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Introduction: Vascular events account for a considerable burden of morbidity and mortality in Behçet syndrome (BS). Thrombosis occurs in 1.8–21 % pediatric BS patients, even if the real prevalence is still largely unknown. Objectives: To report clinical features and outcomes of pediatric BS patients with thrombosis and to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of BS patients with and without thrombosis. Methods: Retrospective data collection of BS patients with thrombosis (T+) included in the EUROFEVER registry. BS patients without thrombosis (T-), belonging to the same rheumatology units, were matched in a 2:1 ratio. Results: 37 T+ were compared to 74 T- patients. At onset, ICBD criteria fulfillment was higher in the T- group (p = 0.015). Caucasian patients were more often T-, Turkish patients were more frequent in T+ group (p = 0.002). At onset, pustulosis was most frequently observed in the T- (p < 0.001) as well as gastrointestinal symptoms (p < 0.001) and ocular involvement (p = 0.022). Neurological symptoms were more often described in T+ (p = 0.034). As for T+, thrombosis was reported at BS presentation in 8/37 (21.6 %). For the T + e patients who developed thrombosis later, oral aphthosis (p = 0.003), genital aphthosis (p = 0.014) were more frequently observed at BS onset, while pustulosis (p = 0.005) and fever (p = 0.043) coexisted with thrombosis. Thrombosis was mainly venous (26/37,70.3 %), involving the cerebral sinuses (21/37, 56.8 %). After thrombosis, 35/37 (94.6 %) T+ patients received an immunomodulatory treatment compared with 16/29 (55.2 %) pre-thrombosis. A recurrence was reported in 6/31(19.4 %). Conclusion: Thrombosis was reported at BS presentation in one fifth of cases. Pustolosis and fever were more frequently concomitant to thrombosis. Sinus veins were the most frequent site.

Objective: Inflammation has been associated with an increased risk for cancer development, while innate immune system activation could counteract the risk for malignancies. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a severe systemic inflammatory condition and also represents the archetype of innate immunity deregulation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the risk for cancer development in FMF. Methods: The risk ratio (RR) for malignancies was separately compared between FMF patients and fibromyalgia subjects, Still’s disease patients and Behçet’s disease patients. Clinical variables associated with cancer development in FMF patients were searched through binary logistic regression. Results: 580 FMF patients and 102 fibromyalgia subjects, 1012 Behçet’s disease patients and 497 Still’s disease patients were enrolled. The RR for the occurrence of malignant neoplasms was 0.26 (95% Confidence Interval [CI.] 0.10-0.73, p=0.006) in patients with FMF compared to fibromyalgia subjects; the RR for the occurrence of malignant cancer was 0.51 (95% CI. 0.23-1.16, p=0.10) in FMF compared to Still’s disease and 0.60 (95% CI. 0.29-1.28, p=0.18) in FMF compared to Behçet’s disease. At logistic regression, the risk of occurrence of malignant neoplasms in FMF patients was associated with the age at disease onset (b1 = 0.039, 95% CI. 0.001-0.071, p=0.02), the age at the diagnosis (b1 = 0.048, 95% CI. 0.039-0.085, p=0.006), the age at the enrolment (b1 = 0.05, 95% CI. 0.007-0.068, p=0.01), the number of attacks per year (b1 = 0.011, 95% CI. 0.001- 0.019, p=0.008), the use of biotechnological agents (b1 = 1.77, 95% CI. 0.43-3.19, p=0.009), the use of anti-IL-1 agents (b1 = 2.089, 95% CI. 0.7- 3.5, p=0.002). Conclusions: The risk for cancer is reduced in Caucasic FMF patients; however, when malignant neoplasms occur, this is more frequent in FMF cases suffering from a severe disease phenotype and presenting a colchicine-resistant disease.

