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Biomedical subjects

P Joly

Publications and source records attributed to P Joly.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Association of KM genotype with bullous pemphigoid.

Association of kappa light chain immunoglobulin allotypes with bullous pemphigoid was examined in 101 Caucasian patients. Km alleles were determined by polymerase chain reaction amplification followed by restriction enzyme digestion. The frequency of Km(3)/Km(1,2)kappa light-chain genotype was found to be significantly associated with the disease, while that of the Km(3)homozygous genotype was significantly higher in patients with both anti-BPAG1 and anti-BPAG2 autoantibodies.

Autoantigens↗

A paraneoplastic mixed bullous skin disease: breakdown in tolerance to multiple epidermal antigens.

We report a new type of paraneoplastic mixed bullous skin disease in a patient with a B-cell lymphoma associated with monoclonal IgM kappa paraproteinaemia. The patient's clinical and histological features were reminiscent of bullous pemphigoid. Characterization of antiepidermal antibodies by immunoblotting and indirect immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated a novel pattern of reactivity: IgG antibodies were directed against desmoplakins I-II and BPAG2, and were associated with antidesmoglein 3 polyclonal IgM antibodies. Such an autoreactive pattern involving antidesmoplakins, anti-BPAG2 and antidesmoglein 3 antibodies has not been previously reported. It reflects the breakdown of tolerance to multiple epidermal antigens observed in some patients with malignancy.

Autoantibodies↗

Paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with Castleman's tumour.

We present a case of paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with Castleman's disease. Our patient had stomatitis and vulvar erosions followed by a cutaneous polymorphous eruption. Investigations for neoplasia disclosed a Castleman's tumour suggesting the diagnosis of paraneoplastic pemphigus. The diagnosis was supported by immunoblotting using an extract of cow tongue although keratinocytes extracts did not identify relevant target antigens. One year after surgical excision of the tumour the patient remained unwell with persistent buccal erosions and lymphopenia. This case is unusual because of the length of its evolution before the discovery of the Castleman's tumour. It is only the second occasion that the association between paraneoplastic pemphigus and Castleman's tumour has been reported. Our case emphasizes the usefulness of immunoblotting on cow tongue in suspected cases of paraneoplastic pemphigus.

Castleman Disease↗

Sensitivity and specificity of clinical, histologic, and immunologic features in the diagnosis of paraneoplastic pemphigus.

BACKGROUND: Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is an autoimmune blistering disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies mainly directed against proteins of the plakin family. An overlapping distribution of autoantibody specificities has been recently reported between PNP, pemphigus vulgaris (PV), and pemphigus foliaceus (PF), which suggests a relationship between the different types of pemphigus. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the sensitivity and the specificity of clinical, histologic, and immunologic features in the diagnosis of PNP. METHODS: The clinical, histologic, and immunologic features of 22 PNP patients were retrospectively reviewed and compared with those of 81 PV and PF patients without neoplasia and of 8 PV and 4 PF patients with various neoplasms. RESULTS: One clinical and 2 biologic features had both high sensitivity (82%-86%) and high specificity (83%-100%) whatever the control group considered: (1) association with a lymphoproliferative disorder, (2) indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) labeling of rat bladder, and (3) recognition of the envoplakin and/or periplakin bands in immunoblotting. Two clinicopathologic and two biologic features had high specificity (87%-100%) but poor sensitivity (27%-59%): (1) clinical presentation associating erosive oral lesions with erythema multiforme-like, bullous pemphigoid-like, or lichen planus-like cutaneous lesions; (2) histologic picture of suprabasal acantholysis with keratinocyte necrosis, interface changes, or lichenoid infiltrate; (3) presence of both anti-epithelial cell surface and anti-basement membrane zone antibodies by IIF; and (4) recognition of the desmoplakin I and/or BPAG1 bands in immunoblotting. Interestingly, 45% of patients with PNP presented initially with isolated oral erosions that were undistinguishable from those seen in PV patients, and 27% had histologic findings of only suprabasal acantholysis, which was in accordance with the frequent detection of anti-desmoglein 3 antibodies in PNP sera. CONCLUSION: The association with a lymphoproliferative disorder, the IIF labeling of rat bladder, and the immunoblotting recognition of envoplakin and/or periplakin are both sensitive and specific features in the diagnosis of PNP.

Humans↗

Paraneoplastic pemphigus with circulating antibodies directed exclusively against the pemphigus vulgaris antigen desmoglein 3.

A patient with follicular B-cell lymphoma presented with erythroderma associated with cutaneous and mucosal blisters. Histologic and direct immunofluorescence analysis of lesional skin showed a typical pattern of paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP). Interestingly, indirect immunofluorescence on rat bladder was negative and immunoblot analysis of the patient's serum on epidermal extracts demonstrated antiepidermal antibodies that only recognized the pemphigus vulgaris antigen desmoglein 3, with no antibodies directed against the different proteins of the plakin family. To our knowledge this has never been reported in the literature. It exemplifies the overlap between pemphigus vulgaris and PNP and the pathogenic role of anti-desmoglein 3 antibodies in PNP. Moreover, it underscores the need to consider clinical, histologic, and immunologic features for the diagnosis of PNP.

