Background: VEXAS syndrome is characterized by heterogeneous rheumatologic and hematologic manifestations driven by somatic UBA1 gene mutations. It, however, requires a more precise clinical definition.
Objectives: This study aims to comprehensively describe the clinical profile of VEXAS patients (VP) managed in Spanish rheumatologic units.
Methods: A nationwide survey across 126 rheumatologic units within Spanish public hospitals identified 38 VP based on clinical compatibility, characteristic bone marrow biopsy (BMB) findings, and/or confirmed UBA1 gene mutations. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and outcome data were retrospectively collected from medical records in a standardized form.
Results: Thirty-eight VP were identified. All were men and Caucasian, with a mean age at diagnosis of 73.18 (±SD 9.08) years. Constitutional symptoms and fever were detected in 30 (78.95%) patients, as well as arthritis, and chondritis (including nasal chondritis, perichondritis and epiglottis’ chondritis) was found in 20 (52.63%) cases. Thirty-two (84.21%) patients presented 1 or more skin manifestations, being the most frequent ones: Sweet syndrome (n=19, 50%), leukocytoclastic vasculitis (n=9, 23.68%), erythema nodosum (n=8, 21.05%), Jessner’s lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (n=2, 5.26%), and lupus-like skin lesions (n=2, 5.26%). Pulmonary involvement ocurred in 15 (39.47%) cases, including lung infiltrates (n=7), interstitial lung disease (n=5), pleurisy (n=2), and alveolar hemorrhage (n=1). Remarkably, renal involvement (acute renal failure n=3, nephrotic syndrome n=2, and IgA nephropathy n=1) attributed to VEXAS syndrome, which had not previously reported, occurred in 6 patients (15.78%). Other clinical manifestations are included in Table 1. Anemia was found in 94.73% cases, being macrocytic in 31 (81.58%) of them; 25 (65.79%) presented thrombocytopenia as well; furthermore, 19 (50%) met criteria for MDS. Other laboratory findings are included in Table 2.
Conclusion: Our VEXAS syndrome cohort aligns with reported rheumatologic manifestations, with a noteworthy inclusion of renal involvement in 15% of patients, a new finding at the time of this publication. This detailed characterization enhances our understanding of VEXAS syndrome’s clinical spectrum.
Baseline clínical manifestations
Clinical manifestations | Total number and percentage |
Skin involvement | 32, 84.21% |
Constitutional symptoms | 30, 78.95% |
Fever | 30, 78.95% |
Arthritis | 30, 78.95% |
Chondritis | 20, 52.63% |
Ocular manifestations | 17, 44.73% |
Pulmonary involvement | 15, 39.47% |
Periorbital oedema | 13, 34.21% |
Thromboembolic disease attributed to VEXAS syndrome | 11, 28.95% |
Splenomegaly | 10, 26.31% |
Renal involvement | 6, 15.78% |
Hearing loss | 8, 21.05% |
Medium vessel vasculitis | 7, 18.42% |
Hepatomegaly | 5, 13.16% |
Cardiac manifestations | 2, 5.26% |
Baseline laboratory
Laboratory | Median and standard deviation (SD) |
Haemoglobin gr/dL | 9.76 ± 1.38 SD |
Medium corpuscular volume fL | 106.9 ± 9.1 SD |
Platelets 10^3/µL | 125,02 ± 75,47 SD |
Leukocytes/ µL | 5132 ± 2639 SD |
CRP mg/dL | 18.73 ± 20.71 SD |
ESR mm/h | 93.32 ± 38.67 SD |
REFERENCES: NIL.
Acknowledgements: NIL.
Disclosure of Interests: None declared.