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Rheumatology International Jul 2017The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in treating Takayasu arteritis (TA) patients. Embase, Cochrane Library, Pubmed,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in treating Takayasu arteritis (TA) patients. Embase, Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Clinicaltrials. Gov and three Chinese literature databases (VIP, CNKI, WanFang) were searched; randomized-controlled trials and observational studies that compared the efficacy before and after treatment with MMF were included. The efficacy outcomes were disease activity, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) values and steroid dosage. The results were expressed as mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. Compared with the baseline, there were significant reductions in the ESR (-14.92 [25.35, -4.48]), CRP values (-12.99 [-23.29, -2.68]) and the steroid dosage (-17.64 [-24.89, -10.4]) after the addition of MMF, and the disease tended to stabilize. Therefore, MMF might be an alternative immunosuppressive drug for TA for the control of disease activity and to taper the steroid dosage.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Biomarkers; Blood Sedimentation; C-Reactive Protein; Chi-Square Distribution; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Male; Mycophenolic Acid; Steroids; Takayasu Arteritis; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
PubMed: 28364217
DOI: 10.1007/s00296-017-3704-7 -
PloS One 2016Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is a rare non-atherosclerotic, non-inflammatory vascular disorder varying widely in clinical course. The purpose of this study is to...
BACKGROUND
Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is a rare non-atherosclerotic, non-inflammatory vascular disorder varying widely in clinical course. The purpose of this study is to analyze detailing clinical and imaging manifestations over time in patients with SAM through a literature review and to suggest an optimal management strategy.
METHODS
A retrospective review of eight consecutive patients diagnosed with SAM between January, 2000 and January, 2012 was conducted. All presented with acute-onset abdominal or flank pain. Clinical features, imaging studies, and laboratory findings served as grounds for diagnosis, having excluded more common conditions (ie, fibromuscular dysplasia, collagen vascular disorders, or arteritis). CT angiography was done initially and repeated periodically (Week 1, Month 3, then yearly). Treatment was conservative, utilizing endovascular intervention as warranted by CT diagnostics. In a related systematic review, all English literature from 1976 to 2015 was screened via the PubMed database, assessing patient demographics, affected arteries, clinical presentations, and treatment methods.
FINDINGS
Ultimately, 25 arterial lesions identified in eight patients (median age, 62.8 years; range, 40-84 years) were monitored for a median period of 26 months (range, 15-57 months). At baseline, celiac axis (3/8, 37.5%), superior mesenteric (4/8, 50%), and common hepatic (2/8, 25%) arteries were involved, in addition to isolated lesions of right renal, splenic, right colic, middle colic, gastroduodenal, left gastric, right gastroepiploic, proper hepatic, right hepatic, and left hepatic arteries. Compared with prior publications, celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery were more commonly affected in cohort. Arterial dissections (n = 8), aneurysms (n = 5), stenoses or occlusions (n = 4), and a single pseudoaneurysm were documented. Despite careful conservative management, new splanchnic arterial lesions (n = 4) arose during follow-up. Considering the few available reports of new arterial lesions in the literature, newly developing pathology is a distinctive feature of our patients, four of whom eventually required endovascular interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
Careful clinical observation via periodic CT angiography is required in patients with SAM, checking for newly developing lesions. The natural history of SAM should be clarified in a larger patient population.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arteries; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vascular Diseases; Viscera
PubMed: 27513466
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161182 -
PloS One 2016Three checkpoint inhibitor drugs have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in specific types of cancers. While the results are promising, severe... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Three checkpoint inhibitor drugs have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in specific types of cancers. While the results are promising, severe immunotherapy-related adverse events (irAEs) have been reported.
OBJECTIVES
To conduct a systematic review of case reports describing the occurrence of irAEs in patients with cancer following checkpoint blockade therapy, primarily to identify potentially unrecognized or unusual clinical findings and toxicity.
DATA SOURCES
We searched Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed ePubs, and Cochrane CENTRAL with no restriction through August 2015.
STUDY SELECTION
Studies reporting cases of cancer develop irAEs following treatment with anti CTLA-4 (ipilimumab) or anti PD-1 (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) antibodies were included.
DATA EXTRACTION
We extracted data on patient characteristics, irAEs characteristics, how irAEs were managed, and their outcomes.
