Birmingham vasculitis activity and chest manifestation at diagnosis can predict hospitalised infection in ANCA-associated vasculitis

Risk factors for serious infections and infection-related mortality in patients with microscopic polyangiitis: Multicentre REVEAL cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Infections are a critical concern for patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with serious infections (SIs) and infection-related mortality in patients with MPA, as well as the effect of glucocorticoid (GC) dose tapering on these outcomes.

METHODS

This multicentre, retrospective, and observational study utilised data from a cohort of patients with MPA in Japan [Registry of Vasculitis Patients to Establish REAL World Evidence (REVEAL) cohort]. Patients were categorised based on the occurrence of SIs or infection-related deaths, and various characteristics were compared among the groups.

RESULTS

Among 182 patients, 66 (36.2%) experienced 129 SIs and 27 (14.8%) developed infection-related deaths. Advanced age, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and higher ratio of the GC dose at 3 months to the initial dose were identified as independent risk factors for SIs. Older age was also associated with infection-related deaths. Furthermore, the cumulative incidence of infection-related deaths was significantly higher in patients with a higher ratio of the GC dose at 24 months to the initial dose.

CONCLUSION

Older age, elevated CRP levels, and slower GC dose tapering predispose patients to SIs and infection-related deaths. Strategies, such as rapid GC dose tapering, are anticipated to mitigate the risk of infections.

Invasive fungal infection in ANCA-associated vasculitis: Between the Devil and Deep blue sea. Case series and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) are susceptible to opportunistic infections, including invasive fungal infections (IFI). This is due to many factors, including prolonged immunosuppressive therapy. The treatment of AAV with such IFIs is challenging.

METHODS

A descriptive analysis of 5 patients with AAV complicated by concomitant invasive fungal infections was performed. We also have done a comprehensive literature review of IFIs in AAV using PubMed and Google Scholar databases.

RESULTS

All 5 patients initially received immunosuppressive medication but subsequently acquired IFI. One patient had sphenoid sinus involvement, and four had lung parenchymal involvement. Aspergillus infection was diagnosed in three patients, Cryptococcus infection in one patient and mixed infection with Aspergillus and Mucor infection in one patient. All our patients were on low doses of corticosteroids for several months to years or had received high-dose pulse steroids with cyclophosphamide in the last few weeks before being diagnosed with IFI. It was difficult to distinguish disease activity from IFI in all the cases. Two of the five patients died despite antifungal therapy. The literature review revealed a prevalence of IFIs ranging from 1 to 9.6% (excluding pneumocystis pneumonia). Aspergillosis was the predominant type of IFI, affecting 46 of 86 patients. Most of these patients (40/46) had pulmonary involvement. The prognosis for patients with IFI was consistently poor, as evidenced by 19 deaths out of 29 reported outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Overall, IFIs have a poor prognosis in patients with AAV. Differentiating disease activity from IFI is difficult because of similar organ distribution, imaging lesions, and histopathological characteristics. A high suspicion index and good-quality microbiology are needed for early treatment and prevention of mortality.

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis during treatment of granulomatosis with polyangiitis with rituximab in the United States of America: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended during ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) induction. We aimed to describe the frequency, persistence, and factors associated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) use in an adult population sample with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) treated with rituximab (RTX).

METHODS

We identified adults with GPA treated with RTX within the Merative™ Marketscan® Research Databases (2011-2020). TMP-SMX prophylaxis was defined as a [Formula: see text] 28-day prescription dispensed within a month of starting RTX. We estimated TMP-SMX persistence, allowing prescription refill gaps of 30 days. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the factors associated with baseline TMP-SMX use and persistence, respectively. Covariates included age, sex, calendar year, insurance type, immunosuppressant use, hospitalization, and co-morbidities.

RESULTS

Among 1877 RTX-treated GPA patients, the mean age was 50.9, and 54% were female. A minority (n = 426, 23%) received TMP-SMX with a median persistence of 141 (IQR 83-248) days. In multivariable analyses, prophylaxis was associated with prednisone use in the month prior to RTX ([Formula: see text] 20 mg/day vs none, OR 3.96; 95% CI 3.0-5.2; 1-19 mg/day vs none, OR 2.63; 95% CI 1.8-3.8), and methotrexate use (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.04-2.1), intensive care (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.4-2.7), and non-intensive care hospitalization (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.2-2.1) in the 6 months prior to RTX. Female sex (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.5-0.8) was negatively associated with TMP-SMX use.

CONCLUSIONS

TMP-SMX was dispensed to a minority of RTX-treated GPA patients, more often to those on glucocorticoids and with recent hospitalization. Further research is needed to determine the optimal use and duration of TMP-SMX prophylaxis following RTX in AAV.

