IntroductionThe systemic inflammatory nature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is well patent not only in the diverse clinical manifestations of the disease but also in the increased risk of premature atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events (CVE), making SLE one of the most complex diseases to study and manage in clinical practice.AimTo travel from old aspects to modern insights on the physiopathology, new molecular biomarkers, imaging methods of atherosclerosis assessment, and the potential treatments of atherosclerosis in SLE.MethodsWe conducted a literature search using PubMed database and performed a critical review.Conclusion/discussionSeveral developments have taken place in the understanding of the relationship between SLE and premature atherosclerosis. Nevertheless, cardiovascular diseases are still the major cause of reduced life expectancy in SLE and the main cause of death. The lack of standardization methods for the imaging assessment of atherosclerosis in SLE and the multifactorial nature of the disease are well patriated in the difficulty of achieving consistent and reproducible results among studies that focus in cardiovascular risk assessment and prediction. A raising number of molecular biomarkers of atherosclerosis have been proposed, but the combination of several biomarkers and risk factors may better estimate cardiovascular disease risk. Moreover, the development of effective therapies to prevent progression of atherosclerosis and CVE shall address systemic inflammation.

No evidence exists on tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infection (LTBI) management policies among refugees in European countries.A questionnaire investigating screening and management practices among refugees was sent to 38 national TB programme representatives of low and intermediate TB incidence European countries/territories of the WHO European Region.Out of 36 responding countries, 31 (86.1%) reported screening for active TB, 19 for LTBI, and eight (22.2%) reporting outcomes of LTBI treatment. Screening for TB is based on algorithms including different combinations of symptom-based questionnaires, bacteriology and chest radiography and LTBI screening on different combinations of tuberculin skin test and interferon-γ release assays. In 22 (61.1%) countries, TB and LTBI screening are performed in refugee centres. In 22 (61.1%) countries, TB services are organised in collaboration with the private sector. 27 (75%) countries answered that screening for TB is performed as per national and international guidelines, while 19 (52.7%) gave the same answer with regards to LTBI screening. Infection control measures are inadequate in several of the countries surveyed.There is need for improved coordination of TB screening in Europe to implement the End TB Strategy and achieve TB elimination.

Objective Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a systemic small-vessel vasculitis characterized by asthma, hypereosinophilia and ANCA positivity in 40% of patients. Renal involvement is rare and poorly described, leading to this renal biopsy-proven based study in a large EGPA cohort. Methods We conducted a retrospective multicentre study including patients fulfilling the 1990 ACR criteria and/or the 2012 revised Chapel Hill Consensus Conference criteria for EGPA and/or the modified criteria of the MIRRA trial, with biopsy-proven nephropathy. Results Sixty-three patients [27 women, median age 60 years (18–83)] were included. Renal disease was present at vasculitis diagnosis in 54 patients (86%). ANCA were positive in 53 cases (84%) with anti-MPO specificity in 44 (83%). All patients had late-onset asthma. Peripheral neuropathy was present in 29 cases (46%), alveolar haemorrhage in 10 (16%). The most common renal presentation was acute renal failure (75%). Renal biopsy revealed pauci-immune necrotizing GN in 49 cases (78%). Membranous nephropathy (10%) and membranoproliferative GN (3%) were mostly observed in ANCA-negative patients. Pure acute interstitial nephritis was found in six cases (10%); important interstitial inflammation was observed in 28 (44%). All patients received steroids with adjunctive immunosuppression in 54 cases (86%). After a median follow-up of 51 months (1–296), 58 patients (92%) were alive, nine (14%) were on chronic dialysis and two (3%) had undergone kidney transplantation. Conclusion Necrotizing pauci-immune GN is the most common renal presentation in ANCA-positive EGPA. ANCA-negative patients had frequent atypical renal presentation with other glomerulopathies such as membranous nephropathy. An important eosinophilic interstitial infiltration was observed in almost 50% of cases.