DATA SYNTHESIS
191 publications met inclusion criteria, reporting on 251 cases. Most patients had metastatic melanoma (95.6%), and the majority were treated with ipilimumab (93.2%). Autoimmune colitis, hepatitis, endocrinopathies, and cutaneous irAEs were the most frequently reported irAEs in ipilimumab treated patients. A broad spectrum of toxicities were reported for almost every body system. Moreover, well-defined diseases such as sarcoidosis, polyarthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica/arteritis, lupus, celiac disease, dermatomyositis, and Vogt-Koyanagi-like syndrome were reported. The most frequent irAEs reported with anti-PD1 agents were dermatitis for pembrolizumab, and thyroid disease and pneumonitis for nivolumab. Complete resolution of adverse events occurred in most cases. However, persistent irAEs and death were reported, mainly in patients treated with ipilimumab.
LIMITATIONS
Our study is limited by information available in the original reports.
CONCLUSIONS
Evidence from case reports shows that cancer patients develop irAEs following checkpoint blockade therapy, and can occasionally develop clearly defined autoimmune systemic diseases. While discontinuation of therapy and/or treatment can result in resolution of irAEs, long-term sequelae and death have been reported.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms
PubMed: 27472273
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160221 -
Annals of Translational Medicine Sep 2015To characterize the possible association between body mass index (BMI) and risk of giant cell arteritis (GCA).
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the possible association between body mass index (BMI) and risk of giant cell arteritis (GCA).
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of observational studies (case-control or cohort study) that (I) reported BMI of patients with GCA prior to the diagnosis of GCA compared with subjects without GCA and (II) provided relative risk (RR), odds ratio (OR) or hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) from its regression analysis. Meta-analysis of the included studies was then performed to estimate the pooled effect using generic variance method of DerSimonian and Laird.
RESULTS
Three studies encompassing 141 patients with GCA and 85,736 controls met our eligibility criteria and were included in the data analyses. We demonstrated a statistically significant inverse relationship between BMI and risk of subsequent development of GCA as the risk increased by 8% when BMI was reduced by 1.0 kg/m(2) (pooled OR of 0.92/kg/m(2); 95% CI, 0.88-0.96).
CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrated a statistically significant inverse relationship between BMI and risk of subsequent development GCA. The pathophysiologic link behind this negative correlation is not well-characterized and further investigation is required.
PubMed: 26539449
DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2015.09.31 -
Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism Feb 2016Published small case series suggest that inflammatory bowel disease [IBD; Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC)] and vasculitis co-occur more frequently than... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Published small case series suggest that inflammatory bowel disease [IBD; Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC)] and vasculitis co-occur more frequently than would be expected by chance.
OBJECTIVES
To describe this association by an analysis of a large cohort of carefully studied patients and through a systematic literature review.
METHODS
Patients with both IBD and vasculitis enrolled in the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium (VCRC) Longitudinal Studies, followed in Canadian Vasculitis research network (CanVasc) centers and/or in the University of Toronto's IBD clinic were included in this case series. A systematic literature review of patients with IBD and vasculitis involved a PubMed search through February 2014. The main characteristics of patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and IBD were compared to those in patients with TAK without IBD followed in the VCRC.
RESULTS
The study identified 32 patients with IBD and vasculitis: 13 with large-vessel vasculitis [LVV; 12 with TAK, 1 with giant cell arteritis (GCA); 8 with CD, 5 with UC]; 8 with ANCA-associated vasculitis [AAV; 6 granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), 2 with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA)]; 5 with isolated cutaneous vasculitis; and 6 with other vasculitides. Patients with LVV and AAV were mostly female (18/21). The diagnosis of IBD preceded that of vasculitis in 12/13 patients with LVV and 8/8 patients with AAV. The review of the literature identified 306 patients with IBD and vasculitis: 144 with LVV (133 TAK; 87 with IBD preceding LVV), 19 with AAV [14 GPA, 1 EGPA, 4 microscopic polyangiitis (MPA)], 66 with isolated cutaneous vasculitis, and 77 with other vasculitides. Patients with IBD and TAK were younger and had more frequent headaches, constitutional symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms compared to those patients in the VCRC who had TAK without IBD.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings highlight the risk of vasculitis, especially TAK, in patients with IBD (both CD and UC).