Early infectious risk in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis according to remission-induction therapy

OBJECTIVE

Few comparative data exist on early infections secondary to remission-induction therapy (RIT) with rituximab (RTX) versus cyclophosphamide (CYC) in newly diagnosed anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients. We compared and analysed the rates and predictors of severe infection in such patients within the first 6 months following RIT.

METHOD

From the Caen University Hospital databases, we included all consecutive adults newly diagnosed with ANCA-positive granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis between January 2006 and December 2019. We compared rates of survival without severe infection and survival without infections of any severity within 6 months of RIT and used a multivariate Cox analysis to identify predictors of infection.

RESULTS

We included 145 patients, 27 in the RTX and 118 in the CYC group. Patients in the RTX group more frequently had pneumococcal vaccination (p < 0.01) and creatinine < 150 µmol/L; other characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Overall, 37 severe infections and 65 infections of any severity were recorded. Rates of survival without severe infection were similar in both groups (p = 0.69), but survival without infections of any severity was lower in the RTX group (p = 0.005). In multivariate analysis, risk factors at diagnosis for severe infections included chronic urinary tract disease, dialysis, and absence of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis (p < 0.01 each).

CONCLUSIONS

Within 6 months of RIT, rates of survival without severe infection were similar in newly diagnosed ANCA-positive AAV patients treated with RTX or CYC, but survival rates without infections of any severity appeared to be lower with RTX treatment.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a marker of vasculitis activity, severe infection and mortality in anca-associated vasculitis: A retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a multisystemic disease. Despite the improvement in mortality rate since the introduction of immunosuppression, long-term prognosis is still uncertain not only because of the disease activity but also due to treatment associated adverse effects. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been demonstrated as an inflammatory marker in multiple settings. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic ability of the NLR in AAV patients.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical records of all adult patients with AVV admitted to the Nephrology and Renal Transplantation Department of Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte from January 2006 to December 2019. NLR was calculated at admission. The outcomes measured were severe infection at 3 months and one-year mortality. The prognostic ability of the NLR was determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A cut-off value was defined as that with the highest validity. All variables underwent univariate analysis to determine statistically significant factors that may have outcomes. Only variables which significantly differed were used in the multivariate analysis using the logistic regression method.

RESULTS

We registered 45 cases of AVV. The mean age at diagnosis was 67.5±12.1 years and 23 patients were male. The mean Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) at presentation was 26.0±10.4. Twenty-nine patients were ANCA-MPO positive, 7 ANCA-PR3 positive and 9 were considered negative ANCA vasculitis. At admission, mean serum creatinine (SCr) was 4.9±2.5mg/dL, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 76.9±33.8mm/h, hemoglobin was 9.5±1.7g/dL, C-reactive protein was 13.2±5.8mg/dL and NLR was 8.5±6.8. Thirty-five patients were treated with cyclophosphamide, eight patients with rituximab for induction therapy. Twenty patients developed severe infection within the first three months after starting induction immunosuppression. In a multivariate analysis, older age (73.6±10.5 vs. 62.6±11.3, p=0.002, adjusted OR 1.08 [95% CI 1.01-1.16], p=0.035) and higher NLR (11.9±7.4 vs. 5.9±5.0, p=0.002, adjusted OR 1.14 [95% CI 1.01-1.29], p=0.035) were predictors of severe infection at 3 months. NLR ≥4.04 predicted severe infection at 3 months with a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 52% and the AUROC curve was 0.0794 (95% CI 0.647-0.900). Nine patients died within the first year. Severe infection at 3 months was independently associated with mortality within the first year (OR 6.19 [95% CI 1.12-34.32], p=0.037).

CONCLUSIONS

NLR at diagnosis was an independent predictor of severe infection within the first 3 months after immunosuppression start, and severe infection within the first three months was consequently correlated with one-year mortality. NLR is an easily calculated and low-cost laboratory inflammation biomarker and can prove useful in identifying AAV patients at risk of infection and poorer prognosis.

Association between body mass index and severe infection in older adults with microscopic polyangiitis: a retrospective cohort in Japan

BACKGROUND

Although previous studies have evaluated risk factors for the incidence of severe infection in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and severe infection in AAV has not been elucidated. We hypothesized that older adults with AAV and a low BMI would be at a higher risk of infection. We therefore investigated the association between underweight status at AAV diagnosis and subsequent occurrence of severe infection in older adults with AAV.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective cohort study included 93 consecutive older adults with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) treated at the Aichi Medical University Hospital in Japan between 2004 and 2018. The relationships between BMI at diagnosis and subsequent first severe infection were assessed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. The cumulative probability of the development of the first severe infection was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. The level of statistical significance was set at P <  0.05.

