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PurposeTo evaluate the feasibility of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) for measuring anterior chamber (AC) cells in children with uveitis and to compare different AS-OCT acquisition modes.DesignValidity and reliability analysis.MethodsWe enrolled children younger than 18 years who had uveitis involving the anterior segment and children without eye disease as controls. All underwent clinical grading of AC cells. AC images of each eye were obtained using the Optovue Avanti RTVue XR AS-OCT. Two acquisition modes were used: a single cross-sectional line scan and an 8-line radial scan in an asterisk pattern. Two independent, masked graders counted cells manually on AS-OCT images. Rater agreement was assessed using intraclass correlation (ICC).ResultsIncluded were 30 children (59 eyes) with uveitis (median age 13.0 years, range 3-17 years) and 20 control children (40 eyes, median age 10.5 years, range 4-17 years). The number of eyes assigned each clinical grade of cells were as follows: none, 32 (54%); 0.5+, 12 (20.3%); 1+, 5 (8.5%); 2+, 8 (13.6%); 3+, 2 (3.4%). ICC of graders for line and radial scan protocols were 0.87 and 0.90. There was no significant difference between acquisition modes for pooled grader results (95% CI for difference: -0.04 to 0.14). ICC of cell counts between line and radial scan protocols was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.69-0.90). No control eyes had cells on AS-OCT images.ConclusionsQuantification of AC cell in children with uveitis is feasible with AS-OCT and has excellent reliability between different graders and acquisition modes.

BackgroundTo reduce treatment variability and facilitate comparative effectiveness studies, the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) published consensus treatment plans (CTPs) including one for juvenile proliferative lupus nephritis (LN). Induction immunosuppression CTPs outline treatment with either monthly intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide (CYC) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in conjunction with one of three corticosteroid (steroid) CTPs: primarily oral, primarily IV or mixed oral/IV. The acceptability and in-practice use of these CTPs are unknown. Therefore, the primary aims of the pilot study were to demonstrate feasibility of adhering to the LN CTPs and delineate barriers to implementation in clinical care in the US. Further, we aimed to explore the safety and effectiveness of the treatments for induction therapy.MethodsForty-one patients were enrolled from 10 CARRA sites. Patients had new-onset biopsy proven ISN/RPS class III or IV proliferative LN, were starting induction therapy with MMF or IV CYC and high-dose steroids and were followed for up to 24 months. Routine clinical data were collected at each visit. Provider reasons for CTP selection were assessed at baseline. Adherence to the CTPs was evaluated by provider survey and medication logs. Complete and partial renal responses were reported at 6 months.ResultsThe majority of patients were female (83%) with a mean age of 14.7 years, SD 2.8. CYC was used more commonly than MMF for patients with ISN/RPS class IV LN (vs. class III), those who had hematuria, and those with adherence concerns. Overall adherence to the immunosuppression induction CTPs was acceptable with a majority of patients receiving the target MMF (86%) or CYC (63%) dose. However, adherence to the steroid CTPs was poor (37%) with large variability in dosing. Renal response endpoints were exploratory and did not show a significant difference between CYC and MMF.ConclusionsOverall, the immunosuppression CTPs were followed as intended in the majority of patients however, adherence to the steroid CTPs was poor indicating revision is necessary. In addition, our pilot study revealed several sources of treatment selection bias that will need to be addressed in for future comparative effectiveness research.

BackgroundNo large population-based studies have been done on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) mortality trends in the United States.ObjectiveTo identify secular trends and population characteristics associated with SLE mortality.DesignPopulation-based study using a national mortality database and census data.SettingUnited States.ParticipantsAll U.S. residents, 1968 through 2013.MeasurementsJoinpoint trend analysis of annual age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) for SLE and non-SLE causes by sex, race/ethnicity, and geographic region; multiple logistic regression analysis to determine independent associations of demographic variables and period with SLE mortality.ResultsThere were 50 249 SLE deaths and 100 851 288 non-SLE deaths from 1968 through 2013. Over this period, the SLE ASMR decreased less than the non-SLE ASMR, with a 34.6% cumulative increase in the ratio of the former to the latter. The non-SLE ASMR decreased every year starting in 1968, whereas the SLE ASMR decreased between 1968 and 1975, increased between 1975 and 1999, and decreased thereafter. Similar patterns were seen in both sexes, among black persons, and in the South. However, statistically significant increases in the SLE ASMR did not occur among white persons over the 46-year period. Females, black persons, and residents of the South had higher SLE ASMRs and larger cumulative increases in the ratio of the SLE to the non-SLE ASMR (31.4%, 62.5%, and 58.6%, respectively) than males, other racial/ethnic groups, and residents of other regions, respectively. Multiple logistic regression showed independent associations of sex, race, and region with SLE mortality risk and revealed significant racial/ethnic differences in associations of SLE mortality with sex and region.LimitationsUnderreporting of SLE on death certificates may have resulted in underestimates of SLE ASMRs. Accuracy of coding on death certificates is difficult to ascertain.ConclusionRates of SLE mortality have decreased since 1968 but remain high relative to non-SLE mortality, and significant sex, racial, and regional disparities persist.Primary funding sourceNone.

