1.63).ConclusionsAmong people aged 16 years and older with a high baseline prevalence of suboptimal vitamin D status, implementation of a population level test-and-treat approach to vitamin D supplementation was not associated with a reduction in risk of all cause acute respiratory tract infection or covid-19.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04579640.

There is a high incidence of systemic reactions (SRs) to bee stings in beekeepers, but the factors predisposing individuals to such responses are not well understood.

Background: Heavy chain disease (HCD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by a monoclonal heavy chain (HC) unattached to a light chain (LC). IgGHCD or γHCD typically presents as a lymphoproliferative disorder with lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. Myeloma has been described associated with γHCD but only with a second intact Ig paraprotein. This report describes a unique presentation of multiple myeloma with monoclonal free γ3HC and kappa free light chains. Case: A 34 year old gentleman presented with mild persistent neutropenia following two episodes of pneumonia, 18 months previously. He admitted to persistent night sweats but no other significant history. Baseline investigations revealed a mild anaemia, neutropenia and a large IgG paraprotein with no associated light chain. Bone marrow aspirate and trephine confirmed myeloma. The patient was treated with cyclophosphamide, thalidomide and dexamethasone and has had a very good partial remission. He is awaiting a sibling allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant. Investigations and results: Serum Electrophoresis confirmed a large IgG paraprotein (23g/l) with no associated light chain in the serum and identified as γ3 subclass by radial immunodiffusion. Western blot showed the γ3HC was truncated with a large deletion. Markedly elevated free kappa (κ) LC (503.58 mg/l [3.30–19.4]) were found in the serum with gross skewing of the kappa/lambda ratio. Urine electrophoresis revealed separate γHC and κ LC paraproteins. Western blot of the fractionated urine protein demonstrated different sized κLC aggregates. Flow cytometry of the marrow aspirate revealed an unusual staining pattern; CD5,19,38,45+ve and CD20,22,23,34,56,138 –ve plasma cells. Cytoplasmic staining revealed 2 distinct populations of plasma cells, the first producing γ3HC and the second only free κLC. Cytogenetics and FISH analysis for 14q, p53 and c-myc abnormalities were normal. Discussion: This is the first description of a Biclonal Myeloma with separate plasma cell populations producing γ3HC and κLC paraproteins. The biclonality confirms the free HC occurs as a result of abnormal synthesis not cleavage. The clinical and immunological findings are clearly different to typical findings in both γ3HCD and Myeloma. HCD has an appalling prognosis and this case is likely to have been ‘smouldering’ for 18 months, evidenced by the 2 pneumonias and persistent night sweats. There is no lymphadenopathy or organomegaly associated with γ3HCD. The immunophenotype of the malignant plasma cells is unique. Other atypical features include frank proteinuria, with a HC in the urine, but normal renal function and no radiological or biochemical evidence of bone involvement. We propose that this unique biclonal myeloma has distinct immunological and clinical features.