Anti-SS-A antibodies are often sought for in autoimmune diseases diagnosis. Two different target proteins have actually been identified: Ro52 and Ro60. Clinical and immunological associations seem different depending on anti-Ro52 or anti-Ro60 antibodies presence. However, due to a heterogeneous presentation in the literature, some immunology laboratories in France have stopped providing anti-Ro52 antibody findings. We report here a new hospital study designed to determine the diagnostic utility of the separate detection of anti-Ro52 and anti-Ro60 antibodies. We conducted a retrospective, observational study, including every adult patient with positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) tested in our immunology laboratory, and associated with anti-Ro52 and/or anti-Ro60 antibodies, between 2011 and 2014. Out of 13032 sera tested for ANA, 399 adults had antibodies to Ro52 and/or Ro60; 81.7% were female, with a mean age of 54.5 ± 17.0 years. Anti-Ro52 antibodies were found in 75.7% of the patients and anti-Ro60 antibodies in 56.9%. Among them, 43.1% were classified in the Ro52 + Ro60- group, 32.6% in the Ro52 + Ro60 + group and 24.3% in the Ro52-Ro60+ group. In the Ro52-Ro60+ group, systemic lupus was the most frequent diagnosis (48.5%), with a possible association with antiphospholipid antibodies (anti-cardiolipin antibodies: OR 2.5 (CI95 [1.0–5.0], p = 0.05) and lupus anticoagulant {OR 3.6 (CI95 [1.10–10.0] p = 0.02)}. In the Ro52+Ro60+, primary Sjögren Syndrome was the most likely (OR 4.2 95% CI [2.1–8.3] p < 10⁻⁴), especially in patients Ro52+Ro60+La+. Patients with isolated anti-Ro52 had a wider variety of diseases associated, but among auto-immune diseases they were more prone to inflammatory myositis (OR 10.5 [1.4–81.7], p = 0.02) and inflammatory rheumatism (OR 4.6 [1.6–13.8], p = 0.006) in contrast to systemic lupus (OR 0.2 [0.1–0.3], p < 10⁻⁴) or primary Sjögren's syndrome (OR 0.1 [0.06–0.2], p < 10⁻⁴). We therefore suggest that, when anti-ENA antibodies are prescribed, it should include separate anti-Ro52 and anti-Ro60 antibodies determination. To go even further, we would like to suggest a change in ENA nomenclature to avoid confusion, abandoning the anti-SS-A label in favor of the anti-Ro52/TRIM21 or anti-Ro60 antibody for a clearer designation.

HIV cure has been reported for five individuals who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) from CCR5Δ32 homozygous donors. In contrast, viral rebound has occurred in other people living with HIV who interrupted antiretroviral treatment after receiving allo-HSCT, mostly from wild-type CCR5 donors. Here, we report the case of a male who has achieved durable HIV remission following allo-HSCT from an unrelated HLA-matched (9/10 matching for HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles) wild-type CCR5 donor to treat an extramedullary myeloid tumor. To date, plasma viral load has remained undetectable for 32 months after the interruption of antiretroviral treatment. Treatment with ruxolitinib has been maintained during this period to treat chronic graft versus host disease. Low levels of proviral DNA were detected sporadically post-allo-HSCT, including defective but not intact HIV DNA. No virus could be amplified in cultures of CD4 + T cells obtained post antiretroviral treatment interruption, while CD4 + T cells remained susceptible to HIV-1 infection in vitro. Decline of HIV antibodies and undetectable HIV-specific T cell responses further corroborate the absence of viral rebound after antiretroviral treatment interruption. These results suggest that HIV remission could be achieved in the context of allo-HSCT with wild-type CCR5.

