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Objective: to investigate the trend of autoantibody titers during a 2-year follow-up in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE) and pediatric Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Methods: Autoantibodies testing was performed every 3-4 months during 2 years from disease onset in a cohort of children with pSLE and pSS. Results: We enrolled 21 children with pSLE and 22 children with pSS. All pSLE patients at 2 years showed ANA titers significantly lower compared to disease onset. Eleven patients (73%) were still ANA positive at 2 years, while 4 (26%) became ANA negative. At diagnosis, 12 (80%) patients showed a homogeneous pattern, while 3 (20%) patients showed a speckled pattern. The latter remained ANA positive with the same pattern; only 2 patients with a homogenous pattern converted to speckled, 4 patients with a homogeneous pattern became ANA negative. ANA negative pSLE patients showed lower levels of interferon score compared to ANA positive patients. Anti-dsDNA titers declined equally in the two groups. All patients with pSS, at disease onset, were ANA and anti-Ro positive and 14 (66%) were anti-La positive. After 2 years of follow-up, 100% remained ANA positive but showed significant lower titers. During follow-up anti-Ro and anti-La titers remained stable. Conclusion: different patterns in changes of ANA and ENA titers in pSLE and pSS were shown. At 2 years of follow-up, all pSLE patients had a lower ANA titer and 26% became negative; however, all pSS patients remained both ANA and ENA positive. This evidence may be due to different pathogenetic pathways in SLE and pSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to report the safety and efficacy of CD19‐targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in a child with refractory juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). Methods: We describe a 12‐year‐old White male with severe, chronically active JDM refractory to multiple immunosuppressive treatment lines, including B cell depletion with rituximab. The patient received a single infusion of fresh, autologous, second‐generation anti‐CD19 CAR T cell product (lentiviral vector) manufactured on the Prodigy device (1 × 106 CAR T cells/kg), after lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide (1,000 mg/m2 over two days) and fludarabine (90 mg/m2 over three days). Immunosuppressive and glucocorticoid treatment were withdrawn before leukapheresis and CAR T cell infusion. Results: Before anti‐CD19 CAR T cell therapy, the patient had persistent severe skin and muscular disease activity. CAR T cells expanded significantly (peak at day 7, 32.69 cells/μL). Complete B cell depletion was documented on day 5 in the blood and at week 2 in the bone marrow. The patient presented with fever as part of mild cytokine release syndrome (grade 1), transient anemia (grade 2), and neutropenia (grade 4). Neither infection nor neurotoxicity were observed. Laboratory tests, magnetic resonance imaging, Physician Global Assessment of disease activity, Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale, and Cutaneous Assessment Tool for myositis were performed at baseline and follow‐up to assess treatment response, showing remarkable progressive improvement that persists over time, even after B cell recovery. Conclusion: This patient with JDM with severe chronic disease, refractory to multiple treatments, achieved sustained B cell depletion and ongoing immunosuppressive drug‐free clinical and radiologic improvement eight months after a single infusion of anti‐CD19 CAR T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) frequently have kidney involvement. Lupus nephritis sometimes presents alone, without systemic SLE features, representing the so-called full-house nephropathy (FHN). Distinguishing patients with SLE or FHN has therapeutic and prognostic implications. Methods In this retrospective observational study, we determined the presence of IgM on the surface of T cells (T cell IgM) by flow cytometry and characterized its ability in distinguishing SLE and FHN patients in a large pediatric cohort (n = 84). Fifty-seven patients with SLE ([greater than or equal to] 4 SLICC criteria at disease onset or during the follow-up) and 27 patients with FHN (3 or less SLICC criteria) were enrolled. Results Elevated T cell IgM levels were found in 24/25 SLE patients in active phase of disease and in 29/45 SLE patients in remission. In contrast, among FHN patients, only 1/9 presented this characteristic in active phase of disease and 0/20 in remission. Compared with standardized SLICC laboratory parameters, i.e., autoantibody titers and hypocomplementemia, T cell IgM positivity showed an extremely high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of SLE, with the highest area under the curve (0.97, p < 0.001) by receiver operating characteristic analysis, similar to ANA (0.96, p < 0.001) and anti-dsDNA (0.90, p < 0.001) autoantibodies. Conclusions Altogether, our data indicate that T cell IgM intensity may be a useful tool to correctly classify patients with lupus nephritis as SLE or FHN since disease onset., Author(s): Manuela Colucci [sup.1] , Barbara Ruggiero [sup.2] , Alessandra Gianviti [sup.2] , Maria Manuela Rosado [sup.3] , Rita Carsetti [sup.3] , Claudia Bracaglia [sup.4] , Fabrizio De Benedetti [sup.4] [...]