Topics: Female; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Male; Retrospective Studies; Vasculitis
PubMed: 26315859
DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2015.07.006 -
The Journal of Rheumatology Dec 2015The rarity of large vessel vasculitis (LVV) is a major factor limiting randomized controlled trials in LVV, resulting in treatment choices in these diseases that are... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The rarity of large vessel vasculitis (LVV) is a major factor limiting randomized controlled trials in LVV, resulting in treatment choices in these diseases that are guided mainly by observational studies and expert opinion. Further complicating trials in LVV is the absence of validated and meaningful outcome measures. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) vasculitis working group initiated the Large Vessel Vasculitis task force in 2009 to develop data-driven, validated outcome tools for clinical investigation in LVV. This report summarizes the progress that has been made on a disease activity assessment tool and patient-reported outcomes in LVV as well as the group's research agenda.
METHODS
The OMERACT LVV task force brought an international group of investigators and patient research partners together to work collaboratively on developing outcome tools. The group initially focused on disease activity assessment tools in LVV. Following a systematic literature review, an international Delphi exercise was conducted to obtain expert opinion on principles and domains for disease assessment. The OMERACT vasculitis working group's LVV task force is also conducting qualitative research with patients, including interviews, focus groups, and engaging patients as research partners, all to ensure that the approach to disease assessment includes measures of patients' perspectives and that patients have input into the research agenda and process.
RESULTS
The preliminary results of both the Delphi exercise and the qualitative interviews were discussed at the OMERACT 12 (2014) meeting and the completion of the analyses will produce an initial set of domains and instruments to form the basis of next steps in the research agenda.
CONCLUSION
The research agenda continues to evolve, with the ultimate goal of developing an OMERACT-endorsed core set of outcome measures for use in clinical trials of LVV.
Topics: Consensus Development Conferences as Topic; Delphi Technique; Female; Focus Groups; Giant Cell Arteritis; Humans; Male; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Qualitative Research; Radiography; Severity of Illness Index; Takayasu Arteritis; Vasculitis
PubMed: 26077399
DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.141144 -
Medicine Apr 2015We aimed to clarify the role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the management of large-vessel vasculitis (LVV), focusing on 3 issues... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
We aimed to clarify the role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the management of large-vessel vasculitis (LVV), focusing on 3 issues which are as follows: describe and determine the different FDG-PET criteria for the diagnosis of vascular inflammation, the performance of FDG-PET for the diagnosis of large-vessel inflammation in giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients, and the performance of FDG-PET to evaluate the disease inflammatory activity in Takayasu arteritis (TA) patients. MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE database were searched for articles that evaluated the value of FDG-PET in LVV, from January 2000 to December 2013. Inclusion criteria were American College of Rheumatology criteria for GCA or TA, definition PET positivity threshold, and >4 cases included. Sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of FDG-PET for the diagnosis of large-vessel inflammation were calculated from each included individual study, and then pooled for meta-analysis with a random-effects model. Twenty-one studies (413 patients, 299 controls) were included in the systematic review. FDG-PET showed FDG vascular uptake in 70% (288/413) of patients and 7% (22/299) of controls. Only vascular uptake equal to or higher than the liver uptake was significantly different between GCA/TA patients and controls (P < 0.001). The meta-analysis of GCA patients (4 studies, 57 patients) shows that FDG-PET has high Se and Sp for the diagnosis of large-vessel inflammation in GCA patients in comparison to controls, with a pooled Se at 90% (95% confidence interval [CI], 79%-93%) and a pooled Sp at 98% (95% CI, 94%-99%). The meta-analysis of TA patients (7 studies, 191 patients) shows that FDG-PET has a pooled Se at 87% (95% CI, 78%-93%) and Sp at 73% (95% CI, 63%-81%) for the assessment of disease activity in TA, with up to 84% Sp, with studies using National Institutes of Health criteria as the disease activity assessment scale. FDG-PET showed good performances in the diagnosis of large-vessel inflammation, with higher accuracy in GCA patients than in TA patients. Although a vascular uptake equal to or higher than the liver uptake appears to be a good criterion for the diagnosis of vascular inflammation, further studies are needed to define the threshold of significance as well as the clinical significance of the vascular uptake.
Topics: Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Giant Cell Arteritis; Humans; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radiopharmaceuticals; Takayasu Arteritis
PubMed: 25860208
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000000622 -
PloS One 2014Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu's arteritis (TAA) are large vessel vasculitides (LVV) for which corticosteroids (CS) are the mainstay for treatment. In patients... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu's arteritis (TAA) are large vessel vasculitides (LVV) for which corticosteroids (CS) are the mainstay for treatment. In patients with LVV unable to tolerate CS, biological agents have been used with variable effectiveness.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review the effectiveness and safety of biological agents in patients with LVV.
