[Sjögren's syndrome combined with cold agglutinin disease: A case report]

Sjögren's syndrome(SS)is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects exocrine glands, especially salivary and lacrimal glands. The main clinical manifestations are dry mouth and dry eyes, but also multi-organ and multi-system can be involved. Cold agglutinin disease(CAD)is an autoimmune disease characterized by red blood cell agglutination in the blood vessels of extremities caused by cold agglutinin at low temperature, resulting in skin microcirculation disturbance, or hemolytic anemia. Cold agglutinin disease is divided into two categories, primary cold agglutinin disease and secondary cold agglutinin disease. Primary cold agglutinin disease is characterized with cold agglutinin titer of 1 ∶4 000 or more and positive Coomb's test. However, the Coomb's test is not necessarily positive and the cold agglutinin titer is between 1 ∶32 and 1 ∶4 000 in secondary cold agglutinin disease. Here, we reported an elderly patient admitted to hospital due to fever. He was diagnosed with respiratory infection, but he showed incompletely response to the anti-infection treatment. Further laboratory tests showed the patient with positive ANA and anti-SSA antibodies. Additionally, the patient complained that he had dry mouth and dry eyes for 1 year. Schirmer test and salivate gland imaging finally confirmed the diagnosis Sjogren's syndrome. During the hospital stay, the blood clots were found in the anticoagulant tubes. Hemolytic anemia was considered as the patient had anemia with elevated reticulocytes and indirect bilirubin. In addition, further examination showed positive cold agglutination test with a titer of 1 ∶1 024, and cold agglutinin disease was an important type of cold-resistant autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Furthermore, the patient developed cyanosis after ice incubating at the tip of the nose. Hence, the patient was diagnosed as CAD and he was successfully treated with glucocorticoids instead of anti-infection treatments. Hence, the patient was diagnosed with SS combined with secondary CAD. SS combined CAD are rarely reported, and they are both autoimmune diseases. The abnormal function of B lymphocytes and the production of autoantibodies might be the common pathogenesis of them. Cold agglutinin disease can lead to severe hemolytic anemia, even life-threatening. In clinical practice, timely recognizing and dealing with CAD might promote the prognosis of the patient.

Cold Agglutinin-Mediated Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Association with Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome and cold agglutinin-mediated autoimmune hemolytic anemia are 2 distinct immune-mediated hematologic disorders. While no clear association exists between these 2 entities, complement activation is known to occur in both of them. Herein, we report a unique case of cold agglutinin hemolytic anemia in a patient with a known primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Immunotactoid glomerulonephritis in a patient with cold agglutinins: causal association or mere coincidence?

We report a case of immunotactoid glomerulonephritis (ITG) in a patient with cold agglutinins. An 86-year-old Japanese male with a history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and gastric malignancy presented to our hospital for the evaluation of proteinuria and hematuria. He had an elevated blood pressure of 200/77 mmHg and edema of the lower extremities. Initial blood test results revealed an impaired renal function (creatinine, 1.37 mg/dL) and hypoalbuminemia (albumin, 2.6 g/dL). His estimated daily urinary protein was 5.89 g/g creatinine, meeting the diagnostic criteria for nephrotic syndrome. The selectivity index for proteinuria indicated low selectivity (0.329). We conducted a renal biopsy to identify the cause of nephrotic syndrome. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated positive staining of IgM, C4, and C1q. Electron microscopy exhibited mesangial expansion with inflammatory cells and a lobular structure, suggesting membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Subendothelial deposits containing microtubular structures with a diameter of approximately 30-200 nm were found, concurrent with the criteria for the diagnosis of ITG. Screening for lymphoproliferative diseases and immunological abnormalities revealed a positive direct Coombs test result and the presence of cold agglutinins. Paraproteinemia was absent. The similarities between cold agglutinin disease and ITG, including the production of autoantibodies and involvement of complement pathways, raise the possibility that cold agglutinins played a role in the development of ITG; however, we were unable to prove it due to difficulties in detecting cold agglutinins on renal histology. We discuss the possible implications for pathogenesis considering prior reports on nephrotic syndrome being potentially associated with cold agglutinins.

