Towards a histological diagnosis of childhood small vessel CNS vasculitis
dc.contributor.author | Nouri, Maryam N. | |
dc.contributor.author | Dropol, Anastasia | |
dc.contributor.author | Tyrrell, Pascal N. | |
dc.contributor.author | Sheikh, Sheila | |
dc.contributor.author | Twilt, Marinka | |
dc.contributor.author | Michaud, Jean | |
dc.contributor.author | Ellezam, Benjamin | |
dc.contributor.author | Sarnat, Harvey B. | |
dc.contributor.author | Dunham, Christopher | |
dc.contributor.author | Schutz, Peter W. | |
dc.contributor.author | Keith, Julia | |
dc.contributor.author | Munoz, David G. | |
dc.contributor.author | Vinters, Harry V. | |
dc.contributor.author | Hawkins, Cynthia | |
dc.contributor.author | Benseler, Susanne M. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2024-12-29T01:05:56Z | |
dc.date.available | 2024-12-29T01:05:56Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2024-12-28 | |
dc.date.updated | 2024-12-29T01:05:56Z | |
dc.description.abstract | Abstract Background Primary small vessel CNS vasculitis (sv-cPACNS) is a challenging inflammatory brain disease in children. Brain biopsy is mandatory to confirm the diagnosis. This study aims to develop and validate a histological scoring tool for diagnosing small vessel CNS vasculitis. Methods A standardized brain biopsy scoring instrument was developed and applied to consecutive full-thickness brain biopsies of pediatric cases and controls at a single center. Stains included immunohistochemistry and Hematoxylin & Eosin. Nine North American neuropathologists, blinded to patients’ presentation, diagnosis, and therapy, scored de-identified biopsies independently. Results A total of 31 brain biopsy specimens from children with sv-cPACNS, 11 with epilepsy, and 11 with non-vasculitic inflammatory brain disease controls were included. Angiocentric inflammation in the cortex or white matter increases the likelihood of sv-cPACNS, with odds ratios (ORs) of 3.231 (95CI: 0.914–11.420, p = 0.067) and 3.923 (95CI: 1.13–13.6, p = 0.031). Moderate to severe inflammation in these regions is associated with a higher probability of sv-cPACNS, with ORs of 5.56 (95CI: 1.02–29.47, p = 0.046) in the cortex and 6.76 (95CI: 1.26–36.11, p = 0.025) in white matter. CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD20 cells predominated the inflammatory infiltrate. Reactive endothelium was strongly associated with sv-cPACNS, with an OR of 8.93 (p = 0.001). Features reported in adult sv-PACNS, including granulomas, necrosis, or fibrin deposits, were absent in all biopsies. The presence of leptomeningeal inflammation in isolation was non-diagnostic. Conclusion Distinct histological features were identified in sv-cPACNS biopsies, including moderate to severe angiocentric inflammatory infiltrates in the cortex or white matter, consisting of CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD20 cells, alongside reactive endothelium with specificity of 95%. In the first study of its kind proposing histological criteria for evaluating brain biopsies, we aim to precisely characterize the type and severity of the inflammatory response in patients with sv-cPACNS; this can enable consolidation of this population to assess outcomes and treatment methodologies comprehensively. | |
dc.identifier.citation | Pediatric Rheumatology. 2024 Dec 28;22(1):111 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-024-01053-4 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1880/120326 | |
dc.language.rfc3066 | en | |
dc.rights.holder | The Author(s) | |
dc.title | Towards a histological diagnosis of childhood small vessel CNS vasculitis | |
dc.type | Journal Article |