ObjectiveParticipants in the Atherosclerosis Prevention in Paediatric Lupus Erythematosus (APPLE) trial were randomised to placebo or atorvastatin for 36 months. The primary endpoint, reduced carotid intima medial thickness (CIMT) progression, was not met but atorvastatin-treated participants showed a trend of slower CIMT progression. Post-hoc analyses were performed to assess subgroup benefit from atorvastatin therapy.MethodsSubgroups were prespecified and defined by age (> or ≤15.5 years), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) duration (> or ≤24 months), pubertal status (Tanner score≥4 as post-pubertal or

Abstract Introduction Osteopontin (OPN) has been implicated as a mediator of Th17 regulation via type I interferon (IFN) receptor signaling and in macrophage activity at sites of tissue repair. This study assessed whether increased circulating plasma OPN (cOPN) precedes development of organ damage in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE) and compared it to circulating plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (cNGAL), a predictor of increased SLE disease activity. Methods cOPN and cNGAL were measured in prospectively followed pSLE (n = 42) and adult SLE (aSLE; n = 23) patients and age-matched controls. Time-adjusted cumulative disease activity and disease damage were respectively assessed using adjusted-mean SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) (AMS) and SLICC/ACR damage index (SDI). Results Compared to controls, elevated cOPN and cNGAL were observed in pSLE and aSLE. cNGAL preceded worsening SLEDAI by 3-6 months (P = 0.04), but was not associated with increased 6-month AMS. High baseline cOPN, which was associated with high IFNalpha activity and expression of autoantibodies to nucleic acids, positively correlated with 6-month AMS (r = 0.51 and 0.52, P = 0.001 and 0.01 in pSLE and aSLE, respectively) and was associated with SDI increase at 12 months in pSLE (P = 0.001). Risk factors for change in SDI in pSLE were cOPN (OR 7.5, 95% CI [2.9-20], P = 0.03), but not cNGAL, cumulative prednisone, disease duration, immunosuppression use, gender or ancestry using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The area under the curve (AUC) when generating the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) of baseline cOPN sensitivity and specificity for the indication of SLE patients with an increase of SDI over a 12 month period is 0.543 (95% CI 0.347-0.738; positive predictive value 95% and negative predictive value 38%). Conclusion High circulating OPN levels preceded increased cumulative disease activity and organ damage in SLE patients, especially in pSLE, and its value as a predictor of poor outcome should be further validated in large longitudinal cohorts.