METHODS
We searched 5 electronic databases (inception to October 2012) and conference abstracts with no language restrictions. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data and assessed methodological quality. Our protocol was registered in PROSPERO.
RESULTS
We included 25 studies (3 RCTs and 22 case series with ≥2 cases). 95 GCA and 98 TAA patients received biological agents. The RCTs using anti-TNF agents (infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab) did not suggest a benefit in GCA. GCA patients receiving tocilizumab, in case series, achieved remission (19 patients) and reduction of corticosteroid dose (mean difference, -16.55 mg/day (95% CI: -26.24, -6.86)). In case series, 75 patients with refractory TAA treated with infliximab discontinued CS 32% of the time. Remission was variably defined and the studies were clinically heterogeneous which precluded further analysis.
CONCLUSION
This systematic review demonstrated a weak evidence base on which to assess the effectiveness of biological treatment in LVV. Evidence from RCTs suggests that anti-TNF agents are not effective for remission or reduction of CS use. Tocilizumab and infliximab may be effective in the management of LVV and refractory TAA, respectively, although the evidence comes from case series. Future analytical studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Topics: Biological Factors; Giant Cell Arteritis; Humans; Takayasu Arteritis
PubMed: 25517966
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115026 -
PloS One 2014Radiation arteritis following neck irradiation as a treatment for head and neck malignancy has been well documented. The long-term sequelae of radiation exposure of the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Radiation arteritis following neck irradiation as a treatment for head and neck malignancy has been well documented. The long-term sequelae of radiation exposure of the carotid arteries may take years to manifest clinically, and extra-cranial carotid artery (ECCA) stenosis is a well-recognised vascular complication. These carotid lesions should not be regarded as benign and should be treated in the same manner as standard carotid stenosis. Previous studies have noted increased cerebrovascular events such as stroke in this cohort of patients because of high-grade symptomatic carotid stenosis resulting in emboli.
AIM
To evaluate the effect of radiation therapy on ECCA atherosclerosis progression.
METHODS
Online search for case-control studies and randomised clinical trials that reported on stenosis in extra-cranial carotid arteries in patients with neck malignancies who received radiation therapy (RT) comparing them to patients with neck malignancies who did not receive RT.
RESULTS
Eight studies were included in the final analysis with total of 1070 patients - 596 received RT compared to 474 in the control group. There was statistically significant difference in overall stenosis rate (Pooled risk ratio = 4.38 [2.98, 6.45], P = 0.00001) and severe stenosis (Pooled risk ratio = 7.51 [2.78, 20.32], P <0.0001), both being higher in the RT group. Pooled analysis of the five studies that reported on mild stenosis also showed significant difference (Pooled risk ratio = 2.74 [1.75, 4.30], 95% CI, P = 0.0001).
CONCLUSION
The incidence of severe ECCA stenosis is higher among patients who received RT for neck malignancies. Those patients should be closely monitored and screening programs should be considered in all patients who receive neck RT.
Topics: Carotid Artery Diseases; Carotid Artery, Internal; Giant Cell Arteritis; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Radiotherapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
PubMed: 25329500
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110389 -
BioMed Research International 2014Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common vasculitis affecting medium and large vessels. It shows a close clinical association with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), a... (Review)
Review
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common vasculitis affecting medium and large vessels. It shows a close clinical association with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), a musculoskeletal inflammatory disorder, which is clinically characterized by girdles pain and stiffness. 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is an effective tool for the diagnosis, grading, and follow-up of patients affected by GCA involving the aorta and its proximal branches, but the lack of a standardized method for the assessment of vascular inflammation remains a critical issue, potentially leading to misclassification. In our systematic review, including 19 original articles for a total of 442 GCA patients (with or without PMR symptoms) and 535 healthy controls, we described the different qualitative, semiquantitative and combined methods that have been proposed throughout the literature for assessing the presence and grading the severity of GCA-related vascular inflammation on 18F-FDG PET scans, focusing on the diagnostic performance and examining their respective advantages and limitations. The majority of the included studies adopted qualitative methods of PET image analysis, which are less sensitive but more specific than semiquantitative ones. Among the semiquantitative approaches, the aortic-to-blood pool uptake ratio of the aortic arch seems to be the most accurate method.
Topics: Aorta, Thoracic; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Giant Cell Arteritis; Humans; Inflammation; Polymyalgia Rheumatica; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radiography; Vasculitis
PubMed: 25254211
DOI: 10.1155/2014/574248