SARS CoV 2 infection in chronic myelogenous leukemia: Severe hematological presentation

Infection with SARS-CoV-2, the cause of coronavirus infectious disease-19 (COVID-19), has caused a pandemic. Few data are available about the risk of COVID-19 infection in persons with hematological cancer, but controversy whether these persons have the same clinical signs and outcomes. We describe a case of life-threatening COVID-19 infection complicated by severe anemia in patients affected also by chronic myelogenous leukemia. The screening for RBC antibodies and the direct antiglobulin test (DAT) turned positive. The identification of the antibodies, showed the presence of an alloantibody with anti-Lewis b specificity, which was reactive at room temperature, in the anti-human globulin phase (AGH) and with papain-treated red blood cells. At the same time hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), on the basis of major laboratory findings including hyperferritnemia, increase of triglicerides levels and according to the HLH score was suspected. Patients received antiviral therapy, steroids and intravenous immunoglobulins. Hemolysis resolved and ferritin dramatically decreased after administration of Ig and a Afull recovery was achieved after viral infection resolution.This case highlights the novel and multifaceted hematological findings during sever COVID 19 infection. COVID 19-related pneumonia is mediated by hyper activation of effector T cells and excessive production of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-1, interferon-gamma, and TNF. This inflammatory process called "cytokine storm" is a life-threatening complication of COVID 19 infection. In this case severe immunohematological consequences are reported for the first time and recognition of this complications are probably underestimated.

Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis with interruption of ibrutinib therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can trigger autoimmune phenomena, with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) the most common presentation. Upon cessation of CLL therapy, including ibrutinib, autoimmune flares can occur. In a 68-year-old man with CLL, ibrutinib was held for 2 weeks prior to elective shoulder surgery. Eleven days after stopping therapy, he presented with a purpuric rash on his right hip, buttock, and lower extremities. He experienced two episodes of seizure activity while hospitalized. MRI brain demonstrated patchy areas of altered signal involving deep white matter and sub-cortical white matter structures concerning for cerebral vasculitis. Although there was no evidence of hemolysis, serum cold agglutinin titer was elevated at > 1:512 and cryoglobulin levels were positive at 36%. He was diagnosed with type I cryoglobulinemia and treated with rituximab, plasmapheresis, methylprednisolone, and ibrutinib was restarted. This regimen resolved his symptoms. A rare complication of CLL is the production of cryoglobulins, which can present at initial diagnosis or in relapsed disease. Our case demonstrates that the cessation of ibrutinib therapy, even for a short time, can precipitate complications. To our knowledge, we report the first case of a patient with well-controlled CLL who rapidly developed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis after stopping ibrutinib therapy.

[Clinical features and prognosis of 17 patients with primary cold agglutinin disease]

目的

探讨17例原发性冷凝集素病（CAD）患者的临床特征、治疗及转归。

方法

回顾性分析2007年4月至2016年10月北京协和医院确诊的17例原发性CAD患者的临床资料、治疗和转归，并检测了其中4例患者MYD88^L265P突变情况。

结果

17例患者中，男女比为1.1∶1，中位年龄67（51～86）岁。7例伴有惰性淋巴瘤，包括3例华氏巨球蛋白血症/淋巴浆细胞淋巴瘤（WM/LPL），2例小淋巴细胞淋巴瘤/慢性淋巴细胞白血病（SLL/CLL）和2例脾边缘区淋巴瘤（SMZL）。患者中位HGB为67（35～127）g/L，15例存在贫血。11例患者的冷凝集素（CA）滴度≥1∶64，中位CA滴度为1∶1 024。4例行MYD88^L265P突变检测的患者中1例MYD88^L265P阳性。12例患者接受了药物治疗：7例使用糖皮质激素为基础的化疗，1例有效；5例使用利妥昔单抗为基础的免疫化疗的治疗，3例有效。1例患者失访，其余16例患者中位随访14（0.5～96）个月，中位总体生存时间尚未达到。