Our patients' phenotypes are a mix of features found in both DADA2 and ALPS. It has been reported that patients with pathogenic variants in I FAS i will have 100% cellular and laboratory penetrance; however, only 25-45% of patients will express a clinical phenotype highlighting the variable expressivity seen in ALPS [[2]]. 1Hematologic, immunologic, and genetic findings in patients with variants in ADA2 and FAS causing DADA2 and ALPS. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: Families that contain multiple siblings affected with childhood onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) likely have strong genetic predispositions. We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) to identify familial rare risk variants and to assess their effects in lupus.Methods: Sanger sequencing validated the two ultra-rare, predicted pathogenic risk variants discovered by WES and identified additional variants in 562 additional patients with SLE. Effects of a splice site variant and a frameshift variant were assessed using a Minigene assay and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in (KI) mice, respectively.Results: The two familial ultra-rare, predicted loss-of-function (LOF) SAT1 variants exhibited X-linked recessive Mendelian inheritance in two unrelated African-American families. Each LOF variant was transmitted from the heterozygous unaffected mother to her two sons with childhood-onset SLE. The p.Asp40Tyr variant affected a splice donor site causing deleterious transcripts. The young hemizygous male and homozygous female Sat1p.Glu92Leufs*6 KI mice spontaneously developed splenomegaly, enlarged glomeruli with leucocyte infiltration, proteinuria and elevated expression of type I interferon-inducible genes. SAT1 is highly expressed in neutrophils and encodes spermidine/spermine-N1-acetyltransferase 1 (SSAT1), a rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine catabolism. Young male KI mice exhibited neutrophil defects and decreased proportions of Foxp3 +CD4+ T-cell subsets. Circulating neutrophil counts and proportions of Foxp3 +CD4+ T cells correlated with decreased plasma levels of spermine in treatment-naive, incipient SLE patients.Conclusions: We identified two novel SAT1 LOF variants, showed the ability of the frameshift variant to confer murine lupus, highlighted the pathogenic role of dysregulated polyamine catabolism and identified SAT1 LOF variants as new monogenic causes for SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As newer treatment modalities become available for patients with severe lupus nephritis, it becomes increasingly important to identify patients at risk for renal failure. In this study, the records of 90 children presenting with systemic lupus erythematosus over a 13-year period were reviewed. Nineteen were lost to follow-up prior to completion of the study. Of the 71 remaining children, 16 (22%) progressed to chronic renal failure. Persistent hypertension lasting greater than 4 months, anemia, abnormalities of the urinalysis, and elevated serum creatinine level were significantly associated with progression to renal failure. Sex, race, age, abnormalities of creatinine clearance, and 24-hour urine protein collection were not associated with progression to renal failure. Renal biopsies were obtained in 45 children. Biopsies were initially classified according to World Health Organization criteria. Diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis was significantly associated with progression to renal failure. The 45 biopsies available were reviewed by one of the authors and categorized by activity and chronicity indices. Both the active lesions of fibrinoid necrosis, synechiae, tubular casts, and vasculitic lesions and the chronic lesion of glomerular sclerosis correlated with progression to renal failure. Of the 16 children who progressed to renal failure, 2 had cadaver kidney transplants and are well 5 years posttransplant; 4 had fulminant lupus and died within 1 month of commencing dialysis; 10 began chronic dialysis. Five of the 10 children on chronic dialysis died from sepsis. These data suggest that children with systemic lupus erythematosus who undergo dialysis do poorly. This alters the risk-to-benefit ratio of newer, more aggressive treatment protocols which should be considered in children whose clinical, laboratory, and renal biopsy findings suggest eventual progression to renal failure. Pediatrics 1992;89:240-246; lupus nephritis, renal failure, prognosis.

Objective. The importance of hypomethylation in SLE is well recognized; however, the significance of hypermethylation has not been well characterized. We screened hypermethylated marks in SLE and investigated their possible implications. Methods. DNA methylation marks were screened in SLE whole-blood DNA by microarray, and two marks (CD3Z and VHL hypermethylations) were confirmed by a methylation single-base extension method in two independent ethnic cohorts consisting of 207 SLE patients and 151 controls. The correlation with clinical manifestations and the genetic influence on those epigenetic marks were analysed. Results. Two epigenetic marks, CD3Z and VHL hypermethylation, were significantly correlated with SLE: CD3Z hypermethylation (odds ratio = 7.76; P = 1.71 x 10-13) and VHL hypermethylation (odds ratio = 3.77; P = 3.20 x10-8), and the increased CD3Z methylation was correlated with downregulation of the CD3ς-chain in SLE T cells. In addition, less genetic influence on CD3Z methylation relative to VHL methylation was found in analyses of longitudinal and twin samples. Furthermore, a higher CD3Z methylation level was significantly correlated with a higher SLE disease activity index and more severe clinical manifestations, such as proteinuria, haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia, whereas VHL hypermethylation was not. Conclusion. CD3Z hypermethylation is an SLE risk factor that can be modified by environmental factors and is associated with more severe SLE clinical manifestations, which are related to deranged T cell function by downregulating the CD3ς-chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the importance of plasmin immunization in the production of immunoglobulin G (IgG) anticardiopolin (aCL) antibodies in patients with antiphospolipid syndrome (APS). It uses two mouse models that were immunized with Freund's complete adjuvant. Results show that BALB/cJ mice only develop IgG antiplasmin, while MRL/MpJ mice had produced IgG antiplasmin and IgG aCL antibodies. It concludes that plasmin immunization can produce prothrombotic aCL in susceptible people.

