Case Report: Paradoxical acrodermatitis of Hallopeau-like eruption following anti-IL-17 therapy.

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease. Up to 40% of patients with psoriasis may develop psoriatic arthritis.  Currently, interleukin (IL)-17/IL-23 pathways are identified as key factors in the immunopathogenesis of both conditions.

Celiac Disease Prevalence is Increased in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome and Diffuse Systemic Sclerosis: Lessons from a Large Multi-Center Study.

Association of celiac disease (CD) with systemic autoimmune diseases (ADs) remains controversial. Awareness of CD in these patients is important to prevent complications, including lymphoproliferative disorders. We evaluated previously diagnosed CD prevalence in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients in comparison to 14,298 matched controls.

Correction to: Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Safety of Belimumab in Patients with Refractory SLE: a Review of Observational Clinical-Practice-Based Studies.

The following changes are made for this article: (1.) Maddalena Larosa's given name and surname were inadvertently interchanged. The authorgroup section is now corrected.

Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Safety of Belimumab in Patients with Refractory SLE: a Review of Observational Clinical-Practice-Based Studies.

To date, belimumab is the only biological drug approved for the treatment of patients with active refractory SLE. We compared and critically analyzed the results of 11 observational clinical-practice-based studies, conducted in SLE referral centers. Despite the differences in endpoints and follow-up duration, all studies remarked that belimumab provides additional benefits when used as an add-on to existing treatment, allowing a higher rate of patients to reach remission and to taper or discontinue corticosteroids.

Effects of Belimumab on Flare Rate and Expected Damage Progression in Patients With Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: To investigate effectiveness and safety of belimumab in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a clinical practice setting.

Methods: Sixty-seven patients with active SLE, mean ± SD age 39.3 ± 10.

Prolonged remission in Caucasian patients with SLE: prevalence and outcomes.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of prolonged remission in Caucasian patients affected with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its relationship with damage accrual.

Methods: Caucasian patients diagnosed with SLE between 1990 and 2009 and quarterly seen from 2009 to 2013 were included in the study. We defined remission as prolonged when lasting ≥5 consecutive years.

Rituximab in refractory idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and antisynthetase syndrome: personal experience and review of the literature.

In this paper, we report our experience with the use of rituximab (RTX) in the treatment of refractory idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and review the literature on this topic. Six adult patients (5 female, 1 male) with active IIM, as defined by persistent proximal muscle weakness, elevated serum muscle enzymes, muscle magnetic resonance imaging, electromyographic and histological abnormalities, refractory to at least one immunosuppressant, including methotrexate, were treated with RTX (1,000 mg twice, 2 weeks apart). Patients were regularly followed up for serial assessment of muscle strength by manual muscle test 8 and creatine kinase serum levels.

Disease activity patterns in a monocentric cohort of SLE patients: a seven-year follow-up study.

Objectives: To evaluate disease activity patterns and flare occurrence in a cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods: Patients registered in our lupus Database, diagnosed with SLE between 1991 and 2004 and followed up quarterly from 2004 to 2010 were considered in the study. Disease activity patterns were defined using SLE Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K), excluding serology, as follows: clinical quiescent disease (CQD), SLEDAI-2K=0 in the three annual visits; minimal disease activity (MDA), SLEDAI-2K=1 in one or more annual visits; chronic active disease (CAD), SLEDAI-2K≥2 in at least two annual visits; relapsing-remitting disease (RRD), SLEDAI-2K≥2 in one out of 3 annual visits.

Pregnancy and vasculitis: a systematic review of the literature.

Primary systemic vasculitis are uncommon diseases that may affect young women in their childbearing age. To date, patients affected with primary systemic vasculitis are often diagnosed and treated earlier than in the past, due to improvement in diagnostic skills and a larger availability of effective drugs. The progressive achievement of a longer life expectancy and a better quality of life have progressively led to an increased number of pregnancies observed during the course of such diseases.

The kaleidoscope of glucorticoid effects on immune system.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents which exert multiple effects on immune cell functions. Although their use dates back 60 years, their functions and mode of action have not been completely elucidated yet. GCs act through different genomic and non genomic mechanisms which are mediated by the binding to cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor as well as to cell membrane receptors, or by interacting directly with enzymes and other cell proteins.

Protective molecules and their cognate antibodies: new players in autoimmunity.

Impairment of the clearance of apoptotic material seems to contribute to autoantigen exposure, which can initiate or maintain an autoimmune response in predisposed individuals. Complement component C1q, Creactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid P (SAP), mannose-binding lectin (MBL), apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A-1) and long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) are molecules involved in the removal of apoptotic bodies and pathogens, and in other antiinflammatory pathways. For this reason they have been called "protective" molecules.

SLE diagnosis and treatment: when early is early.

Around 1980 antinuclear antibody testing became widely used in routine laboratory practice leading to a tapering in the lag time between SLE onset and diagnosis. Since then nothing relevant has been introduced which could help us in making the diagnosis of SLE earlier than now. Notably, there is increasing evidence that early diagnosis and treatment could increase SLE remission rate and improve patient prognosis.