Autoantibodies production and immunological abnormalities after bariatric surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Bariatric surgery is a widely used procedure for the treatment of obesity. Our aim is to describe the main immunological changes in patients who undergo bariatric surgery. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted within a cohort of patients undergoing bariatric surgery and without previous evidence of systemic or organ-specific autoimmune diseases in whom 3 blood samples were collected - one day before surgery (Time 0), and 5 (Time 1) and 10 months (Time 2) after surgery. RESULTS: Thirty four obese patients underwent surgery (Time 0):30(88.24%) were women, mean age 38.3 years. When comparing Time 0 and Time 2, there were statistically significant changes in CD4+T cell count, with an increase from 1074/mL(IQR:860-1316) to 1217.5/mL(IQR:838-1510),p = 0.0002. The CD4/CD8 ratio increased from 2.2(IQR: 1.7-2.7) to 2.4(1.8-2.8), p = 0.0001. As for humoral variables, the C3 fraction of complement decreased from 164 ±â€¯40.6 mg/dL to 112.4 ±â€¯31.4 mg/dL(p < 0.001) and C4 decreased from 29.3 ±â€¯10.1 mg/dL to 22.5 ±â€¯7.1(p = 0.0009) at Time 2. Four patients with negative ANAs at baseline, showed positive ANAs at Time 2.One patient developed anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies >200 IU/mL at Time 2. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing bariatric surgery show immunological changes which might eventually lead to develop an autoimmune disease.

Sublingual microcirculatory alterations in patients with stable systemic sclerosis / Alteraciones microcirculatorias sublinguales en pacientes con esclerosis sistémica estable

ABSTRACT Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis, inflammation, and microcirculatory alterations. Objective: To evaluate abnormalities in the sublingual microcirculation of SSc patients and to establish any differences compared to healthy controls. Methods: The sublingual microcirculation was determined using a Sidestream dark-field (SDF) imaging device (MicroScan; MicroVision Medical, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) in patients with SSc and controls. Results: Twelve patients with SSc (75% with diffuse cutaneous SSc) were evaluated (mean age: 52.08 ± 2.08 years). A group of 20 volunteers was used as the control. Significantly lower total capillary density (TCD) (9.2 [8.5-9.7] vs. 10.9 [9.8-12.5]) and functional capillary density (FCD) (7.0 [6.8-7.5] vs. 8.6 [7.5-9.8]) were observed in SSc patients than in healthy controls. Conclusions: SSc is related to significantly lower capillary density in the sublingual microcirculation, and the SDF imaging technique could be an alternative to nailfold video-capillaroscopy for diagnosing and following-up patients with SSc.

RESUMEN Introducción: La esclerosis sistémica (SSc) es una enfermedad autoimmune sistémica caracterizada por fibrosis, inflamación y alteraciones en la microcirculación. Objetivo: Evaluar anormalidades en la microcirculación sublingual de pacientes con diagnóstico de esclerosis sistémica y establecer diferencias en comparación con controles sanos. Métodos: Exploramos la microcirculación sublingual utilizando un dispositivo de imágenes de campo oscuro Sidestream (SDF) (Micro Scan, MicroVision Medical, Amsterdam, Holanda) en pacientes con SSc y controles. Resultados: Se evaluaron 12 pacientes con SSc estable (75% con cutánea difusa) (edad media: 52.08 ± 2.08). Un grupo de 20 voluntarios se utilizó como control. Se observó una disminución significativa en la densidad vascular total (TCD) (9.2 [8.5-9.7] vs. 10.9 [9.8-12.5]) y densidad capilar funcional (FCD) (7.0 [6.8-7.5] vs. 8.6 [7.5-9.8]) observado en pacientes con esclerosis sistémica en comparación con controles sanos. Conclusiones: La SSc se relaciona con la disminución significativa de la densidad capilar en la microcirculación sublingual, esta técnica podría ser una alternativa en pacientes críticos con esclerosis sistémica o utilizarse para seguimiento durante la hospitalización.

Is Bariatric Surgery a Trigger Factor for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases?

Bariatric procedures are an effective option for weight loss and control of comorbidities in obese patients. Obesity is a proinflammatory condition in which some cytokines such as leptin, a proinflammatory protein, is elevated and adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory protein, is decreased. In patients undergoing weight reduction surgeries, these hormone levels behave paradoxically. It is not known whether bariatric surgery protects against development of autoinflammatory or autoimmune conditions; nevertheless, changes occurring in the immune system are incompletely understood. In this case series, we describe 4 patients undergoing bariatric surgery, who subsequently developed systemic autoimmune diseases. Patients in our case series were asymptomatic before surgery and developed an autoimmune disease within 11.2 months. Two women fulfilled criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (one associated with antiphospholipid syndrome), and 2 men developed rheumatoid arthritis. A causal relationship is difficult to establish because factors that could trigger these diseases are multiple, including genetic susceptibility, time elapsed until achievement of ideal weight, and vitamin deficiencies, among others. However, clinicians must be attentive to this possible association.

