Efimia Papadopoulou-Alataki

Clinical picture and treatment of 2212 patients with common variable immunodeficiency

BACKGROUND Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is an antibody deficiency with an equal sex distribution and a high variability in clinical presentation. The main features include respiratory tract infections and their associated complications, enteropathy, autoimmunity, and lymphoproliferative disorders. OBJECTIVE This study analyzes the clinical presentation, association between clinical features, and differences and effects of immunoglobulin treatment in Europe. METHODS Data on 2212 patients with CVID from 28 medical centers contributing to the European Society for Immunodeficiencies Database were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS Early disease onset (<10 years) was very frequent in our cohort (33.7%), especially in male subjects (39.8%). Male subjects with early-onset CVID were more prone to pneumonia and less prone to other complications suggesting a distinct disease entity. The diagnostic delay of CVID ranges between 4 and 5 years in many countries and is particularly high in subjects with early-onset CVID. Enteropathy, autoimmunity, granulomas, and splenomegaly formed a set of interrelated features, whereas bronchiectasis was not associated with any other clinical feature. Patient survival in this cohort was associated with age at onset and age at diagnosis only. There were different treatment strategies in Europe, with considerable differences in immunoglobulin dosing, ranging from 130 up to 750 mg/kg/mo. Patients with very low trough levels of less than 4 g/L had poor clinical outcomes, whereas higher trough levels were associated with a reduced frequency of serious bacterial infections. CONCLUSION Patients with CVID are being managed differently throughout Europe, affecting various outcome measures. Clinically, CVID is a truly variable antibody deficiency syndrome.

Results from a multicentre international registry of familial Mediterranean fever: impact of environment on the expression of a monogenic disease in children

Background and aim Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease caused by mutations of the MEFV gene. We analyse the impact of ethnic, environmental and genetic factors on the severity of disease presentation in a large international registry. Methods Demographic, genetic and clinical data from validated paediatric FMF patients enrolled in the Eurofever registry were analysed. Three subgroups were considered: (i) patients living in the eastern Mediterranean countries; (ii) patients with an eastern Mediterranean ancestry living in western Europe; (iii) Caucasian patients living in western European countries. A score for disease severity at presentation was elaborated. Results Since November 2009, 346 FMF paediatric patients were enrolled in the Eurofever registry. The genetic and demographic features (ethnicity, age of onset, age at diagnosis) were similar among eastern Mediterranean patients whether they lived in their countries or western European countries. European patients had a lower frequency of the high penetrance M694V mutation and a significant delay of diagnosis (p<0.002). Patients living in eastern Mediterranean countries had a higher frequency of fever episodes/year and more frequent arthritis, pericarditis, chest pain, abdominal pain and vomiting compared to the other two groups. Multivariate analysis showed that the variables independently associated with severity of disease presentation were country of residence, presence of M694V mutation and positive family history. Conclusions Eastern Mediterranean FMF patients have a milder disease phenotype once they migrate to Europe, reflecting the effect of environment on the expression of a monogenic disease.

TNFRSF13B/TACI Alterations in Greek Patients with Antibody Deficiencies

TNFRSF13B/TACI defects have recently been associated with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) pathogenesis. Considering that TNFRSF13B/TACI is very polymorphic and the frequency of its alterations may be different in various ethnic groups, we analyzed their prevalence in 47 Greek patients with antibody deficiencies, including CVID (16 patients), IgAD (16 patients), selective IgG4D (11 patients), and transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy (4 patients). A rather high frequency of TNFRSF13B/TACI defects was identified in patients with selective IgG4D (18.18%). Moreover, a patient with CVID was heterozygous in the common C104R mutation (6.25%). Both his children and a further healthy individual carried the same mutation, albeit without recurrent infections and/or hypogammaglobulinemia. The common polymorphisms V220A and P251L were identified in all disease subgroups, in an almost similar frequency with that observed in 259 healthy controls. Our data provide further evidence that TNFRSF13B/TACI alterations are not causative of CVID. Possibly, they predispose to humoral deficiencies and/or contribute to their phenotype when combined with other immune gene alterations.