Objectives Only a third of patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) are ANCA-positive, mainly directed against MPO. ANCA directed against PR3 are rarely found in EGPA. We aimed to examine the significance of PR3-ANCA in EGPA. Methods We set up a retrospective European multicentre cohort including 845 patients. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were analysed and compared according to ANCA status. Results ANCA status was available for 734 patients: 508 (69.2%) ANCA-negative, 210 (28.6%) MPO-ANCA and 16 (2.2%) PR3-ANCA. At baseline, PR3-ANCA patients, compared with those with MPO-ANCA and ANCA-negative, less frequently had active asthma (69% vs 91% and 93%, P = 0.003, respectively) and peripheral neuropathy (31% vs 71% and 47%, P < 0.0001), more frequently had cutaneous manifestations (63% vs 38% and 34%, P = 0.03) and pulmonary nodules (25% vs 10% and 8%, P = 0.046), and lower median eosinophil count (1450 vs 5400 and 3224/mm3, P < 0.0001). Vasculitis relapse-free survival was shorter for PR3-ANCA (hazard ratio 6.05, P = 0.005) and MPO-ANCA patients (hazard ratio 1.88, P = 0.0002) compared with ANCA-negative patients. Conclusion PR3-ANCA EGPA patients differ from those with MPO-ANCA and negative ANCA, and share clinical features with granulomatosis with polyangiitis. This suggests that PR3-ANCA EGPA could be a particular form of PR3-ANCA-associated vasculitis.

IntroductionEosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a subset of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitis with distinct pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical features and treatment responses. Rituximab is a licensed therapy for granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis but there is limited experience of rituximab in EGPA.MethodsEGPA patients from a tertiary centre who received rituximab for mostly refractory EGPA or in whom cyclophosphamide was contra indicated were studied. A standardised dataset was collected at time of initial treatment and every 3 months for 24 months. Response was defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) of 0 and partial response as ≥50% reduction in BVAS from baseline. Remission was defined as a BVAS of 0 on prednisolone dose ≤5 mg.ResultsSixty-nine patients (44 female) received rituximab between 2003 and 2017. Improvement (response and partial response) was observed in 76.8% of patients at 6 months, 82.8% at 12 months and in 93.2% by 24 months, while relapses occurred in 54% by 24 months, with asthma being the most frequent manifestation. The median BVAS decreased from 6 at baseline to 1 at 6 months, and 0 at 12 and 24 months. Prednisolone dose (mg/day, median) decreased from 12.5 to 7, 7.5 and 5 at 6, 12 and 24 months, respectively. ANCA positive patients had a longer asthma/ear, nose and throat (ENT) relapse-free survival time and a shorter time to remission.DiscussionRituximab demonstrated some efficacy in EGPA and led to a reduction in prednisolone requirement, but asthma and ENT relapse rates were high despite continued treatment. The ANCA positive subset appeared to have a more sustained response on isolated asthma/ENT exacerbations.

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ObjectivesTo assess the sensitivity to change of ultrasound halo features and their association with disease activity and glucocorticoid (GC) treatment in patients with newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis (GCA).MethodsProspective study of patients with ultrasound-confirmed GCA who underwent serial ultrasound assessments of the temporal artery (TA) and axillary artery (AX) at fixed time points. The number of segments with halo and maximum halo intima–media thickness (IMT) was recorded. Time points in which >80% of patients were assessed were considered for analysis. Halo features at disease presentation and first relapse were compared.Results49 patients were assessed at 354 visits. Halo sensitivity to change was assessed at weeks 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 and showed a significant standardised mean difference between all time points and baseline for the TA halo features but only after week 6 for the AX halo features. The number of TA segments with halo and sum and maximum TA halo IMT showed a significant correlation with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (0.41, 0.44 and 0.48), C reactive protein (0.34, 0.39 and 0.41), Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (0.29, 0.36 and 0.35) and GC cumulative dose (−0.34, −0.37 and −0.32); no significant correlation was found for the AX halo features. Halo sign was present in 94% of first disease relapses but with a lower mean number of segments with halo and sum of halo IMT compared with disease onset (2.93±1.59 mm vs 4.85±1.51 mm, p=0.0012; 2.01±1.13 mm vs 4.49±1.95 mm, p=0.0012).ConclusionsUltrasound is a useful imaging tool to assess disease activity and response to treatment in patients with GCA.

We read with interest the study by DE VRIES et al. [1] reporting on the results of tuberculosis screening among recently arrived migrants and refugees in the Netherlands. This study brings several issues for debate in a moment where migration to Europe generates concerns and potential risks for stigmatisation and discrimination. In 2015, >1 million migrants and refugees reached Europe by different routes, more than four times more people than in 2014 (when there were only 219 000) [2, 3].