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Abstract Background In SLE patients, cytokines are linked to endothelial cell damage. Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is a simple method for evaluating micro-vascular abnormalities in different connective tissue diseases (CTDs). The study aimed to detect the levels of interleukin 17A (IL 17A), type I interferons (IFNs I) in the serum, and NFC changes in Egyptian SLE patients compared to a control group and to correlate NFC findings with patients’ demographic features and serum levels of IL 17A and IFNs I. Results Serum levels of IL 17A, IFN α, and IFN β were significantly higher in SLE patients than in control group (P

Background: In SLE patients, cytokines are linked to endothelial cell damage. Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is a simple method for evaluating micro-vascular abnormalities in different connective tissue diseases (CTDs). The study aimed to detect the levels of interleukin 17A (IL 17A), type I interferons (IFNs I) in the serum, and NFC changes in Egyptian SLE patients compared to a control group and to correlate NFC findings with patients' demographic features and serum levels of IL 17A and IFNs I. Results: Serum levels of IL 17A, IFN α, and IFN β were significantly higher in SLE patients than in control group (P < 0.0001). About thirty nine patients (73.6%) of the 53 SLE patients showed abnormal NFC changes. Egyptian SLE patients had a high prevalence of the NFC non-specific pattern, with 32 (60.4%) patients showing non-specific changes and 7 (13.2%) patients showing scleroderma pattern, including 3 (5.6%) patients with active scleroderma pattern and 4 (7.55%) patients with late scleroderma pattern. Furthermore, Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) was observed in 8 (15.1%) SLE patients, with 3 (5.6%) having normal NFC pattern and 5 (9.4%) having scleroderma pattern. All controls (n = 20) showed normal hairpin shape capillaries. Except for SLEDAI (P = 0.03) and the presence of RP (P < 0.0001), there were no significant differences in demographic and laboratory parameters between the three NFC patterns (normal, non-specific, and scleroderma); additionally, NFC score correlated significantly with SLEDAI (P = 0.021). Conclusion: As a result of the high disease activity, Egyptian SLE patients had elevated serum levels of IL 17A and IFNs I. The most common NFC pattern in Egyptian SLE patients was a non-specific pattern. NFC abnormalities in Egyptian SLE patients were correlated with disease activity but not with patients' ages, disease duration, or serum levels of IL 17A and IFNs I. SLE patients with scleroderma NFC pattern and RP should be closely followed for the possibility of appearance of anti-U1 RNP antibodies and MCTDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secukinumab and ixekizumab are IL17A inhibitors most commonly used to treat psoriasis. Common side effects include upper respiratory tract infections, injection site reactions, and mucocutaneous candidiasis. Recently, these medications have been reported to trigger lichen planus and lichenoid reactions have also been reported as an emerging side effect of biologies, especially tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. Herein, we report a patient with lichen planus that appeared after initiation of secukinumab for the treatment of psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urgency. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) remains one of the most urgent issues of pediatric rheumatology due to incapacitation at early stages of the disease. It has been established that the first years of arthritis are key in the aspect of progression of the pathological process. Despite significant progress in treating JIA with genetically engineered biopharmaceuticals, some patients do not respond to such a therapy and thus aggravate the disease course. The study was aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment of children with JIA by means of analyzing the main immunological factors Th17, suggesting methods of differentiating lymphocytes and developing recommendations on assessing prognosis of the disease's course and outcomes. Methods. The study included 108 2–18-yearsold children with various forms of JIA. The control group was comprised of 18 conventionally healthy 6–17-years-old children with unburdened heredity regarding autoimmune diseases and without any clinical symptoms of diseases. The total T helper population and subpopulations thereof (naive Th cells and Th memory cells, double-positive Th cells), subpopulations of Th17 cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL 1β, IL 6, IL 17A and TNF α) in the peripheral blood were analyzed in all the patients, including the control group. Results. The levels of Th17 memory cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL 1β, IL 6 and IL 17A) were significantly higher in children with enthesitis-associated arthritis (HLA B27+ juvenile ankylosing spondyloarthritis) and systemic JIA. The level of Th17 cells and high blood level of IL 17A affect development of an active disease; simultaneous increase in IL 6 results in higher risk of osteochondral destruction in children with JIA. Conclusion. According to the immunological data, there are at least 2 JIA phenotypes: Th17-dependent and Th17-independent. Th17-dependent JIA is characterized by the most adverse course of the disease and high risk of osteoarticular destruction, which is why children require earlier prescription of genetically engineered biopharmaceuticals. By contrast, Th17-independent phenotype features a more favorable disease outcome and low risk of osteoarticular destruction.