RESUMO
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), a disorder of antigen-presenting cells, is the commonest disorder of the mononuclear phagocytic system. Diagnosis is always challenging due to heterogeneous clinical presentation. However, with the evolution and better understanding of its biology, many of these children are being diagnosed early and offered appropriate therapy. Despite these advances, in developing countries, an early diagnosis is still challenging due to resource constraints for specialized tests. As a result, many patients succumb to their disease. Autopsy data on LCH is notably lacking in the literature. We sought to analyze the clinical (including mutational) and morphologic features at autopsy in six proven cases of LCH. This study includes a detailed clinico-pathological and mutational analysis of 6 proven cases of LCH. Presence of BRAF V600E mutation was assessed by both Real Time PCR and Sanger sequencing. A varied spectrum of organ involvement was noted with some rare and novel morphological findings, like nodular bronchiolocentric infiltration of LCH cells, lymphovascular emboli of LCH cells, and paucity of eosinophils within the infiltrate; these features have not been described earlier. Surprisingly, all cases were negative for BRAF V600E mutation on both RQ-PCR and Sanger sequencing. The present study is perhaps the first autopsy series on LCH. This extensive autopsy analysis represents a correlation of pathological features with clinical symptoms which provides clues for a timely diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic intervention. Also, our findings hint at the low frequency of BRAF V600E mutation in our LCH patients.
RESUMO
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), a disorder of antigen-presenting cells, is the commonest disorder of the mononuclear phagocytic system. Diagnosis is always challenging due to heterogeneous clinical presentation. However, with the evolution and better understanding of its biology, many of these children are being diagnosed early and offered appropriate therapy. Despite these advances, in developing countries, an early diagnosis is still challenging due to resource constraints for specialized tests. As a result, many patients succumb to their disease. Autopsy data on LCH is notably lacking in the literature. We sought to analyze the clinical (including mutational) and morphologic features at autopsy in six proven cases of LCH. This study includes a detailed clinico-pathological and mutational analysis of 6 proven cases of LCH. Presence of BRAF V600E mutation was assessed by both Real Time PCR and Sanger sequencing. A varied spectrum of organ involvement was noted with some rare and novel morphological findings, like nodular bronchiolocentric infiltration of LCH cells, lymphovascular emboli of LCH cells, and paucity of eosinophils within the infiltrate; these features have not been described earlier. Surprisingly, all cases were negative for BRAF V600E mutation on both RQ-PCR and Sanger sequencing. The present study is perhaps the first autopsy series on LCH. This extensive autopsy analysis represents a correlation of pathological features with clinical symptoms which provides clues for a timely diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic intervention. Also, our findings hint at the low frequency of BRAF V600E mutation in our LCH patients.
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Lactente , Pré-Escolar , Histiocitose de Células de Langerhans/patologia , Autopsia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-abl , Quinases de Proteína Quinase Ativadas por Mitógeno , Diagnóstico PrecoceRESUMO
Nonvasculitic autoimmune meningoencephalitis (NAIM) is a rare condition describing a syndrome of steroid-responsive encephalopathy in patients with similar clinical and pathologic features. It can be associated with autoimmune diseases, such as Sjogren's syndrome and autoimmune thyroiditis. Brain biopsies usually show inflammatory cells without evidence of vasculitis. In this article, we present a patient who developed NAIM after receiving rituximab, a B-cell-depleting therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. The brain biopsy showed a lack of B lymphocytes in the brain tissue, and the patient responded well to intravenous immunoglobulins. We further discuss the role of B lymphocytes and specific regulatory B lymphocytes in suppressing autoimmunity in the brain and propose that the depletion of regulatory B cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of NAIM. This case illustrates a potential side effect of rituximab and demonstrates the importance of regulatory B cells in maintaining the immune response.