CD19-CAR T-cell therapy induces deep tissue depletion of B cells.

Objectives: CD19-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy can induce long-term drug-free remission in patients with autoimmune diseases (AIDs). The efficacy of CD19-CAR T-cell therapy is presumably based on deep tissue depletion of B cells; however, such effect has not been proven in humans in vivo.

Methods: Sequential ultrasound-guided inguinal lymph node biopsies were performed at baseline and after CD19-CAR T-cell therapy in patients with AIDs.

Bispecific T cell engager therapy for refractory rheumatoid arthritis.

Bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs) kill B cells by engaging T cells. BiTEs are highly effective in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Here we treated six patients with multidrug-resistant rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the CD19xCD3 BiTE blinatumomab under compassionate use.

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 for COVID-19 pneumonia in a rituximab treated patient with systemic sclerosis-A case report and literature review.

Patients with immune-mediated diseases (IMID) such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), who are treated with B cell depleting treatments, are at risk for developing severe COVID-19 due to inadequate humoral immune response. During B cell depletion, therapeutic substitution of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (mAbs) might be helpful to prevent severe COVID-19. It has been shown, that in non-IMID patients mABs reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load and lower the risk of COVID-19 associated hospitalization or death.

Accuracy and usability of a diagnostic decision support system in the diagnosis of three representative rheumatic diseases: a randomized controlled trial among medical students.

Background: An increasing number of diagnostic decision support systems (DDSS) exist to support patients and physicians in establishing the correct diagnosis as early as possible. However, little evidence exists that supports the effectiveness of these DDSS. The objectives were to compare the diagnostic accuracy of medical students, with and without the use of a DDSS, and the diagnostic accuracy of the DDSS system itself, regarding the typical rheumatic diseases and to analyze the user experience.

The value of F-FDG-PET/CT in identifying the cause of fever of unknown origin (FUO) and inflammation of unknown origin (IUO): data from a prospective study.

Background: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) and inflammation of unknown origin (IUO) are diagnostically challenging conditions. Diagnosis of underlying disease may be improved by F-fluorodesoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-FDG-PET).

Methods: Prospective study to test diagnostic utility of F-FDG-PET/CT in a large cohort of patients with FUO or IUO and to define parameters that increase the likelihood of diagnostic F-FDG-PET/CT.

A Multiplex Kindred with Hennekam Syndrome due to Homozygosity for a CCBE1 Mutation that does not Prevent Protein Expression.

Collagen and calcium-binding EGF domain-containing protein 1 (CCBE1) bi-allelic mutations have been associated with syndromes of widespread congenital lymphatic dysplasia, including Hennekam Syndrome (HS). HS is characterized by lymphedema, lymphangiectasia, and intellectual disability. CCBE1 encodes a putative extracellular matrix protein but the HS-causing mutations have not been studied biochemically.

In vivo detection of mucosal healing-involved histiocytes by confocal laser endomicroscopy.

Histiocytes have a pivotal role in wound repair and intestinal epithelial recovery - the most important goal to sustain gut functionality. Yet, an in vivo description of colonic histiocytes by confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is missing. Here, we report the case of a 45-years-old male patient who was referred to our clinic with weight loss and a history of two consecutive Clostridium difficile colitis episodes, the latter cured 3 wk before present admission.