[Bullous systemic lupus mimicking a Stevens-Johnson syndrome]. / Lupus ampolloso que simula síndrome de Stevens-Johnson.

Autoimmune bullous diseases represent a diagnostic challenge due to the wide spectrum of pathologies that share similar clinical features. This paper reports the case of a woman admitted with a supposed diagnosis of a Stevens-Johnson syndrome, in which the history, the profile of autoimmunity and interdisciplinary approach were of vital importance to clarify the clinical picture.

Las enfermedades ampollosas autoinmunitarias constituyen, en algunas ocasiones, un reto diagnóstico debido al amplio espectro de afecciones que comparten características clínicas similares. Se comunica el caso de una paciente que ingresó con un supuesto diagnóstico de reacción medicamentosa severa tipo síndrome de Stevens-Johnson, en la que sus antecedentes personales, perfil de autoinmunidad y aproximación interdisciplinaria fueron de vital ayuda para establecer el diagnóstico final.

Etanercept-induced pityriasis lichenoides chronica in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

We present a 74-year-old female patient who developed a pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC) during etanercept therapy. This association is not described in the literature and might be considered in the spectrum of cutaneous adverse reactions of etanercept.

Rituximab for remission induction and maintenance in refractory systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with high morbidity if untreated. Sometimes, despite aggressive treatments, the disease remains active with cumulative organic damage. We conducted a retrospective and descriptive observational study of patients with SLE refractory to conventional treatment who were treated with rituximab (RTX) as remission induction therapy and maintenance. There was a significant reduction in the conventional immunosuppressive drug dose and the number of relapses of disease. RTX appeared to be effective and safe for the induction and maintenance of remission in patient with SLE refractory to conventional treatment.

Total recovery from monoclonal gammopathy and autoimmune phenomena after parathyroidectomy.

Based on the observation of a patient with a causal relationship between hyperparathyroidism and development of both autoimmune disease and paraproteinemia, we hypothesize a novel cause of autoimmunity triggered in the context of hyperparathyroidism.

Efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of vasculitic leg ulcers associated with hepatitis C virus infection.

Vasculitic leg ulcers are a cutaneous manifestation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection often associated with cryoglobulinemia. Their treatment is difficult and is based on steroids and immunosuppressive drugs with an erratic response and a high probability of adverse reaction. We report three patients with vasculitic leg ulcers associated with hepatitis C virus infection who were treated successfully with rituximab. The pain control and healing were achieved quickly. No adverse effects with rituximab in these patients were presented.

A State of Possession-Like in a Patient with Flare of Systemic Lupus Erithematosus

Introducción: Los síntomas y signos relacionados con un estado de “posesión” se han asociado a trastornos psicológicos, pero no se han descrito como manifestaciones de una afección orgánica cerebral. Método: Reporte de caso de una mujer de 17 años de edad con síntomas episódicos similares al de un estado de la posesión, manifestado por agresividad, temblor, desviación de la mirada hacia arriba, lenguaje incoherente, aversión a los símbolos religiosos y demanda de ser llamada por otros nombres. Resultado: Los síntomas se manifestaron durante episodios de hipotensión ortostática, consecuencia de una neuropatía autonómica desarrollada en el contexto de una recaída de un lupus eritematoso sistémico. Se realizó una tomografía computarizada de emisión de fotón único (SPECT) con 99mTc-HMPAO en posición de pie, en presencia de hipotensión postural y los síntomas descritos, la cual mostró una extensa zona de isquemia en el cerebro izquierdo. El mismo estudio se realizó en posición de decúbito, con presión arterial y con un estado mental normal, y fue informado sin alteraciones. Conclusión: Se describe una causa orgánica, de tipo vascular-cerebral, de síntomas similares al de un estado de posesión...

Introduction: Symptoms and signs related to a state of “possession” have been associated with psychological disorders, but have not been described as manifestations of organic cerebral disease. Method: Case report of a 17 year-old female patient with episodic symptoms of a possession-like state manifested as aggressiveness, tremor, upper eye deviation, incoherent language, aversion to religious symbols, and demanding to be called by other names. Results: These symptoms were present during episodes of orthostatic hypotension, as a result of autonomic neuropathy developed in the context of a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) with 99mTc-HmPAO in upright position showed an extensive ischemic area in the left brain. This study was normal in horizontal position, with normal blood pressure and normal mental status. Conclusion: An organic, cerebral-vascular cause of a possession-like state is described...