New-onset of rheumatic diseases following COVID-19 vaccination: the report of three cases and a literature review.

Vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been distributed in most countries for the prevention of onset and aggravation of COVID-19. Recently, there have been increasing numbers of reports on new-onset autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases following COVID-19 vaccination, however, only little information is available on the long-term safety of these vaccines. Here, we experienced three cases of new-onset rheumatic diseases following COVID-19 vaccination, one case each of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The symptom onset ranged from one day to a few days following vaccination. The patients of AAV and SLE were treated successfully with glucocorticoid therapy, and the patient of RA died due to COVID-19. In the literature review of new-onset rheumatic diseases following COVID-19 vaccination, which including seven cases of RA, 37 cases of AAV and 18 cases of SLE, the mean time from vaccination to onset was approximately 11 to 12 days. Most cases improved with glucocorticoid, immunosuppressive drugs and biologic agents. Although such adverse effects are rare, and vaccines are useful in prevent onset and severity of infections, continued accumulation of similar cases is important in terms of examining the long-term safety and understanding pathogenic mechanism of rheumatic diseases.

New-onset Immune-mediated Necrotizing Myopathy and Trigeminal Neuropathy after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjögren's Syndrome.

We present the case of a 42-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome treated with adalimumab who developed immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) and trigeminal neuropathy after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA vaccination. Trigeminal neuralgia and elevated serum creatine kinase levels emerged 12 days post-vaccination, followed by myalgia in the femoral muscles. IMNM was histologically diagnosed. The pathogenesis may involve molecular mimicry between the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and autologous tissues triggered by vaccination. This case emphasizes the association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, tumor necrosis factor inhibitor, IMNM, and trigeminal neuropathy, as well as the importance of monitoring immune-mediated adverse events following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with autoimmune disease.

Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Systemic Sclerosis.

We encountered a 57-year-old Japanese woman with encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic sclerosis. The patient was admitted to our hospital because of ascites retention. Administration of tocilizumab, an anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody, for her RA reduced the refractory ascites remarkably; however, she developed sudden acute gastrointestinal bleeding and died a year later. On autopsy, sclerotic thickening of the peritoneum showed diffuse infiltration of podoplanin-positive fibroblast-like cells, and a diagnosis of EPS was made. EPS rarely occurs in SLE, and tocilizumab may be a new treatment candidate for EPS.

New-onset Adult-onset Still's Disease Following COVID-19 Vaccination: Three Case Reports and a Literature Review.

Since December 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have been distributed in most countries to prevent the onset and aggravation of COVID-19. There is little information regarding the long-term safety of the vaccines. We report three cases and a literature review of new-onset adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) that occurred following COVID-19 vaccination. Our cases include moderate to severe AOSD, and two were complicated with macrophage activation syndrome. Seventeen cases of new-onset or relapse of AOSD following COVID-19 vaccination, including 14 identified in the literature review and our 3 patients, were all treated successfully with glucocorticoid therapy, immunosuppressive drugs, or biologic agents.

[Management of rheumatoid arthritis medications and pregnancy].

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects mainly women during their childbearing years. As aging of childbirth advances in Japan, women who plan pregnancy would increase after they developed RA. Recent findings showed that high disease activity of RA might impair fertility. Planning pregnancy is preferable after female patients achive and maintain low disease activity or remission of RA. Women on methotrexate, which is the anchor drug for RA, need to discontinue the medication with a high risk of causing birth defects during conception and pregnancy. Data of RA patients exposed TNF inhibitors during pregnancy has been accumulating in recent years. These data suggest that increased risk of spontaneous abortion and congenital abnomalies has not been observed. Although there is insufficient data about safety of breastfeeding while using TNF inhibitors, the secretion of the drugs in breast milk is very little and fetal toxicity has not been observed. Since long term safety of children exposed TNF inhibitors in uterus has not been established, we should discontinue the drugs as soon as pregnancy is recognized. TNF inhibitors may be an useful tools for management of active RA resistant to conventional DMARDs in women who desire to bear children.

Acute kidney injury in a patient with polyarteritis nodosa and multiple myeloma.

We herein report the case of a Japanese man with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) accompanied by multiple myeloma (MM). The patient was diagnosed with PAN. Concurrently, IgG kappa paraprotein was detected, and bone marrow changes indicative of MM were observed. Prednisolone (PSL) administered at a dose of 30 mg/day was initiated; however, the serum creatinine level increased. In spite of increasing the dose of PSL to 45 mg/day and initiating treatment with double filtration plasmapheresis, the patient's renal dysfunction continued to progress and haemodialysis was introduced. He died from pneumonia 12 months after admission. We conclude that renal failure is an important risk factor in the prognosis of PAN accompanied by MM.

Immunopathological analysis of Erdheim-Chester disease with massive ascites.

We treated a 77-year-old woman with pleural and pericardial effusion and ascites. Initially, collagen vascular disease was suspected due to the presence of anti-centromere antibodies and suspected complication of pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, soft-tissue abnormalities surrounding the bilateral kidneys detected on computed tomography (CT) and symmetrical lesions of the long bones detected on bone scintigraphy made us consider a diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD), which is a rare form of histiocytosis. We immunochemically analyzed the cells derived from the ascites in detail and confirmed the diagnosis. Immunocytochemical analyses may therefore help to achieve a better understanding of the pathogenesis of this rare disease.

[Accelerated atherosclerosis and inflammation in systemic lupus erythematosus].

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that mainly affects young women, a group usually free of atherosclerosis. As treatment for SLE has improved during recent years and long term survival increased, it has become clear that patients with SLE have increased morbidity and mortality from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Several imaging techniques showed increased prevalence of premature atherosclerosis which was most striking in young patients with SLE. Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is an inflammatory process. Inflammatory cells and mediators play a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Systemic inflammation and immune dysfunction are thought to accelerate atherosclerosis in patients with SLE as well. Several possible reasons for accelerated atherosclerosis in SLE have been suggested. Traditional coronary risk factors, other coronary risk factors including lipoprotein (a), CRP, homocysteine, inflammatory cytokines, increased vascular damage, lupus related factors and medications may affect the development of atherosclerosis in SLE. Atherosclerosis risk assessment, preventive strategy for accelerated atherosclerosis and its treatment would be required in patients with SLE.