Anti‐MDA‐5 antibody‐positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease treated with therapeutic plasma exchange: A case series

We present six cases of antimelanoma differentiation‐associated gene 5 antibody (anti‐MDA5‐Ab)‐positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP‐ILD), which is known to have a poor prognosis. The outcomes of these cases are described after treatment with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Clinical and therapeutic data for patients with CADM with RP‐ILD were collected retrospectively from medical records. All six patients received early intensive care including high‐dose corticosteroids, intravenous cyclophosphamide, and a calcineurin inhibitor, but lung disease and hypoxia became more severe. TPE was performed over a median of 9.5 sessions (range 3‐14) per patient, and the median duration from admission to TPE was 23 days. Three patients received combined direct hemoperfusion using a polymyxin B‐immobilized fiber column (PMX‐DHP) therapy on successive days to manage acute respiratory failure. Four patients survived and two died due to respiratory failure. In the survival cases, ferritin decreased, and ferritin and KL‐6 were lower at diagnosis. The patients who died had a higher alveolar‐arterial oxygen difference and more severe lung lesions at the time of initiation of TPE. These findings indicate that a combination of conventional therapy and TPE may be useful for improvement of the prognosis of CADM with RP‐ILD at the early stage of onset.     

The role of therapeutic plasma exchange in clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis with MDA-5 antibody: A case report and review of the literature

Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) is a rare, aggressive variant of dermatomyositis associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and refractoriness to immunosuppressants. Antibodies against melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA-5) are often found in patients with CADM. We report a patient with advanced CADM with ILD and MDA-5 antibodies who failed to improve with immunosuppressants. We performed 2 TPE over 3 days, using 5% albumin as replacement fluid. Although five total TPE were planned, he was transferred for lung transplant evaluation after the second TPE; he died 16 days after transfer without receiving a transplant. A literature review identified four patients with CADM and MDA-5 antibodies treated with TPE; all experienced symptomatic improvement of their ILD. We attribute our patient's outcome to the advanced nature of his disease rather than a failure of TPE. Additional research may indicate a possible reclassification of CADM with MDA-5 antibodies in future ASFA guidelines.     

Roles of biomarkers in anti‐MDA5‐positive dermatomyositis,associated interstitial lung disease,and rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease

BackgroundAnti‐melanoma differentiation‐associated gene 5 (MDA5)‐positive dermatomyositis (MDA5⁺DM) is significantly associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD), especially rapidly progressive ILD (RPILD) due to poor prognosis, resulting in high mortality rates. However, the pathogenic mechanism of MDA5⁺DM‐RPILD is unclear. Although some MDA5⁺DM patients have a chronic course of ILD, many do not develop RPILD. Therefore, the related biomarkers for the early diagnosis, disease activity monitoring, and prediction of the outcome of RPILD in MDA5⁺DM patients should be identified. Blood‐based biomarkers are minimally invasive and can be easily detected.MethodsRecent relative studies related to blood biomarkers in PubMed were reviewed.ResultsAn increasing number of studies have demonstrated that dysregulated expression of blood biomarkers related to ILD such as ferritin, Krebs von den Lungen‐6 (KL‐6), surfactant protein‐D (SP‐D), and cytokines, and some tumor markers in MDA5⁺DM may provide information in disease presence, activity, treatment response, and prognosis. These studies have highlighted the great potentials of blood biomarker values for MDA5⁺DM‐ILD and MDA5⁺DM‐RPILD. This review provides an overview of recent studies related to blood biomarkers, besides highlighted protein biomarkers, including antibody (anti‐MDA5 IgG subclasses and anti‐Ro52 antibody), genetic (exosomal microRNAs and neutrophil extracellular traps related to cell‐free DNA), and immune cellular biomarkers in MDA5⁺DM, MDA5⁺DM‐ILD, and MDA5⁺DM‐RPILD patients, hopefully elucidating the pathogenesis of MDA5⁺DM‐ILD and providing information on the early diagnosis, disease activity monitoring, and prediction of the outcome of the ILD, especially RPILD.ConclusionsTherefore, this review may provide insight to guide treatment decisions for MDA5⁺DM‐RPILD patients and improve outcomes.     

