The correlation of immunologic derangement and juvenile recurrent parotitis: an investigation of the laboratory immunological observation

Juvenile idiopathic recurrent parotitis (JIRP) treated with short course steroids, a case series study and one decade follow up for potential autoimmune disorder

BACKGROUND

Juvenile idiopathic recurrent parotitis (JIRP) in children is a condition characterized with recurrent episodes of idiopathic parotid gland inflammation. Since there are no definitive guidelines for diagnosis and management of this condition, we present a consecutive case series of patients with more than one decade follow up and their dramatic response to short course treatment by prednisolone.

METHODS

We conducted this study by retrospectively reviewed medical charts of children who were diagnosed with JIRP, from 1 January 2002 to 29 February 2023. We performed usual serological tests to exclude some possible background. We administered short course prednisolone on first day of episode as divided dosage (0.5 mg /kg).

RESULTS

In this case series of 10 patients (70%) were male, median age of onset was 5 years, duration of episodes 5 days, and the mean course of disease were 3.8 years. The average follows up of patients was near 10 years. In comparison with their natural course of disease all patients showed a dramatic response to treatment on the first day of administration of prednisolone (P Value 0.005). For ten years follow up there was not any additional accompanying autoimmune disorder.

CONCLUSION

Short course prednisolone on first day of each episode and its dramatic and meaningful response in our patients, introduce a new, effective, fast, and inexpensive regimen of therapy in patients with JIRP.

Clinical Manifestations and Genetic Influences in Sulfonamide-Induced Hypersensitivity

Drug hypersensitivity is an inflammatory or immune reaction induced by drugs. It can be fatal if not appropriately treated and cause the risk of long-term complications. Sulfonamides are classified as antimicrobial drugs with a broad spectrum effective for gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. This antibacterial agent works by competitively inhibiting folic acid synthesis, which prevents the growth and proliferation of microorganisms. In its use as antibiotics, sulfonamides can also cause adverse reactions in specific individuals. It has been widely reported that sulfonamide antimicrobials cause hypersensitivity reactions mediated by IgE or T cells. This review identifies symptoms or signs that can appear, as well as genes associated with sulfonamide hypersensitivity reactions, as sulfonamide may cause hypersensitivity in the form of uveitis, skin rash, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), parotitis, angioedema, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and pruritus. In addition, several genes were found to be associated with sulfonamide hypersensitivity, including HLA-A29, HLA-B12, HLA-DR7, HLA-B44, and HLA A*11:01.

Juvenile recurrent parotitis in a 4-year-old patient: a case report

Juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) is a rare disease. It is most commonly occurring between the ages of 3 and 5 years, that classically resolves at adolescence. It is characterized by recurrent non-suppurative parotitis, with several acute inflammatory episodes per year. The parotid´s swelling tends to be unilateral, but it can occur bilaterally, with a more predominant side. The aim of this work was to present a case report that highlights signs and symptoms of this unusual condition and to stress on the value of ultrasonography as an aid to diagnosis.

Immune disorders associated with juvenile recurrent chronic parotitis

INTRODUCTION

Juvenile recurrent chronic parotitis (JRCP) is a rare disease of unknown cause. There is a growing interest in its autoimmune aetiology and its relationship with dysfunctions of cellular and humoral immunity, although there is no agreed protocol for complementary investigations for its study. A consecutive series of cases is presented where the immune alterations and associated autoimmune disorders are investigated, proposing a study algorithm.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was carried out on patients who had JRCP during the period from 2013 to 2016 and a follow-up of at least 2 years. After its clinical and ultrasound diagnosis, complementary examinations were systematically carried out to investigate infectious, immune, and autoimmune diseases.

RESULTS

Of a total of 36 patients with inclusion criteria, 16 (44%) were found with some analytical alteration of a non-specific immunological nature (positive ANA, high IgG, low complement factor 4), or associated with a specific diagnosis, as occurred in 11 patients: Selective IgA deficiency (2), Sjögren's syndrome associated or not with systemic lupus erythematosus (3), coeliac disease associated or not with diabetes mellitus (4), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (1), and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (1).

CONCLUSION

Juvenile recurrent chronic parotitis can be considered a sentinel sign of other diseases of immunological/autoimmune aetiology for which the diagnosis, monitoring and early treatment can improve its prognosis. Viral infectious aetiology, with the exception of HIV, is not a priority in the study of recurrences.