Clinical and biochemical manifestations of syndrome X in obese children

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the clinical and metabolic characteristics of syndrome X had their onset in childhood in otherwise healthy but obese children of Greek origin. A group of 25 obese children and 18 age- and sex matched control subjects, aged 6–14 years, underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), assessed for determination of plasma glucose and insulin levels. Insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance were estimated by mathematical models using calculations obtained during the OGTT. Body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure were measured, as well as serum lipoprotein and aminotransferase concentrations, after an overnight fast. The obese children had significantly higher blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) (P<0.001), triglycerides, lipoprotein(a) and alanine aminotransferase levels (P<0.05) and significantly lower HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-1 values (P<0.001). Plasma glucose levels during the OGTT were similar in both obese children and control subjects, while plasma insulin levels were significantly higher in obese children (P<0.01). In mathematical models, mean values of insulin sensitivity predictors: metabolic clearance rate and insulin sensitivity index were significantly lower in obese children (P<0.001). Predictors of beta-cell function: insulin resistance index and insulin release index were significantly higher in obese children (P<0.001). Conclusion:childhood adiposity was associated with all traditional components of syndrome X. The early recognition of these factors as predisposing elements of the appearance of metabolic syndrome requires the development of strategies to manage excess weight gain during childhood, with the ultimate goal being the prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

Performance of different diagnostic criteria for familial Mediterranean fever in children with periodic fevers: Results from a multicenter international registry

Objective. Our aims were to validate the pediatric diagnostic criteria in a large international registry and to compare them with the performance of previous criteria for the diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Methods. Pediatric patients with FMF from the Eurofever registry were used for the validation of the existing criteria. The other periodic fevers served as controls: mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD), tumor necrosis factor receptor–associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS), cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS), aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, adenitis syndrome (PFAPA), and undefined periodic fever from the same registry. The performances of Tel Hashomer, Livneh, and the Yalcinkaya-Ozen criteria were assessed. Results. The FMF group included 339 patients. The control group consisted of 377 patients (53 TRAPS, 45 MKD, 32 CAPS, 160 PFAPA, 87 undefined periodic fevers). Patients with FMF were correctly diagnosed using the Yalcinkaya-Ozen criteria with a sensitivity rate of 87.4% and a specificity rate of 40.7%. On the other hand, Tel Hashomer and Livneh criteria displayed a sensitivity of 45.0 and 77.3%, respectively. Both of the latter criteria displayed a better specificity than the Yalcinkaya-Ozen criteria: 97.2 and 41.1% for the Tel Hashomer and Livneh criteria, respectively. The overall accuracy for the Yalcinkaya-Ozen criteria was 65 and 69.6% (using 2 and 3 criteria), respectively. Ethnicity and residence had no effect on the performance of the Yalcinkaya-Ozen criteria. Conclusion. The Yalcinkaya-Ozen criteria yielded a better sensitivity than the other criteria in this international cohort of patients and thus can be used as a tool for FMF diagnosis in pediatric patients from either the European or eastern Mediterranean region. However, the specificity was lower than the previously suggested adult criteria.

Development of the autoinflammatory disease damage index (ADDI)

Objectives Autoinflammatory diseases cause systemic inflammation that can result in damage to multiple organs. A validated instrument is essential to quantify damage in individual patients and to compare disease outcomes in clinical studies. Currently, there is no such tool. Our objective was to develop a common autoinflammatory disease damage index (ADDI) for familial Mediterranean fever, cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic fever syndrome and mevalonate kinase deficiency. Methods We developed the ADDI by consensus building. The top 40 enrollers of patients in the Eurofever Registry and 9 experts from the Americas participated in multiple rounds of online surveys to select items and definitions. Further, 22 (parents of) patients rated damage items and suggested new items. A consensus meeting was held to refine the items and definitions, which were then formally weighted in a scoring system derived using decision-making software, known as 1000minds. Results More than 80% of the experts and patients completed the online surveys. The preliminary ADDI contains 18 items, categorised in the following eight organ systems: reproductive, renal/amyloidosis, developmental, serosal, neurological, ears, ocular and musculoskeletal damage. The categories renal/amyloidosis and neurological damage were assigned the highest number of points, serosal damage the lowest number of points. The involvement of (parents of) patients resulted in the inclusion of, for example, chronic musculoskeletal pain. Conclusions An instrument to measure damage caused by autoinflammatory diseases is developed based on consensus building. Patients fulfilled a significant role in this process.

