Loss of opportunities in the diagnosis and treatment of primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (POAPS): from theory to reality.

Objectives: (I) To identify and measure the clinical consequences of a delayed diagnosis in patients with primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (POAPS), in terms of time and events associated to antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and (II) to evaluate the impact of their treatment status on perinatal outcomes, before and after diagnosis.

Methods: This retrospective multicentre study included 99 POAPS women who were separated in two groups of timelines based on their diagnostic status: group 1: women who met the clinical criteria for POAPS; group 2: included the same patients from group 1 since they meet the laboratory criteria for APS. In group 1, we assessed the following variables: obstetric events, thrombotic events and time (years) to diagnosis of APS.

REMISSION OF HEREDITARY ANGIOEDEMA ATTACKS ASSOCIATED WITH STARTING TERIFLUNOMIDE IN A PATIENT WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

Background: Hereditary angioedema is a rare hereditary and potentially life-threatening disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of cutaneous and submucosal swelling. In spite of the advances made in terms of pathophysiology, underlying mechanisms are not fully clear and this, in turn, hinders the development of effective therapies. Currently, on demand treatment is considered first-class, with few cost-effective, long-term prophylactic options.

[Antibody deficiencies in adults. Forty years of follow up].

Antibody deficiencies (AD) are characterized by low or absent immunoglobulin levels or the inability to develop a specific antibody response. They are classified in primary (PAD) when there is an intrinsic immune defect, or secondary (SAD) to other diseases or drugs. The aim of our study was to review the evolutio n of AD assisted at the Immunology Unit, Hospital Durand between 1982 and 2020, divided into two periods: Period I (1982-2009) and Period II (2010-2020); to evaluate their growth, epidemiologic features and treatment options.

Clinical and therapeutic value of the adjusted Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome Score in primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objectives: (1) To assess the clinical utility of the adjusted global antiphospholipid syndrome score (aGAPSS) to predict new obstetric events during follow-up in primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (POAPS) patients under standard-of-care treatment (SC) based on the use of low-dose aspirin (LDA) + heparin and (2) to study the risk of a first thrombotic event and to evaluate whether stratification according to this score could help to identify POAPS patients who would benefit from long-term thromboprophylaxis.

Methods: This is a retrospective, multicentre study. 169 women with POAPS were evaluated for the presence of a new obstetric event and/or a first thrombotic event during follow-up [time period: 2008-2020, median: 7 years (6-12 years)].

STAT3 gain-of-function mutation in an adult patient.

Germline gain-of-function (GOF) mutation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) gene causes a disease clinically characterized by a significant lymphoproliferation, including lymphadenopathy and/or hepatosplenomegaly, as well as childhood onset autoimmunity. Here we present an adult patient who, during his early years of life, presented recurrent infections, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and benign lymphoproliferative disease, characterized by hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy, being diagnosed with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) at 13 years of age. He was diagnosed with lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia at the age of 20.

Hereditary angioedema. Diagnosis in an asymptomatic elderly woman.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease with an autosomal dominant heredity pattern, due to mutations in the gene encoding the C1 esterase inhibitor. The onset of symptoms usually occurs during childhood. Clinically, it is characterized by repeated episodes of angioedema that may affect the skin, abdomen and larynx/pharynx.

[COVID-19 in adults with antibody deficiencies].

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, emerged in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. Its clinical course is variable, as well as the mortality rate, which is higher among people over 65 years of age and persons with underlying conditions. Immunodeficiencies are potential risk factors for severe forms of COVID-19.

[Late diagnosis of WHIM sydrome].

WHIM syndrome is a primary autosomal dominant immuno deficiency due to CXCR4 mutations characterized by mucocutaneous warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, recurrent bacterial infections and myelokathesis. Treatment consists in prophylactic antibiotics, immunoglobulin replacement and granulocyte or granulocyte/monocyte colony stimulating factors. We present the case of a 21 year old woman who showed leukopenia at 10 months of age and one year later multiple infections with hypogammaglobulinemia requiring intravenous immunoglobulin.

[Anaphylaxis and allergic reactions during surgery and medical procedures].

Anaphylaxis during anesthesia is an unpredictable, severe, and rare reaction. It has an incidence of 1/10 000 to 1/20 000 surgeries. In most series, the responsible drugs include neuromuscular blocking agents, latex, or antibiotics.