Introduction: This paper describes the creation and preliminary results of a patient-driven registry for the collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and patient-reported experiences (PREs) in Behçet’s disease (BD). Methods: The project was coordinated by the University of Siena and the Italian patient advocacy organization SIMBA (Associazione Italiana Sindrome e Malattia di Behçet), in the context of the AIDA (AutoInflammatory Diseases Alliance) Network programme. Quality of life, fatigue, socioeconomic impact of the disease and therapeutic adherence were selected as core domains to include in the registry. Results: Respondents were reached via SIMBA communication channels in 167 cases (83.5%) and the AIDA Network affiliated clinical centers in 33 cases (16.5%). The median value of the Behçet’s Disease Quality of Life (BDQoL) score was 14 (IQR 11, range 0–30), indicating a medium quality of life, and the median Global Fatigue Index (GFI) was 38.7 (IQR 10.9, range 1–50), expressing a significant level of fatigue. The mean Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) necessity-concern differential was 0.9 ± 1.1 (range – 1.8–4), showing that the registry participants prioritized necessity belief over concerns to a limited extent. As for the socioeconomic impact of BD, in 104 out of 187 cases (55.6%), patients had to pay from their own pocket for medical exams required to reach the diagnosis. The low family socioeconomic status (p < 0.001), the presence of any major organ involvement (p < 0.031), the presence of gastro-intestinal (p < 0.001), neurological (p = 0.012) and musculoskeletal (p = 0.022) symptoms, recurrent fever (p = 0.002), and headache (p < 0.001) were associated to a higher number of accesses to the healthcare system. Multiple linear regression showed that the BDQoL score could significantly predict the global socioeconomic impact of BD (F = 14.519, OR 1.162 [CI 0.557–1.766], p < 0.001). Discussion: Preliminary results from the AID

The authors regret < for the oversight to mention that this work has been done on behalf of the Eurofever Registry and the Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation (PRINTO) >. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. ____________________________ DOI of original article: < 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.151957>

Objective: IgA vasculitis (IgAV) (formerly Henoch-Schonlein ̈ Purpura, HSP) rarely causes severe skin lesions in children. The purpose of the research was to determine whether severe skin manifestations were associated with a more severe disease course. Methods: Severe cutaneous manifestations were defined as presence of hemorrhagic vesicles, bullae, ulcerations and/or necroses. Data were collected retrospectively from 12 international tertiary university medical centers. Results: A total of 64 patients with the most severe skin changes in IgAV/HSP and median (Q1, Q3) age of 8.08 (5.08, 11.92) years at the disease onset were compared with 596 IgAV/HSP patients without these manfiestations and median (Q1, Q3) age of 6.33 (4.50, 8.92) years. The patients with severe cutaneous manifestations were older in comparison to other patients with IgAV/HSP (p<0.001), they developed nephritis more frequently (40.6% vs. 20.6%, p = 0.001) with worse outcome of renal disease (p = 0.001). This group of patients also had higher frequencies of severe gastrointestinal complications like hematochezia, massive bleeding and/or intussusception (29.3% vs. 14.8%, p<0.001). D-dimer concentrations were significantly higher in these patients (4.60 mg/L vs. 2.72 mg/L, p = 0.003) and they had more frequent need for treatment with systemic glucocorticoids (84.4% vs. 37.2%, p<0.001) in comparison with the control group. Further multivariate analysis showed that severe cutaneous changes were associated with higher risk of developing nephritis [OR=3.1 (95%CI 1.04–9.21), p = 0.042] and severe gastrointestinal complications [OR=3.65 (95%CI 1.08–12.37), p = 0.038]. Conclusion: Patients with IgAV/HSP and severe skin manifestations had a more severe clinical course and more frequently required glucocorticoids compared to classic IgAV/HSP patients.

