DSpace Repository :: Browsing by Author "Hojman, Lia"

Browsing by Author "Hojman, Lia"

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Diffuse Lymphadenopathy Syndrome as a Flare-Up Manifestation in Lupus and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease Following Mild COVID-19
(2021) Karsulovic, Claudio; Hojman, Lia; Seelmann, Daniela; Wurmann, Pamela
BACKGROUND Manifestations of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, are highly variable among healthy populations. In connective tissue disease patients, the spectrum of clinical manifestations is even broader. In mild COVID-19 patients, diffuse lymphadenopathy (DL) has not been described as a late manifestation, and only severe COVID-19 has been associated with lupus flare-ups. Herein, we report 3 cases of connective tissue disease patients that presented with DL after diagnosis and complete resolution of mild COVID-19 disease. CASE REPORT Case 1. A 28-year-old man with inactive lupus, mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), and a history of lung and cutaneous involvement. He presented with fever, polyarthralgia, and multiple lymphadenopathies 3 weeks after COVID-19 disease resolution. After evaluation, immunosuppressive treatment was initiated, with rapid response. Case 2. A 25-year-old woman with inactive lupus with a history of articular, hematologic, and cutaneous involvement. Four weeks after resolution of COVID-19 disease, she presented with malaise and cervical lymphadenopathies. After laboratory testing and imaging, she was treated for lupus flare-up, with rapid response. Case 3. A 68-year-old woman with inactive lupus with a history of articular and cutaneous involvement. Four weeks after COVID-19 resolution, she presented with malaise and cervical and axillary lymphadenopathies. After extensive evaluation, immunosuppressive treatment resulted in a rapid response. CONCLUSIONS After 3 to 4 weeks of mild, outpatient-treated COVID-19 and complete resolution of symptoms, 3 patients with connective tissue disease presented diffuse lymphadenopathy associated with inflammatory and constitutional symptoms. Infectious and neoplastic causes were thoroughly ruled out. All patients responded to reintroduction of or an increase in immunosuppressive therapy. We recommend considering the diffuse lymphadenopathy as a possible post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) manifestation in these patients, mainly when they are in the inactive phase.
Neonatal lupus erythematosus, a clinical case
(2023) Catalina Montané; Hojman, Lia; Hasbún, María Trinidad
Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a very rare autoimmune disease, occurring in neonates born to mothers who present auto-antibodies to cytoplasmic antigens of Sjögren’s syndrome. In most cases, the clinical course is benign toward spontaneous resolution, but there is a group of patients who develop severe involvement of the cardiac conduction system, therefore, early detection is critical. Objective: To describe a clinical case of neonatal lupus erythematosus emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis in the patient and the mother. Clinical Case: A 33-year-old woman, with a history of hypertension, came to the dermatology department for her 15-day-old male neonate who presented a recent onset of round, erythematous, raised-edged, and non-scaling plaques consistent with NLE. Cardiac conduction involvement was ruled out. Newborn’s laboratory tests showed moderate neutropenia, mild increase of transaminases, and positive anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies. On directed anamnesis, the mother reported a personal history of symptoms consistent with connective tissue disease, such as fatigue, alopecia, and xerophthalmia. Antinuclear antibodies from the mother showed titers of 1/1280 in a speckled pattern, positive anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, and anti-Ro and Anti-La antibodies. Schirmer Test was consistent with dry eye, therefore, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus associated with Sjögren’s Syndrome was diagnosed. The infant was followed up for 5 months with remission of cutaneous manifestations and normalization of laboratory tests. Conclusion: Although cutaneous manifestations of NLE are benign and transient in the newborn, these can be associated with other life-threatening manifestations that require an active search and prompt management by the medical team. A 25% of mothers of newborns with NLE are asymptomatic or unaware of their SLE diagnosis before delivery, so timely diagnosis of NLE leads to the diagnosis of asymptomatic mothers, improving their follow-up and treatment.
Non-Canonical WNT/Wnt5a Pathway Activity in Circulating Monocytes of Untreated Psoriatic Patients: An Exploratory Study of Its Association with Inflammatory Cytokines and Cardiovascular Risk Marker-ADAMTS7
(2023) Karsulovic, Claudio; Loyola, Khanty; Cabrera, Raúl; Pérez, Claudio; Hojman, Lia
The leading cause of death in psoriasis is cardiovascular disease. The determinants that induce the increase in this risk are not known. The systemic inflammatory process is dependent on lymphocytes and monocytes, as has been proposed. However, adaptation modules such as mTOR have recently been mentioned as having a role. Other factors, such as WNT and its non-canonical WNT5a-inducing pathway, are relevant in inflammation, cell migration, and neoangiogenesis. Thus, we studied circulating monocytes from untreated severe psoriatic patients and characterized inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, mTOR activity, and the cardiovascular risk marker ADAMTS7. Peripheral blood from ten severely psoriatic patients (Psoriasis severity index greater than 10) was extracted and age- and sex-matched with healthy subjects. Surface and intracellular flow cytometry were performed for cytokine, chemokine receptors, and mTOR activity. ADAMTS7 was measured using ELISA. Psoriatic patients had a higher frequency of WNT5a+ cells in monocytes, which also had higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, CXCR3, CCR2, and phosphorylated S6R protein. We found that M1 monocytes are dominant in the WNT5a+ cell group, and intracellular levels of WNT5a were also augmented. Levels of WNT5a were correlated with ADAMTS7, a blood marker related to the pathogenesis of atheromatosis. WNT5a could be relevant to the cardiovascular risk of psoriatic patients considering its association with higher levels of inflammatory cytokines, chemokine receptors and the pro-atherogenic profile of circulating monocytes.
Predictive Model for Response Rate to Narrowband Ultraviolet B Phototherapy in Vitiligo: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 579 Patients
(2018) Cabrera, Raúl; Hojman, Lia; Recule, Francisca; Sepúlveda, Rodrigo; Delgado, Iris
Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder. To date, there is no predictive model for its response rate to narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) phototherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the different types of response of patients with non-segmental vitiligo undergoing NBUVB 3 times a week. Many patients who were previously considered non-responders were given the opportunity to continue the treatment. Longterm maintenance of treatment and follow-up of a cohort of 579 patients enabled different subtypes of response (very rapid, rapid, average, slow and “nonresponders”) to be described for the first time, and a predictive model of response to be constructed based on repigmentation rate in the first 48 sessions of NBUVB. Among those patients who did not respond during the first 48 sessions, a new subgroup of patients was found, termed “very-slow” responders, who achieved a low, but significant, level of repigmentation after 96 sessions of NBUVB.

Browsing by Author "Hojman, Lia"

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