Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that involves multiple organ systems. Due to the heterogeneity of its presentation, it is challenging for clinicians to diagnose and manage the symptoms. SLE has a wide range of presentations from mild to severe and involves various organ systems like mucocutaneous, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, renal, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system. Various novel treatment modalities are being used based on clinical presentation. Prednisone and methylprednisolone are commonly used as needed for acute flares of SLE. Some patients may need a low dose of oral prednisone to keep their SLE under control, which carries a risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and many other metabolic side effects of steroids. Other long-term medications that are commonly used include hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate, cyclosporine, and cyclophosphamide. Intravenous cyclophosphamide is used only in severe lupus with renal, pulmonary, or CNS involvement. Rituximab is a human monoclonal B-cell cluster of differentiation (CD)20 receptor antibody used for severe SLE not responding with other medications. Other newer medications are belimumab and anifrolumab. Anifrolumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to subunit 1 of the type I interferon receptor. We present a case of a 25-year-old female with a chronic history of SLE presented to the outpatient clinic with abdominal distension that needed frequent abdominal paracenteses. She was using hydroxychloroquine, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone, but her symptoms were not adequately controlled. After we started the patient on monthly intravenous belimumab, her symptoms and the frequency of visits for paracentesis gradually reduced. B-cells are known to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of SLE, and the use of belimumab, an anti-BLys (B-lymphocyte stimulator) human monoclonal antibody that inhibits B-cell growth, can play a significant role in the management of SLE associated chronic serositis.
e18081 Background: Salivary gland neoplasms are rare entities that comprise approximately 5% of all head and neck malignancies. The incidence of major salivary gland (MSG) cancers has increased about 54% from 1970 to 2000 in the United States (US). We undertook this study to investigate the risk of second primary malignancies (SPMs) and cause-specific mortality (CSM) in patients with MSG cancers using a national registry from the US. Methods: We estimated the incidence of SPMs among two-month survivors of MSG cancers using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-18 registries between 2008 to 2018. The risk of SPMs were calculated using standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and the CSM by standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and absolute excess risk (AER)/10,000 population. Results: We included 845 patients with MSG cancers in this study. The median age of diagnosis was 67 yrs (range 0 - 85 yrs). The median follow-up duration was 24 months (range 0 - 130 months). The median latency period for SPM development was 30 months (range 4 - 117 months). A total of 38 (4.5%) patients developed 41 SPMs at last follow-up. The SPM risk for cohort was significantly elevated (SIR = 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30 - 2.46) compared with general population. The SPM risk was statistically higher among males (SIR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.66 - 3.42) but not significant in females (SIR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.44 - 1.81). Specific sites with highest SPMs risk included tonsil (SIR = 52.45, 95% CI = 1.33 - 292.22) followed by oral cavity (SIR = 15.55, 95% CI = 7.11 - 29.52). The risk for tonsil cancers were high from 5 to 10 years of initial diagnosis. While risk for oral cavity cancers, remained high throughout follow-up period. At the last follow-up, 214 (25%) patients had died. There was statistically significant risk of mortality due to MSG cancers (SMR = 5,453.61, 95% CI = 4,385.34 - 6,703.41, AER = 517.87) and oral cavity cancers (SMR = 663.40, 95% CI = 537.97 - 809.29, AER = 557.41) (Table). Conclusions: Our study concludes that men with MSG cancers are at an increased risk for SPMs compared to women. The risk of specific SPMs (tonsil and oral cavity cancers) was high even after a long period from the initial diagnosis of MSG cancers. This highlights the need for long-term surveillance in these patients for SPMs development.[Table: see text]
Background: In the spring of 2021, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were approved and distributed in the United States for the public to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, but their rapid development leaves some questions unanswered. Vaccine efficacy has always been a point of interest for individuals with rheumatological diseases that take immunosuppressants. This study investigates the vaccine efficacy of two COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccines, Moderna and Pfizer, in subjects in West Texas patients with autoimmune diseases. Materials and Methods: Blood was collected from Texas Tech University employees who received both doses of COVID-19 vaccines within the past nine months. Subjects were separated into either a group with a known history of rheumatic disease (n=18) or those without (n=18). The samples were analyzed for serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels using specific enzyme-linked immunoassay kits, and a neutralizing antibody test using a surrogate virus was conducted as well. Results were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test (unpaired, two-tailed). Results: There was no significant difference in serum IgG and IgA levels between the control and rheumatologic disease groups, but there were significant differences in serum IgM levels. All subjects cleared the threshold for the neutralizing antibody test. Conclusion: The relatively similar serum IgG levels and the 100% detection rate of effective neutralizing antibodies across both groups indicate promising signs of serological response for subjects with autoimmune conditions, but the relatively low serum IgA and IgM levels of the study the group warrants further investigation.
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