Paraneoplastic pemphigus as a presentation of acute myeloid leukemia: Early diagnosis and remission

Sequential immunotherapy: towards cures for autoimmunity

Despite major progress in the treatment of autoimmune diseases in the past two decades, most therapies do not cure disease and can be associated with increased risk of infection through broad suppression of the immune system. However, advances in understanding the causes of autoimmune disease and clinical data from novel therapeutic modalities such as chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies provide evidence that it may be possible to re-establish immune homeostasis and, potentially, prolong remission or even cure autoimmune diseases. Here, we propose a 'sequential immunotherapy' framework for immune system modulation to help achieve this ambitious goal. This framework encompasses three steps: controlling inflammation; resetting the immune system through elimination of pathogenic immune memory cells; and promoting and maintaining immune homeostasis via immune regulatory agents and tissue repair. We discuss existing drugs and those in development for each of the three steps. We also highlight the importance of causal human biology in identifying and prioritizing novel immunotherapeutic strategies as well as informing their application in specific patient subsets, enabling precision medicine approaches that have the potential to transform clinical care.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with small lymphocytic lymphoma: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a life-threatening autoimmune blistering disease associated with underlying neoplasms. Currently, this disease is very difficult to treat.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We reported a rare case of paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with small lymphocytic lymphoma responsive to desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) and bullous pemphigoid (BP) antigen 180.

DIAGNOSES

The initial diagnosis was hypothesized to be Stevens-Johnson syndrome based on the severe mucosal erosion and polymorphous skin lesions. However, the histopathological examination of the skin biopsy and immunology revealed PNP.

INTERVENTIONS

Anti-tumor therapy, immunosuppression and anti-infective therapy were administered.

OUTCOMES

After a series of treatments, the skin lesions had been alleviated remarkably. Enzyme-linked immunoassays indices for Dsg3 and bullous pemphigoid antigen 180 decreased (Dsg3, 32; bullous pemphigoid antigen 180, 70.44). Unfortunately, 2 months later, the patient suffered respiratory failure due to the lung impairment of small lymphocytic lymphoma and infection. Eventually, the patient chose to be discharged from the hospital and lost the opportunity for follow-up treatment as he could not afford the expensive treatment costs.

LESSONS

It is highly susceptible to misdiagnosis due to polymorphous skin lesions. In this case, it was also initially misdiagnosed as Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Therefore, we should pay great attention to differential diagnosis. When refractory stomatitis and mucosal erosions occur, the possibility of PNP should be considered first. At the same time, pathology, immunology and other related tests as well as the examination of primary tumors should be carried out as soon as possible.