Sydenham's chorea (SC), an autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system, is a pivotal diagnostic criterion for acute rheumatic fever. Primarily prevalent in childhood, especially in developing countries, SC manifests with involuntary movements and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Predominantly occurring between ages 5 and 15, with a female bias, SC may recur, particularly during pregnancy or estrogen use. The autoimmune response affecting the basal ganglia, notably against dopamine, underlies the pathophysiology. Clinical management necessitates an integrated approach, potentially involving immunomodulatory therapies. To address discrepancies in SC management, a survey was conducted across Italy, targeting specialists in neurology, pediatrics, child neuropsychiatry, and rheumatology. Of the 51 responding physicians, consensus favored hospitalization for suspected SC, with broad support for laboratory tests and brain MRI. Treatment preferences showed agreement on oral prednisone and IVIG, while opinions varied on duration and plasmapheresis. Haloperidol emerged as the preferred symptomatic therapy. Post-SC penicillin prophylaxis and steroid therapy gained strong support, although opinions differed on duration. Follow-up recommendations included neuropsychological and cardiological assessments. Despite offering valuable insights, broader and more studies are needed in order to guide treatment decisions in this well-known yet challenging complication of acute rheumatic fever, which continues to warrant scientific attention and concerted clinical efforts. • Sydenham's Chorea is a major concern, especially in children from developing countries, with long-term neuropsychiatric challenges. • We surveyed 51 clinicians via an online questionnaire, revealing current diagnostic and therapeutic practices for SC. • Physicians agreed on hospitalization and prefer MRI as the primary neuroimaging technique for diagnosing SC in children. • Treatment preferences varied, influenced by side effects and disease severity, showing differing clinical judgments. • Findings highlight the need for standardized treatment guidelines to enhance SC management, especially in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Aims: The impact of treatment expectations on active treatment outcomes has not been specifically investigated in neuromuscular disorders. We thus explored in myasthenia gravis (MG) the contribution of patients' pre‐treatment expectations combined with an immunosuppressant drug on treatment outcomes. Methods: This pilot correlational study involved 17 patients with generalized MG, scheduled to start immunosuppressant azathioprine. At baseline, a healthcare professional administered: (i) the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale; (ii) a structured checklist paper form asking patients which side‐effects they expected to develop after starting azathioprine, coupled with a standardized framing of statements. Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) score and daily dose of concomitant drugs were assessed by neurologists as clinical outcomes. Clinical outcomes and side‐effects were re‐assessed at 3 and 6 months, and clinical outcomes were monitored at 18 months. Results: Clinically significant improvement in the QMG scores was achieved at 3 or 6 months. The level of state anxiety appeared to act as moderator of pre‐treatment negative expectations (strong, positive, indicative correlation, rs =.733, p =.001). The latter were, in turn, associated with the fulfillment of side‐effects that patients expected to develop with the new treatment (moderate, positive, indicative correlation, rs =.699, p =.002). No significant correlation emerged between positive and negative expectations. Discussion: Our findings show a very quick clinical response and also suggest that patients' expectations and anxiety contributed to treatment outcomes, highlighting the importance of promoting safety messages and education strategies around newly introduced treatments. Future goals include evaluating a larger cohort that includes a matched control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous tocilizumab (SC-TCZ) treatment in a long-term extension (LTE) of clinical trials in polyarticular or systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA or sJIA). Methods Patients with pJIA or sJIA from two open-label, 52-week phase 1b core trials of SC-TCZ who had adequate response per investigator assessment entered the LTE and continued SC-TCZ treatment according to body weight–based dosing regimens until commercial availability or up to 5 years. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy were assessed for up to 3 years, and safety for up to 5 years in the LTE. Results Forty-four patients with pJIA and 38 patients with sJIA entered the LTE. Tocilizumab trough concentrations were maintained within the range expected to provide clinical benefit (mean values: pJIA, ∼10 μg/ml; sJIA, ∼75 μg/ml over 3 years). Pharmacodynamic parameters (interleukin-6, soluble interleukin-6 receptor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein) were maintained throughout the LTE at levels achieved in the core trials. Inactive disease per American College of Rheumatology provisional criteria was reported for 90% (17/19) and 53% (8/15) of patients with pJIA and 91% (10/11) and 92% (12/13) of patients with sJIA in the <30 and ≥30 kg body weight groups, respectively. Serious adverse events in the LTE were reported in six patients with pJIA (13.6%; five serious infections) and five patients with sJIA (13.2%; one serious infection). Conclusion Patients with pJIA or sJIA experienced long-term disease control with SC-TCZ treatment. Long-term safety was consistent with the known tocilizumab safety profile. Clinical trial registration clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02165345 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]