抗MDA5抗体对成年及幼年型皮肌炎合并间质性肺病诊断效能的meta分析

目的通过meta分析探究抗黑色素瘤分化相关基因5(MDA5)抗体对不同类型皮肌炎(DM)并发快速进展型间质性肺病(RPILD)及慢性间质性肺病(ILD)的诊断效能。方法检索Pub Med、Embase、Cochrane library、中国知网、万方、维普和中国生物医学文献数据库,时间起止为建库至2017年5月。运用Meta-disc1.4行异质性检验,计算汇总敏感度、特异度、诊断比值比、阳性阴性似然比和SROC曲线。采用QUADAS-2和stata 12.0进行质量评价和发表偏倚。结果共纳入32篇研究,文献质量较高,各部分不存在高偏倚风险,为中等异质性。抗MDA5抗体对成年DM合并RPILD的诊断效能(AUC=0.927,Q*=0.862)优于对成年DM合并慢性ILD(AUC=0.717,Q*=0.667)、幼年型皮肌炎(JDM)合并RPILD(AUC=0.836,Q*=0.768)的诊断效能。抗MDA5抗体对DM合并RPILD诊断准确性:临床无肌病型皮肌炎(CADM)(AUC=0.942,Q*=0.880)高于DM(AUC=0.926,Q*=0.860),亚洲(AUC=0.960,Q*=0.891)优于中国(AUC=0.925,Q*=0.859)及欧美人群(AUC=0.928,Q*=0.863),ELISA法(AUC=0.929,Q*=0.864)不劣于免疫沉淀法(AUC=0.927,Q*=0.859)。Deek's漏斗图提示不存在发表偏倚。结论抗MDA5抗体诊断成年及幼年型DM合并ILD有较高敏感性和特异性。     

Therapeutic plasma exchange in antisynthetase syndrome with severe interstitial lung disease

Antisynthetase syndrome (ASS) is a rare condition characterized by interstitial lung disease (ILD), inflammatory myositis, fever, Raynaud phenomenon, mechanic's hand, and inflammatory polyarthritis in the setting of antibodies to amino acyl‐transfer RNA synthetases, with anti‐Jo‐1 antibody being the most common. Prognosis is very poor especially when there is associated ILD. To date, there is no standardized treatment for ILD associated ASS. Therapy is based on the use of steroids alone or in combination with other immunosuppressive agents, especially in severe or refractory cases. The role of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in the management of this rare condition has not been established. Here, we report a case of severe ILD associated ASS in a 41‐year‐old woman who did not show clinical or laboratory response after six doses of high dose steroids and a dose of IV cyclophosphamide. Because of the aggressive nature of her disease and poor prognostic indices present, a decision was made to add TPE to her treatment. She underwent five sessions of TPE. At the end of the 5th session, the anti‐Jo‐1 antibody levels dropped to 3.6 AI (antibody index) and her creatinine kinase (CK) level from 875 to 399 U L^?1 (Units per liter) with overall improvement in her respiratory status. This case suggests TPE may be a promising treatment option in patients with ILD associated ASS refractory to steroids and other immunosuppressive therapy, particularly those with severe disease. J. Clin. Apheresis 30:375–379, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

3例抗MDA5抗体阳性皮肌炎合并快速进展型间质性肺病患者的临床特点附文献复习

回顾性分析2020年7月至2021年10月在攀枝花学院附属医院呼吸与危重症医学科住院的3例抗MDA5抗体阳性皮肌炎合并快速进展型间质性肺病患者的临床资料、治疗经过、预后特点,结合文献复习进行研讨。3例患者中男1例,女2例,年龄（557±21）岁,病程（38±02）月。临床主要表现为典型的皮疹,进行性呼吸困难;血清肌酶均增高,血清抗MDA5抗体、抗组氨酰合成酶抗体（Jo 1）、抗Ro 52抗体均阳性;皮疹部位皮肤肌肉活检均提示炎性改变;短期内影像学呈进行性加重的肺间质纤维化。3例患者均使用了激素冲击+丙种球蛋白+环磷酰胺治疗,1例使用了利妥昔单抗治疗。3例患者分别在住院治疗后27、37、48天死亡,2例死于急性呼吸衰竭,1例死于脓毒性休克。抗MDA5阳性皮肌炎合并快速进展型间质性肺病是一种病情进展快、疗效差、死亡率高的疾病。其临床主要表现是典型的皮疹和进行性呼吸困难,血清肌酶增高,抗MDA5抗体阳性（3例患者同时合并抗组氨酰合成酶抗体Jo 1 、抗Ro 52抗体阳性）。影像学均短期内呈进行性加重的肺间质纤维化。以激素冲击、免疫调节、靶向阻断等为主的药物治疗,未能成功挽救患者的生命。治疗后免疫低下所导致的严重感染,也是死亡的重要原因。早期识别,早期干预,以及疾病后期的ECMO支持、肺移植,可能是降低死亡率的有效手段。     

Therapeutic plasma exchange and pregnancy: A case report and guidelines for performing plasma exchange in a pregnant patient

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been demonstrated to be of significant clinical value in a number of diseases and conditions, with well‐established guidelines and recommendations. However, technical support in providing this procedure for pregnant patients is largely absent from these recommendations, leaving therapeutic apheresis practitioners without guidance to safely and adequately treat appropriate conditions in this important patient population. Here, we describe our experience in treating a 35‐year‐old pregnant patient with relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis with TPE. Additionally, we outline the principle considerations when developing her treatment plan, and we provide recommendations for apheresis practitioners when performing TPE in pregnant patients. J. Clin. Apheresis 32:191–195, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Therapeutic plasma exchange rapidly improves cardiac allograft function in patients with presumed antibody‐mediated rejection