结论

CAD的临床表现多样，CA检测是诊断CAD的关键。CAD糖皮质激素治疗效果不佳，推荐利妥昔单抗治疗。

An atypical IgM class platelet cold agglutinin induces GPVI-dependent aggregation of human platelets

Platelet cold agglutinins (PCA) cause pseudothrombocytopenia, spurious thrombocytopenia due to ex vivo platelet clumping, complicating clinical diagnosis, but mechanisms and consequences of PCA are not well defined. Here, we characterised an atypical immunoglobulin (Ig)M PCA in a 37-year-old woman with lifelong bleeding and chronic moderate thrombocytopenia, that induces activation and aggregation of autologous or allogeneic platelets via interaction with platelet glycoprotein (GP)VI. Patient temperature-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia was EDTA-independent, but was prevented by integrin αIIbβ3 blockade. Unstimulated patient platelets revealed elevated levels of bound IgM, increased expression of activation markers (P-selectin and CD63), low GPVI levels and abnormally high thromboxane (TX)A2 production. Patient serum induced temperature- and αIIbβ3-dependent decrease of platelet count in allogeneic donor citrated platelet-rich plasma (PRP), but not in PRP from Glanzmann's thrombasthenia or afibrinogenaemia patients. In allogeneic platelets, patient plasma induced shape change, P-selectin and CD63 expression, (14)C-serotonin release, and TXA2 production. Activation was not inhibited by aspirin, cangrelor or blocking anti-Fc receptor (FcγRIIA) antibody, but was abrogated by inhibitors of Src and Syk, and by a soluble GPVI-Fc fusion protein. GPVI-deficient platelets were not activated by patient plasma. These data provide the first evidence for an IgM PCA causing platelet activation/aggregation via GPVI. The PCA activity persisted over a five-year follow-up period, supporting a causative role in patient chronic thrombocytopenia and bleeding.

Suspected cold agglutination during mild hypothermic pediatric open heart surgery: a report of two cases

Cold agglutination was suspected in 2 pediatric open heart surgery cases during mild hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. The first patient was a 2-year-old boy with secundum atrial septal defect. Fifteen minutes after the initiation of mild hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, the inlet pressure of oxygenator suddenly elevated from 250 to over 500 mmHg, whereas outlet pressure was maintained. The blood flow rate decreased from 140 to 85 ml/kg/min. At that time, the arterial blood temperature was less than 32°C. Cold agglutinin was highly suspected, so patient was immediately warmed, and the inlet pressure of oxygenator decreased to 250 mmHg when the arterial blood temperature reached to 36°C. Second patient was a 3-year-old boy with secondary developed subvalvular pulmonary stenosis after the repair of double chambered right ventricle at 10 months of his age. Eighteen minutes after the initiation of mild hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, the inflow pressure suddenly elevated to 500 mmHg and transmission flow decreased to 55 ml/kg/min. Twenty-three minutes after warming, the pressure fell to a normal level and transmission flow was recovered. The operation continued with normo-thermic cardiopulmonary bypass and crystalloid cardioplegia. Both cases had no postoperative complications related to cold agglutinin such as myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, or renal insufficiency.

Cold agglutinin-mediated autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Cold antibody types account for about 25% of autoimmune hemolytic anemias. Primary chronic cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is characterized by a clonal lymphoproliferative disorder. Secondary cold agglutinin syndrome (CAS) complicates specific infections and malignancies. Hemolysis in CAD and CAS is mediated by the classical complement pathway and is predominantly extravascular. Not all patients require treatment. Successful CAD therapy targets the pathogenic B-cell clone. Complement modulation seems promising in both CAD and CAS. Further development and documentation are necessary before clinical use. We review options for possible complement-directed therapy.