[Allergy to drugs. Experience in 771 procedures].

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (RHD) are those that present clinically as allergic. They can or cannot involve an immunologic mechanism of lesion. They are frequent and, occasionally, life threatening.

[Relapses in inflammatory myopathies].

Most studies about treatment of inflammatory myopathies consist of cross-sectional analyses that do not assess long-term efficacy. In the present study we describe the follow-up of seven patients with inflammatory myopathies, 5 polymyositis and 2 dermatomyositis. We describe their clinical features, follow-up, muscle enzyme levels, and treatment responses.

[X-linked agammaglobulinemia in adults. Clinical evolution].

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is characterized by absent or severely reduced B cells, low or undetectable immunoglobulin levels and clinically by extracellular bacterial infections which mainly compromise the respiratory tract as well as recurrent diarrheas. The mainstay of treatment is gammaglobulin replacement therapy, which allows most patients to reach adulthood with high quality of life. We analyzed the clinical features of 14 patients over 18 years of age with XLA diagnosis that received treatment in our unit from the year 2003, the date the first patient was derived, until 2015.

Common Variable Immunodeficiency and Circulating TFH.

CD4+ T follicular helper cells (TFH) were assessed in adult patients with common variable immune deficiency (CVID) classified according to the presence of granulomatous disease (GD), autoimmunity (AI), or both GD and AI (Group I) or the absence of AI and GD (Group II). TFH lymphocytes were characterized by expression of CXCR5 and PD-1. TFH were higher (in both absolute number and percentage) in Group I than in Group II CVID patients and normal controls (N).

[Rituximab and hypogammaglobulinemia].

Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against CD20, induces the depletion of B lymphocytes. It is used for the treatment of lymphoproliferative and autoimmune diseases. Antibody immunodeficiency associated to RTX treatment is a new motif for consultation to our service.

[Hereditary angioedema. Treatment of acute attacks in Argentina].

In the world, hereditary angioedema (HAE) affects 1 every 50000 persons. It is characterized by highly disabling and recurrent episodes of cutaneous, abdominal and laryngeal episodes of angioedema. Asphyxia related mortality ranges from 15 to 50%.

[Adverse events in 1395 infusions with different intravenous gammaglobulin products].

The processes of isolation and sterilization of intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG) affect the end product characteristics and, therefore, its tolerability. Different products have different incidences of adverse reactions. The aim of this study was to quantify the immediate adverse events (AE) caused by the different IVIG preparations.

[Common variable immunodeficiency. Epidemiology and clinical manifestations in 69 patients].

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is characterized by an impaired antibody production and an increased susceptibility to recurrent infections of the respiratory tract, mainly by extracellular encapsulated bacteria. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of 69 patients evaluated over a period of 10 years at three centers in the city of Buenos Aires. At the onset of the study 14 patients were on follow up, and at its end the number of patients reached to 60.

[Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis. Clinical aspects and treatment].

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis, comprise a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of the wall of small vessels. We analyzed epidemiological and clinical characteristics in a series of 47 patients, 23 (49%) with Wegener granulomatosis (WG), 15 (32%) with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and nine (19%) with renal limited vasculitis (RLV). The mean age at onset of symptoms was 50.

[Hereditary angioedema. A therapeutic guide].

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant disease, characterized by episodes of edema involving the skin, gastrointestinal tract and larynx. HAE has a historical asphyxia mortality of 15% to 50%. It is the consequence of functional C1 inhibitor deficiency.

[Systemic treatment of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid].

Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) is a blistering autoimmune disease that can produce severe conjunctival damage. Its response to immunosuppressive treatment is poorly known. We describe a group of 76 patients, 62 women and 14 men.

[Antibody deficiencies. A survey from three Clinical Immunology Centers for adults in Buenos Aires city].

Antibody deficiency (AD) comprises a group of diseases characterized by the inability to develop an effective antibody mediated immune response. These patients suffer mainly of encapsulated extracellular bacterial infections of the respiratory tract. The aim of our study was to describe the clinical characteristics of 128 patients with suspected or confirmed AD who were referred to 3 immunodeficiency centers for adults, from June 2004 to December 2009.