Diagnostic Performance of a Temporal Artery Biopsy for the Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis in Japan-A Single-center Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives To investigate the sensitivity and specificity of a temporal artery biopsy (TAB) in the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in a single-center retrospective cohort in Japan. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on consecutive patients who visited our hospital between April 2009 and October 2018 and underwent a TAB. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the three pathological standards for a TAB, predetermined according to the pathological criterion of the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria: A) vasculitis characterized by predominant mononuclear cell infiltration; B) vasculitis with granulomatous inflammation; and C) vasculitis with multinucleated giant cells.

Histological Findings of Organizing Pneumonia, Based on Transbronchial Lung Biopsy, May Predict Poor Outcome in Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis: Report of Two Autopsied Cases.

Interstitial lung disease in polymyositis and dermatomyositis is a serious complication, associated with poor prognosis. In this article, we describe two cases with histological findings of organizing pneumonia, based on transbronchial lung biopsy. One is a 66-year-old female patient with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody, and another is a 61-year-old female patient with polymyositis with anti-Jo-1 antibody.

Risk Factors for Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and a Prophylactic Indication of Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole.

Background/objectives: Immunosuppressant medications (ISPs) increase the occurrence of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The prophylactic administration of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) for PCP is effective but has serious adverse effects and so should be selectively used for patients at high risk. The aims of this study were to clarify the risk factors for PCP in RA patients and to establish the indications for administering TMP/SMX.

Neurological Complications in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA): The Roles of History and Physical Examinations in the Diagnosis of EGPA.

Objective To investigate the clinical symptoms, the physical and neurological findings, and the clinical course of neurological complications in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Methods A retrospective chart review of EGPA cases managed by two referral hospitals was performed, with a focus on the neurological findings. The study analyzed the symptoms at the onset of EGPA and investigated their chronological relationship.

[Assessment of risk factors for adverse events due to pemetrexed in patients with reduced renal function].

Pemetrexedis a key drug in the first and second -line therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer. It exhibits an increased area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve, and it has a prolonged half -life when administered to patients with reduced renal function, resulting in a high frequency of neutropenia. Accordingly, pemetrexed is administered to these patients with caution.