Hereditary angioedema in Greek families caused by novel and recurrent mutations

This study constitutes the first molecular analysis of hereditary angioedema (HAE) in Greece, where 11 patients from three unrelated families with recurrent angioedema attacks and decreased C1 inhibitor antigenic levels were analyzed for SERPING1 mutations. Interestingly, one family displayed a novel SERPING1 alteration, characterized by the substitution of two consecutive nucleotides TC to AA, resulting in a termination codon (F225X). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such a mutation in SERPING1, causing HAE. The second family displayed the nonsense mutation W482X, and the third the missense mutation M1V, already described in the literature. The type of mutation did not predict clearly the disease phenotype, since even members of the same family displayed a variety of the frequency and the severity of angioedema attacks. Our study identified a novel mutagenesis mechanism for HAE pathogenesis, providing additional evidence for the genetic heterogeneity of the disease.

Valproate effect on ketosis in children under ketogenic diet

INTRODUCTION Although ketogenic diet has been proven useful in the management of intractable seizures, interactions with other medicines have been reported. This study reports two patients on co-administration with ketogenic diet and valproate appearing undesirable side effects after increase or decrease of valproate pharmaceutical levels. METHODS Totally 75 patients suffering from drug-resistant epilepsy were treated with ketogenic diet in our departments. Their age varied from 6 months to 9 years. All patients were followed for at least 12 months and up to five years. Clinical and laboratory variables have been regularly assessed. RESULTS In 75 patients treated with ketogenic diet and valproate at the same time treatment was well tolerated. Two patients presented mild to moderate undesirable effects. In these patients the removal of valproate treatment resulted in an increase of ketosis with respective clinical signs. The conversion of the diet from 4:1 to 1:1 and 2,5:1 respectively resulted in reduction of ketosis and clinical improvement. CONCLUSION In the majority of cases co-administration of valproate and ketogenic diet seems to be safe. In two cases, valproate appeared to have a negative effect on ketosis (and weaning it led to over-ketosis). This interaction is worthy of future study.

Molecular diagnosis and management of hereditary angioedema in a Greek family.

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by recurrent angioedema episodes caused by a quantitative or functional defect of the plasma protein C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). Relapsing skin swellings, abdominal pain attacks and upper airway obstruction constitute the typical clinical manifestations. The incidence and severity of angioedema attacks are highly variable among HAE patients. Cases: We report on 4 patients with HAE type I, members of the same family, originating from a Greek island. The patients, 2 males and 2 females (aged 8–45 years) suffer from recurrent edema episodes (1–2 attacks/month). Skin swellings at the extremities and the face, abdominal episodes and laryngeal edema are the classical clinical triad, with significant variation in the severity and frequency of symptoms among our patients. The new missense mutation in exon 2 of the C1-INH gene, c.1A>G; p.Met-22Val (p.Met1Val), in a heterozygous form was detected in all our patients. Acute and severe attacks are successfully treated with administration of C1-INH concentrate. Conclusion: Variability of phenotypic expression of HAE was observed among the affected family members, despite carrying identical mutation of the C1-INH gene. Acute exacerbations of the disease are safely and effectively treated with C1-INH concentrate.

Clinical Applications of Intravenous Immunoglobulins in Child Neurology

BACKGROUND While there are guidelines for the use of intravenous immunoglobulins in children with Guillain-Barre syndrome and myasthenia gravis based on high-level evidence studies, data are scarce for the majority of neurologic disorders in this age group. Neuronal antibodies are detected in children with seizures of autoimmune etiology. Intravenous immunoglobulins with their broad immunomodulatory mechanism of action could be ideally effective in different forms of immunedysregulated intractable epilepsies such as autoimmune epilepsy and autoimmune Rasmussen encephalitis. We conducted a systematic review of the literature for evidence of the use of intravenous immunoglobulins in a variety of neurologic diseases in childhood. METHOD A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Pubmed as the medical database source without date range. Prospective studies in pediatric groups including objective measures of clinical outcomes were systematically selected. RESULTS A total of 11 prospective studies were identified in the literature demonstrating a favorable effect of this therapeutic option in children with drug-resistant epilepsy and in cases of encephalitis. No serious adverse effects were reported. No prospective studies about the use of intravenous immunoglobulins in children with demyelinating disorders or neurologic paraneoplasmatic syndromes were found. CONCLUSION In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the field of intravenous immunoglobulins used in pediatric neurological diseases. Literature data supports a beneficial effect in this age group. Whilst awaiting the results of large scale studies, administration of intravenous immunoglobulins could be justified in refractory child epilepsy. Otherwise, its use should be guided by the individual needs of each child, depending on the underlying neurological disease.