Autoantibodies↗

[Localized bullous pemphigoid following radiotherapy].

BACKGROUND: Bullous pemphigoid is the most frequent autoimmune blistering dermatologic disease. Induction of pemphigoid has been observed after administration of certain drugs but also after various irradiation procedures. We report a case of pemphigoid strictly confined to the irradiated area. CASE REPORT: A 66-year-old woman had been irradiated 16 years before because of a breast carcinoma. She presented with a blistering rash strictly confined to the irradiated area. The diagnosis of pemphigoid was confirmed with pathologic examination, direct immunofluorescence, direct immunofluorescence of sodium chloride-separated skin, electron microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy. Indirect immunofluorescence and serum immunoblot were also positive. The patient was successfully treated with topical steroids. DISCUSSION: The location on the area of radiotherapy and the limited character of lesions were unusual. A few cases of pemphigoid strictly localized to the area of radiotherapy have been published. However, in our case, only direct immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy reliably confirmed the diagnosis. The unusual location of this pemphigoid is not due to the regional variation in the expression of the antigen. Other hypotheses concerning the pathogenesis of localized pemphigoid should be examined.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Chronic lymphocytic leukemia revealed by atypic pemphigus].

BACKGROUND: Bullous diseases are occasionally reported during chronic lymphocytic leukemia. We report the case of a woman in which a bullous disease of difficult nosologic classification has revealed chronic lymphocytic leukemia. CASE REPORT: A 57-year-old woman, well-known for a rheumatoid arthritis, developed a bullous eruption. It was associated with voluminous lymphadenopathies, and laboratory investigations revealed a chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Clinicopathological aspect and immunofluorescence studies argued for a paraneoplastic pemphigus but immunoblot showed only antibodies against desmoglein 1. DISCUSSION: Paraneoplastic pemphigus is an autoimmune bullous disease defined by the criteria of Anhalt, including autoantibodies mostly directed against cytoplasmic proteins of the plakin family. Our case is unusual for the absence of these antibodies and for the presence of antibodies directed against a cell surface target, desmoglein 1. Such a case confirms the overlapping auto-immune responses in pemphigus.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

[Medium-term renal involvement in adult patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of medium-term renal involvement, in a series of adult patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura treated in a dermatology department. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura followed from 1991 to 1997 in the department of dermatology were included in the study. Renal tests included: research of microscopic hematuria, proteinuria, plasma creatinine levels and calculated creatinine clearance which were measured during initial hospitalization and at the date of the study in May 1998. RESULTS: 10 men and 7 women (mean-age 51 years) were followed up for 39 months (6 to 79 months). Initial renal involvement was observed in 11 patients (65 p. 100). A microscopic hematuria was also observed in 9 patients (53 p. 100), a proteinuria in 6 (35 p. 100), an association of hematuria and proteinuria in 4 (23.5 p. 100). No patient had renal failure. In May 1998, only 2 patients (11.7 p. 100) had renal involvement, that consisted of proteinuria: 3.3 and 3. 9 g/d respectively, with no renal failure. DISCUSSION: The 65 p. 100 frequency of renal involvement discovered during the acute phase of HSP in our series was similar to other series mentioned in the literature, which mainly consisted of hematuria and/or proteinuria. The frequency of long-term renal involvement depends on the origin of patient recruitment. Nephrological studies have reported high levels of renal involvement, that probably overestimated the true frequency. In the present study, as well as in two other studies from a non-nephrological recruitment, the frequency of long-term renal involvement was estimated between 11 p. 100 and 16 p. 100 and was primarily persistent proteinuria. CONCLUSION: The frequency of renal involvement in the adult patient with HSP during the acute phase of the disease and after a medium-term follow-up was approximately 50 p. 100 and between 11 p. 100 to 16 p. 100 respectively.

Adult↗

[The precautionary principle, research and drugs].

The research, in general, the medical research and the research of new drugs are following the same rules. To be fruitful, they have not to be "a priori" censured, but they have to be prudent on the means they are using and the aims they are pursuing. It's up to the researcher to explain to the public the necessity of the used means and the utility of his discovery. The public, indeed, may be not significantly informed and can be afraid by what is difficult to understand or by what is changing its customs. At the end of the pre-clinic period of research, the discovered substance has to confirm on human being its innocuity and its efficiency. At this time, the experimentation is controlled by several procedures under the control of French and European administrations. All these procedures have to be conducted according to several "Good Practices". The aims are to protect the human being, to define if the new drug is well-tolerated and efficient and what is the ratio Benefit/Risk. Even after the marketing of the new drug, the usage of the new drug is controlled (Drug Safety). So we can consider that precautionary principle is soon applied to the drug according to a very sophisticated and evolutionary mechanism. But as satisfactory it can appear, we must keep vigilant because the zero risk does not exist.

