Activating mutations in CD8+ T-cells correlate to serological positivity in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia is a rare hematologic malignancy characterized by clonal expansion of cytotoxic T-cells frequent somatic activating mutations. Based on the disease overlap between LGL leukemia rheumatoid arthritis (RA)a putative role for CD8+ T-cells in RA we hypothesized that mutations may be detected in RA patient CD8+ T-cells correlate with clinical characteristics.

Methods: Blood samples, clinical parameters, and demographics were collected from 98 RA patients and 9 healthy controls (HCs).

Incidental retinal vascular occlusions on hydroxychloroquine screening in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: The proportion of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who manifest retinal involvement increases many fold in patients with active systemic disease. The objective of this report is to stress upon the significance of comprehensive ophthalmic assessment of all SLE patients to prevent and manage blinding ocular manifestations of the disease.

Methods: Retrospective case review.