RESULTS

During the median follow-up period of 19 (6-53) months, 29 (31.2%) patients developed at least one severe infection. Older age (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-3.52, per 10 years; P =  0.016), low BMI (< 18.5 kg/m² compared with normal BMI [18.5-23.0 kg/m²], adjusted HR =  2.63, 95% CI: 1.11-6.19; P =  0.027), and use of methylprednisolone pulse therapy (adjusted HR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.07-5.76; P =  0.034) were found to be significant predictors of severe infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Low BMI was associated with a higher risk of severe infection in older adults with MPA, suggesting that careful management may be required to prevent this complication in this vulnerable group. Further studies are needed to elucidate the optimal treatment strategy for these patients.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a marker of vasculitis activity, severe infection and mortality in anca-associated vasculitis: A retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a multisystemic disease. Despite the improvement in mortality rate since the introduction of immunosuppression, long-term prognosis is still uncertain not only because of the disease activity but also due to treatment associated adverse effects. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been demonstrated as an inflammatory marker in multiple settings. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic ability of the NLR in AAV patients.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical records of all adult patients with AVV admitted to the Nephrology and Renal Transplantation Department of Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte from January 2006 to December 2019. NLR was calculated at admission. The outcomes measured were severe infection at 3 months and one-year mortality. The prognostic ability of the NLR was determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A cut-off value was defined as that with the highest validity. All variables underwent univariate analysis to determine statistically significant factors that may have outcomes. Only variables which significantly differed were used in the multivariate analysis using the logistic regression method.

RESULTS

We registered 45 cases of AVV. The mean age at diagnosis was 67.5±12.1 years and 23 patients were male. The mean Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) at presentation was 26.0±10.4. Twenty-nine patients were ANCA-MPO positive, 7 ANCA-PR3 positive and 9 were considered negative ANCA vasculitis. At admission, mean serum creatinine (SCr) was 4.9±2.5mg/dL, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 76.9±33.8mm/h, hemoglobin was 9.5±1.7g/dL, C-reactive protein was 13.2±5.8mg/dL and NLR was 8.5±6.8. Thirty-five patients were treated with cyclophosphamide, eight patients with rituximab for induction therapy. Twenty patients developed severe infection within the first three months after starting induction immunosuppression. In a multivariate analysis, older age (73.6±10.5 vs. 62.6±11.3, p=0.002, adjusted OR 1.08 [95% CI 1.01-1.16], p=0.035) and higher NLR (11.9±7.4 vs. 5.9±5.0, p=0.002, adjusted OR 1.14 [95% CI 1.01-1.29], p=0.035) were predictors of severe infection at 3 months. NLR ≥4.04 predicted severe infection at 3 months with a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 52% and the AUROC curve was 0.0794 (95% CI 0.647-0.900). Nine patients died within the first year. Severe infection at 3 months was independently associated with mortality within the first year (OR 6.19 [95% CI 1.12-34.32], p=0.037).

CONCLUSIONS

NLR at diagnosis was an independent predictor of severe infection within the first 3 months after immunosuppression start, and severe infection within the first three months was consequently correlated with one-year mortality. NLR is an easily calculated and low-cost laboratory inflammation biomarker and can prove useful in identifying AAV patients at risk of infection and poorer prognosis.

Severe infections in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a retrospective cohort study with a clinical phenotype approach

Severe infections are common in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). We aimed to describe the characteristics of patients with AAV and severe infections according to clinical phenotype. Retrospective cohort study including patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Baseline characteristics were compared between patients with and without at least one severe infection. Demographics, comorbidities, clinical characteristics, laboratory and treatment were retrieved at diagnosis and at every infectious event. One hundred and eight patients were included (57 with and 51 without infections). Patients with an infection had received more frequently methylprednisolone boluses at AAV diagnosis than patients without infections (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-5.9, p = 0.01). There were a total of 108 severe infections in 57 patients (median follow-up 18 months). Thirty-two patients (56%) had an infectious complication within the first year of AAV diagnosis, 43 (75%) had pulmonary involvement during the first infection. The most frequent type of infection was pneumonia. Phenotypes were: Non-severe AAV (n = 11), severe PR3-AAV (n = 30), severe MPO-AAV (n = 9); the number of infectious events in each group was 11, 69, 18, respectively. Patients with severe MPO phenotype were older and required more frequently ICU stay compared to other phenotypes. Positive correlation was found between total of infections and pulmonary infiltrates due to vasculitis (ρ = 0.40, p = 0.003), endobronchial involvement (ρ = 0.40, p = 0.003), and alveolar hemorrhage (ρ = 0.34, p = 0.015). Severe infections, most commonly pneumonia, were frequent in this cohort, especially during the first year after diagnosis, in patients with pulmonary involvement and severe PR3 phenotype who received methylprednisolone boluses.