Background: Allograft dysfunction due to presumed antibody‐mediated rejection (pAMR) is one of the most serious complications of heart transplantation. Combination therapies of high‐dose steroids, intravenous immune globulin, and/or therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) are often used in this setting. Methods: We performed a 9‐year retrospective review of all episodes of pAMR treated with TPE at our institution. pAMR diagnosis was based on clinical and pathologic findings. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured at baseline, prior to initiation of TPE, and during the course of treatment. Results: There were 42 patients with 47 episodes of pAMR treated with TPE. The majority of episodes were treated with three TPE; however, eight required only two TPE and five episodes required >3 TPE. All episodes of pAMR had LVEF measured before and after the series of TPEs. The mean pre‐TPE LVEF was 38% compared with a post‐therapy mean LVEF of 50% (P < 0.0001). In 16 episodes of pAMR, for which LVEF was measured following each apheresis, there was significant improvement of allograft function after the first TPE (pre‐TPE mean LVEF of 31% and post‐first TPE mean LVEF of 37%; P = 0.02). Incremental and significant improvement in allograft function continued following each TPE. Changes in human leukocyte antigen‐donor specific antibodies and fibrinogen did not correlate with ejection fraction response. Conclusions: The rapid improvement in allograft function in our patients is most likely due to TPE as other pharmacologic interventions have longer onset. TPE should be considered a first‐line intervention in the setting of pAMR. J. Clin. Apheresis 29:316–321 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Therapeutic plasma exchange for control of thyroid storm

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for thyroid storm has recently been upgraded to a category II indication after decades though its recommendation level still remains at Grade 2C according to the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA). In the absence of prospective randomized controlled trials due to the rarity of thyroid storm, retrospective data from case series continue to elevate the clinical evidence supporting TPE as a life‐saving modality for complicated thyroid storm patients. We report three cases of life‐threatening thyroid storm from Graves' disease rescued by TPE via rapid reduction in circulating thyroid hormones. Each patient underwent TPE when it was judged that other thyroid storm treatment options were futile or unsafe. The first patient received 4 cycles of TPE while the second patient received 9 cycles of TPE, and the third patient received 2 cycles of TPE with satisfactory clinical improvement. Plasma FT4 and TSH receptor antibody levels of the first case declined by 41.3% and >50% respectively right after the first round of TPE; plasma FT4 of the second patient dropped by up to 31.6% during the course of TPE; plasma FT4 and TSH receptor antibody of the third patient declined by 66% and 56.2% respectively after the first cycle of TPE. This demonstrates the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of TPE in thyroid storm especially when other therapeutic interventions are contraindicated. TPE operates via the elimination of serum proteins‐bound thyroid hormones, thyroid autoantibodies, cytokines, and catecholamines in addition to increasing unsaturated binding sites for thyroid hormones.     

Therapeutic plasma exchange a potential strategy for patients with advanced heart failure

Background: Previous reports had emphasized the importance of humoral immunity in heart failure in humans, primarily determined by the presence of circulating antibodies. However, there is little or no information about the frequency of anticardiac antibodies present in failing human myocardium. Methods: Clinical data and myocardial tissue samples were analyzed to determine the role of humoral immunity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) in different settings. Results: Anticardiac antibodies were found present in failing hearts but not in normal control hearts. Further, the level of expression of these anticardiac antibodies changed with the severity of the disease state; and in patients with acute heart failure, we found selective activation of B cells. Finally, treatment of CHF patients with therapeutic plasma exchange, a strategy that removes circulating antibodies, resulted in a reduction in anticardiac antibody deposition and improvements in cardiac function. Conclusion: These data collectively suggest a role of humoral immunity in the progression of heart failure. J. Clin. Apheresis, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Therapeutic apheresis in neurological disorders: a survey of the evidence in support of current category I and II indications for therapeutic plasma exchange

Neurologic disorders constitute the largest group of indications for therapeutic plasma exchange. Although some of the traditional indications are supported by properly designed randomized trials, others are not. This article provides a critical look at the evidence in support of the assignment by ASFA of Category I or II indications to neurologic disorders in its most recent (2007) evaluation of therapeutic apheresis.     

Therapeutic plasma exchange for exogenous insulin antibody syndrome in combined variable immunodeficiency: a case report

A 32-year-old male with type I diabetes presented with profound hypoglycemia due to exogenous insulin antibody syndrome in the setting of newly-diagnosed common variable immunodeficiency. Immunomodulatory therapy was not initially effective, but after the initiation of plasma exchange hypoglycemia resolved, and glucose lability improved.     

Alternating therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) with double plasma molecular adsorption system (DPMAS) for the treatment of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF)

Alternating therapeutic plasma exchange with double plasma molecular adsorption system can rapidly remove bilirubin and ammonia and supplement the essential substance from the blood, which could be used as an effective treatment for fulminant hepatic failure.