Aim: To describe the Turkish generalized lipodystrophy (GL) cohort with the frequency of each complication and the death rate during the period of the follow-up. Methods: This study reports on 72 patients with GL (47 families) registered at different centres in Turkey that cover all regions of the country. The mean +/- SD follow-up was 86 +/- 78 months. Results: The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the median time to diagnosis of diabetes and/or prediabetes was 16 years. Hyperglycaemia was not controlled in 37 of 45 patients (82.2%) with diabetes. Hypertriglyceridaemia developed in 65 patients (90.3%). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the median time to diagnosis of hypertriglyceridaemia was 14 years. Hypertriglyceridaemia was severe (>= 500 mg/dl) in 38 patients (52.8%). Seven (9.7%) patients suffered from pancreatitis. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the median time to diagnosis of hepatic steatosis was 15 years. Liver disease progressed to cirrhosis in nine patients (12.5%). Liver disease was more severe in congenital lipodystrophy type 2 (CGL2). Proteinuric chronic kidney disease (CKD) developed in 32 patients (44.4%) and cardiac disease in 23 patients (31.9%). Kaplan-Meier estimates of the median time to diagnosis of CKD and cardiac disease were 25 and 45 years, respectively. Females appeared to have a more severe metabolic disease, with an earlier onset of metabolic abnormalities. Ten patients died during the follow-up period. Causes of death were end-stage renal disease, sepsis (because of recurrent intestinal perforations, coronavirus disease, diabetic foot infection and following coronary artery bypass graft surgery), myocardial infarction, heart failure because of dilated cardiomyopathy, stroke, liver complications and angiosarcoma. Conclusions: Standard treatment approaches have only a limited impact and do not prevent the development of severe metabolic abnormalities and early onset of organ complications in GL., NA

Item does not contain fulltext, BACKGROUND: The interleukin-1 (IL-1) mediated systemic autoinflammatory diseases, including the cryopyrin- associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS), mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD) and deficiency of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA), belong to a group of rare immunodysregulatory diseases that primarily present in early childhood with variable multiorgan involvement. When untreated, patients with severe clinical phenotypes have a poor prognosis, and diagnosis and management of these patients can be challenging. However, approved treatments targeting the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1 have been life changing and have significantly improved patient outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To establish evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients with IL-1 mediated autoinflammatory diseases to standardise their management. METHODS: A multinational, multidisciplinary task force consisting of physician experts, including rheumatologists, patients or caregivers and allied healthcare professionals, was established. Evidence synthesis, including systematic literature review and expert consensus (Delphi) via surveys, was conducted. Consensus methodology was used to formulate and vote on statements to guide optimal patient care. RESULTS: The task force devised five overarching principles, 14 statements related to diagnosis, 10 on therapy, and nine focused on long-term monitoring that were evidence and/or consensus-based for patients with IL-1 mediated diseases. An outline was developed for disease-specific monitoring of inflammation-induced organ damage progression and reported treatments of CAPS, TRAPS, MKD and DIRA. CONCLUSION: The 2021 EULAR/American College of Rheumatology points to consider represent state-of-the-art knowledge based on published data and expert opinion to guide diagnostic evaluation, treatment and monitoring of patients with CAPS, TRAPS, MKD and DIRA, and to standardis

Introduction. A classification of genetic variants’ pathogenicity associated to hereditary recurrent fevers and the novel Eurofever/PRINTO classification criteria (EPCC) have been recently developed. Objectives: to evaluate the clinical impact of EPCC criteria and new INSAID pathogenicity classification of MEFV variants in the large international Eurofever FMF cohort. Methods: baseline demographic, genetic and clinical data of FMF patients included in the Eurofever registry were analysed. Genetic and clinical EPCC criteria for FMF were applied. MEFV variants were classified according to the new INSAID classification. Results: Since November 2009, clinical information was available for 1012 FMF (532 males/480 females, 827 children/185 adults) from 119 centres. For 125 patients clinical and genetic data mandatory for the application of EPCC were missing. Among the 887 remaining patients 623 (70.2%) satisfied EPCC (EPPC+), while 264 (29.8%) did not (EPPC-). Most of the EPCC- patients (172, 65.1%) displayed negative or non-informative genetics (monoallelic or biallelic benign variants, monoallelic variant of unknown significance. At baseline, Colchicine was used in most of EPCC+ patients (88%) and in a minor percentage of EPCC- patients (69 %, p < 0.0001), who were treated in a higher proportion with steroid or NSAID on demand (p = 0.003 and 0.008, respectively). Anti-IL-1 treatment was used in 4% of patients. Conclusions: The combination of EPCC and the new classification of genetic variants’ pathogenicity captured the majority of FMF patients in the Eurofever cohort in a homogeneous group. EPPC- patients were characterized by a different phenotype and therapeutic approach.