Drug Approval↗

[Evaluation of histological criteria for bullous pemphigoid. Correlation with antigens recognized by immunoblotting of anti-epidermal autoantibodies].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the histological findings observed in patients with bullous pemphigoid in whom the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid could be confirmed by direct immunofluorescence and immunoblot serum analysis. Seven histological criteria were considered for selection of skin biopsy specimens: 1) cleavage of dermal epidermal junction; 2) migration of eosinophils along dermal epidermal junction; 3) presence of intra epidermal eosinophils (with or without associated spongiosis); 4) absence of keratinocyte necrosis; 5) absence of acantholysis; 6) absence of dermal fibrosis; 7) absence of vasculitis. Depending on the number of criteria observed the histological picture was considered as: highly suggestive, suggestive or poorly suggestive of bullous pemphigoid. The histological picture was considered as highly suggestive in 50% of cases, suggestive or poorly suggestive in 37% and 13% of cases respectively. Migration of eosinophils along dermal epidermal junction was observed in 23 biopsy specimens (50%). Histological findings considered as poorly suggestive of bullous pemphigoid consisted of a prurigo-like or an eczematous-like or a drug induced-like picture or no specific cutaneous erosions. An histological picture highly suggestive of bullous pemphigoid was observed in 67% of patients whose serum contained anti-BPAG2 antibodies and in only 36% patients of without anti-BPAG2 antibodies (p=0,04). On the contrary, only one bullous pemphigoid patient (4%) with circulating anti-BPAG2 antibodies had a histological picture poorly suggestive of bullous pemphigoid. These findings are in accordance with the pathogenic properties of anti-BPAG2 antibodies demonstrated in animal models. This study showed that: 1) typical histological findings of bullous pemphigoid are only observed in 50% of skin biopsy specimens. 2) The diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid should be considered in elderly patients even when a poorly specific prurigo-like or eczematous-like histological picture is observed. Moreover, it underlines the usefulness of direct immunofluorescence of skin biopsy specimens and indirect immunofluorescence and immunoblot analysis of serum in such atypical cases of bullous pemphigoid.

Autoantibodies↗

[Hemophagocytic syndrome and metastatic melanoma: 3 cases].

BACKGROUND: Macrophage activation syndrome was initially described during viral infections in immunocompromised patients. Since the original report, many diseases have been found to be associated with macrophage activation syndrome. Lymphoproliferative disorders have been more frequently reported to be associated with macrophage activation syndrome than solid tumors. We herein report three cases of macrophage activation syndrome in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. CASE-REPORTS: Two young 32 and 40 year-old men with a liver metastatic malignant melanoma and a 62 year-old woman with a polymetastatic malignant melanoma presented a sudden deterioration of general health with hyperthermia and biological abnormalities: liver cytolysis, leucocytosis, thrombocytopenia, hypertriglyceridaemia. A fatal clinical outcome occurred rapidly despite corticotherapy and/or chemotherapy. For the first two patients the macrophage activation syndrome diagnosis was delayed because of the similarities of macrophage activation syndrome and metastatic malignant melanoma symptoms. DISCUSSION: The diagnosis of macrophage activation syndrome in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma may be difficult because of the similarities between clinical features of macrophage activation syndrome and those of metastatic malignant melanoma. Hypertriglyceridaemia is present in 60 p. 100 of macrophage activation syndrome and should lead to process a bone marrow aspirate. The search for a triggering infection should be systematically carry out because it is implicated in more than half of macrophage activation syndrome whatever the associated disease may be: neoplasia, autoimmune disease. The pathogenesis of macrophage activation syndromes occurring in patients with metastatic cancer remains unexplained. Treatment of macrophage activation syndrome is not unanimously established and usually consists in the treatment of the associated condition as well as a corticosteroid and/or an immunosuppressive treatment regimens. Prognosis of macrophage activation syndrome is usually poor especially when it is associated with a neoplasia since a fatal outcome occurs in 40 to 60 p. 100 of cases.

Adult↗

Prognostic factors in primary cutaneous lymphomas other than mycosis fungoides and the Sézary syndrome. The French Study Group on Cutaneous Lymphomas.

Prognostic studies of primary cutaneous lymphomas (PCL) other than mycosis fungoides (MF) and the Sézary syndrome (SS; non-MF/SS PCL) have been mainly performed on subgroups or on small numbers of patients by using univariate analyses. Our aim was to identify independent prognostic factors in a large series of patients with non-MF/SS PCL. We evaluated 158 patients who were registered in the French Study Group on Cutaneous Lymphomas database from January 1, 1986 to March 1, 1997. Variables analyzed for prognostic value were: age; sex; type of clinical lesions; maximum diameter, location, and number of skin lesions; cutaneous distribution (ie, local, regional, or generalized); prognostic group according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) classification for PCL; B- or T-cell phenotype; serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level; and B symptoms. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using a model of relative survival. Forty-nine patients (31%) died. The median relative survival time was 81 months. In univariate analysis, EORTC prognostic group, serum LDH level, B symptoms, and variables related to tumor extension (ie, distribution, maximum diameter, and number of skin lesions) were significantly associated with survival. When these variables were considered together in a multivariate analysis, EORTC prognostic group and distribution of skin lesions remained statistically significant, independent prognostic factors. This study confirms the good predictive value of the EORTC classification for PCL and shows that the distribution of skin lesions at initial evaluation is an important prognostic indicator.

Adolescent↗