Initial high-dose corticosteroids and renal impairment are risk factors for early severe infections in elderly patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis: A retrospective observational study

Recent large observational studies of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) show that severe infection is a major cause of death and that the majority of infections occur during the early phase of initiating remission-induction therapy. Many risk factors for severe infection have been suggested, but these have been inconsistent. Nevertheless, infectious risk factors in elderly patients with AAV have not been adequately investigated in previous studies.In this retrospective observational study, we examined potential predictors of severe infection within 90 days (early severe infections) after remission-induction therapy in patients with AAV aged 65 years or older. We included 167 consecutive elderly patients with AAV admitted to our hospital. Data from medical history and remission-induction therapy were analyzed for predictive risk factors associated with early severe infections. The relationship between initial doses of corticosteroids and cumulative incidence of severe infections was also analyzed. A multivariate analysis of risk factors for early severe infections was performed using logistic regression analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the overall survival, and the log-rank test was used to evaluate the differences between patients with and without early severe infections. Gray method was used to compare the cumulative incidence of severe infections in patients who did and did not receive initial high-dose corticosteroids.Logistic regression analysis showed that initial high-dose corticosteroid administration (prednisolone ≥0.8 mg/kg/d) (odds ratio [OR] 3.86, P = .030) and serum creatinine levels at diagnosis ≥1.5 mg/dL (OR 5.13, P = .003) were independent predictors of early severe infection although administration of cyclophosphamide or rituximab was not. The cumulative incidence of severe infections was also significantly higher in patients who received initial high-dose corticosteroids (P = .042), and patients with early severe infections exhibited a high mortality rate within 6 months (P < .001).Our findings suggest that initial high-dose corticosteroids and renal impairment at diagnosis are associated with a higher risk of early severe infections and early death in elderly patients with AAV.

Invasive mycoses in patients with connective tissue disease from Southern China: clinical features and associated factors

Background

A retrospective study was performed to investigate the clinical features and associated factors of invasive mycoses (IM) in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) from Southern China.

Methods

Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Associated factors were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 6911 patients with CTD were included. IM was diagnosed in 32 patients (incidence, 0.5%). IM was predominant in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) (incidence, 1.5%, 7/480). Lung was commonly involved (30/32, 93.8%). Aspergillus spp. (81.3%) were the leading strain. The positive rate of fungi detection in sputum culture was 69.0%. Serum galactomannan (GM) test was positive in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from seven (7/10, 70.0%) patients. Ten patients died (31.3%), including three with AAV (42.9%) and seven with SLE (36.8%). Penicillium marneffei was the most fatal (mortality, 100%). Non-survivors had higher prevalence of leukopenia (30.0% vs 4.5%, P = 0.04), lymphopenia (100.0% vs 59.1%, P = 0.02), elevated serum creatinine (70.0% vs 27.3%, P = 0.02), and co-infection (70.0% vs 18.2%, P = 0.004) than survivors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lymphopenia [odds ratio (OR) = 3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29–8.38, P = 0.01] and median-to-high dose of glucocorticoid (GC) [OR = 3.40, 95% CI 1.04–11.13, P = 0.04] were associated with IM in patients with CTD.

Conclusions

IM tended to develop in patients with AAV, resulting in high mortality. Sputum culture and GM test in BALF were effective methods to distinguish IM. Vigilance against lymphopenia, impaired kidney function, and co-infection improved the prognosis of IM.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13075-019-1851-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis in Korea: A Narrative Review

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a group of systemic necrotising vasculitides, which often involve small vessels, and which lead to few or no immune deposits in affected organs. According to clinical manifestations and pathological features, AAV is classified into three variants: microscopic polyangiitis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and eosinophilic GPA. The American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria contributed to the classification of AAV, although currently the algorithm suggested by the European Medicines Agency in 2007 and the Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature of Vasculitides proposed in 2012 have encouraged physicians to classify AAV patients properly. So far, there have been noticeable advancements in studies on the pathophysiology of AAV and the classification criteria for AAV in Western countries. However, studies analysing clinical features of Korean patients with AAV have only been conducted and reported since 2000. One year-, 5 year-, and 10 year-cumulative patient survival rates are reported as 96.1, 94.8, and 92.8%. Furthermore, initial vasculitis activity, prognostic factor score, age and specific organ-involvement have been found to be associated with either all-cause mortality or poor disease course. The rate of serious infection is 28.6%, and 1 year-, 5 year- and 10 year-cumulative hospitalised infection free survival rates range from 85.1% to 72.7%. The overall standardised incidence ratio of cancer in AAV patients was deemed 1.43 compared to the general Korean population.