Abstract. To evaluate whether the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus in the first decade of life was associated with a unique pattern of racial preponderance, sexual preponderance, genetic predisposition, or disease expression, the medical records of 23 children with systemic lupus erythematosus prior to their tenth birthdays were compared with the medical records of 82 children in whom lupus was diagnosed between their tenth and 20th birthdays. No statistically significant differences in sex distribution, racial (ethnic) background, family history, mode of onset, morbidity, or mortality rates were found between the two age groups. The frequently held view that children with early-onset lupus do worse probably relates to the fact that even though they survive as long as children with the older-onset disease, they die younger because they have the onset of their lupus at a younger age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Families that contain multiple siblings affected with childhood onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) likely have strong genetic predispositions. We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) to identify familial rare risk variants and to assess their effects in lupus., Methods: Sanger sequencing validated the two ultra-rare, predicted pathogenic risk variants discovered by WES and identified additional variants in 562 additional patients with SLE. Effects of a splice site variant and a frameshift variant were assessed using a Minigene assay and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in (KI) mice, respectively., Results: The two familial ultra-rare, predicted loss-of-function (LOF) SAT1 variants exhibited X-linked recessive Mendelian inheritance in two unrelated African-American families. Each LOF variant was transmitted from the heterozygous unaffected mother to her two sons with childhood-onset SLE. The p.Asp40Tyr variant affected a splice donor site causing deleterious transcripts. The young hemizygous male and homozygous female Sat1 p.Glu92Leufs*6 KI mice spontaneously developed splenomegaly, enlarged glomeruli with leucocyte infiltration, proteinuria and elevated expression of type I interferon-inducible genes. SAT1 is highly expressed in neutrophils and encodes spermidine/spermine-N 1 -acetyltransferase 1 (SSAT1), a rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine catabolism. Young male KI mice exhibited neutrophil defects and decreased proportions of Foxp3 +CD4+ T-cell subsets. Circulating neutrophil counts and proportions of Foxp3 +CD4+ T cells correlated with decreased plasma levels of spermine in treatment-naive, incipient SLE patients., Conclusions: We identified two novel SAT1 LOF variants, showed the ability of the frameshift variant to confer murine lupus, highlighted the pathogenic role of dysregulated polyamine catabolism and identified SAT1 LOF variants as new monogenic causes for SLE., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Folate supplementation is widely accepted and utilized for the prevention of adverse events in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients who are treated with methotrexate. Despite the widespread use of folate supplementation, there is a lack of convincing evidence to support the role of folate in the enhancement of methotrexate efficacy and the prevention of methotrexate-related adverse events. In order to understand current practices used by experts, we surveyed 214 pediatric rheumatologists around the globe. Seventy-one unique folate supplementation regimens were reported for this study. Results indicated that folate supplementation (either in the form of folic acid or folinic acid) is inconsistent and highly variable within the United States as well as between the United States and other countries. This level of variability is often associated with lack of evidence and emphasizes the need for well-designed clinical trials to support a rational folate supplementation regimen in patients with JIA who are treated with methotrexate.

Objective: To determine if synovial fluid (SF) cells from inflamed joints of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) express melanoma antigen gene (MAGE) RNA and protein., Methods: The pattern of MAGE-A1 expression was analyzed in inflammatory synovial tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with JRA by immunocytochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and flow cytometry., Results: MAGE-A1, previously detected only in tumor cells, is strongly expressed in SF cells from patients with JRA. Immunocytochemistry revealed strong staining of SF cells in all of 22 specimens tested. PBMC from patients (7 of 7) also expressed MAGE-A1, but not as strongly as SF cells. Two-color immunofluorescence showed colocalization with CD4 and CD14. Flow cytometry on 3 samples of SF cells confirmed the presence of MAGE-A1 on the cell surface and intracellularly. Five of 5 SF cell samples were positive for MAGE-A1 by RT-PCR., Conclusion: Mononuclear cells from inflamed joints and blood from patients with JRA express MAGE-A1. MAGE family proteins were previously thought to be expressed only by certain tumors and presented by HLA Class I, resulting in tumor cell lysis by cytotoxic T cells. The observation of MAGE-A1 expression in JRA suggests an association with autoimmune disease and a possible causal role for MAGE antigen in the chronic inflammation of JRA.