HIV infection and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (IADs) are both related to immune dysfunction. Epidemiological data on IAD in patients living with HIV (PLHIV) are scarce. The aim of this study was thus to estimate the prevalence of 26 IAD among PLHIV followed in a large French multicenter cohort in the combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) era (from January 2000 to July 2013), and to describe their occurrence according to cART onset, the immuno-virological status of patients and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and/or hepatitis B virus coinfection. During the study period, 33 403 PLHIV were included in the Dat’AIDS cohort; 1381 patients with an IAD were identified. The most prevalent IADs were psoriasis, sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondyloarthritis, Grave's disease, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia and chronic inflammatory bowel disease. In contrast, the prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis were low. Most patients (59%) developed IAD after HIV infection with a mean delay of 10.6 ± 6.4 years. Compared with the entire cohort, HCV coinfection was significantly more frequent in patients with psoriasis, Grave's disease and immune thrombocytopenia, and chronic hepatitis B in patients was more frequent in those with immune thrombocytopenia and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Among patients developing IAD after the diagnosis of HIV infection, 572 (70%) were on antiretroviral therapy and 419 of them (73%) had undetectable HIV viral load. Our study showed that some IAD are not rare among PLHIV and occur mostly in patients with immuno-virological control under cART. The higher frequency of HCV or hepatitis B virus coinfection for some IAD is also confirmed.

Background: Advancements in access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care have led to a decline in AIDS-related deaths among people with HIV (PWH) in Switzerland. However, data on the ongoing changes in causes of death among PWH over the past 15 years are scarce. Methods: We investigated all reported deaths in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study between 2005 and 2022. Causes of death were categorized using the Coding Causes of Death in HIV protocol. The statistical analysis included demographic stratification to identify time trends and logistic regression models to determine associated factors for the underlying cause of death. Results: In total, 1630 deaths were reported, with 23.7% of individuals assigned female sex at birth. These deaths included 147 (9.0%) HIV/AIDS-related deaths, 373 (22.9%) due to non-AIDS, non-hepatic cancers, 166 (10.2%) liver-related deaths, and 158 (9.7%) cardiovascular-related deaths. The median age at death (interquartile range) increased from 45.0 (40.0–53.0) years in 2005–2007 to 61.0 (56.0–69.5) years in 2020–2022. HIV/AIDS- and liver-related deaths decreased, whereas deaths from non-AIDS, non-hepatic cancers increased and cardiovascular-related deaths remained relatively stable. Conclusions: The proportionally decreasing HIV/AIDS and liver-related deaths showcase the effectiveness of ART, comprehensive HIV patient care, and interventions targeting hepatitis C virus coinfection. Future research should focus on managing cancer and cardiovascular-related conditions as the new leading causes of death among PWH. Comprehensive healthcare strategies focusing on non–AIDS-related comorbid conditions, cancer management, and sustaining liver and cardiovascular health are needed to bridge the ongoing health disparities between PWH and the general population.

Background: Vitamin D has diverse and extensive effects on the immune system, including activating innate immunity and reducing the overactive adaptive immune response. A systematic review was performed to identify and synthesize the best available evidence on the association between vitamin D level and risk of COVID-19, adverse outcomes and possible benefits of supplementation in aged 60 years or over. Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed© and Scopus© for all publications from inception published before 15 March 2021. Studies reporting data from aged patients on vitamin D use and COVID-19 were included. Basic science articles, editorials and correspondence were excluded. Publication year, study design and setting, characteristics of the study population were extracted. This study is registered with PROSPERO, under the number CRD42020223993. Results: In total, 707 studies were identified, of which 11 observational studies were included in the final review. Four studies compared vitamin D-supplemented COVID-19 patients to non-supplemented patients, and seven compared patients with vitamin D deficiency to patients without deficiency. In all four studies, patients with vitamin D supplementation had better rates of primary clinical outcomes (death, the severity of the disease, oxygen therapy requirement…). In studies comparing patients with vitamin D deficiency and patients without vitamin D deficiency, those without vitamin D deficiency had better primary clinical outcomes (death rate, the severity of the disease, oxygen therapy requirement, invasive mechanical ventilation need…). Conclusion: This systematic review seems to support an association between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of COVID-19 in aged people. In addition, vitamin D deficiency appears to expose these subjects to a greater risk of adverse outcomes. Because of its simplicity of administration, and the rarity of side effects, including vitamin D in preventive strategies for certain viral diseases, it appears to be an attractive option.