Avacopan in Patients With Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis Requiring Dialysis

Real-World Experience With Avacopan in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibody-Associated Vasculitis

Introduction

Postmarketing data on outcomes of avacopan use in antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) are lacking.

Methods

We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of 92 patients with newly diagnosed or relapsing AAV who received therapy with avacopan. The coprimary outcome measures were clinical remission at 26 and 52 weeks. We use descriptive statistics and univariate logistic regression to assess outcomes and predictors of remission, respectively.

Results

Of the 92 patients, 23% (n = 21) had a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 15 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and 10% on kidney replacement therapy at baseline. Among those with kidney involvement, mean (SD) enrollment eGFR was 33 (27) ml/min per 1.73 m2 with a mean (SD) change of +12 (25) and +20 (23) ml/min per 1.73 m2 at weeks 26 and 52, respectively. In addition to avacopan, 47% of patients received combination therapy of rituximab and low-dose cyclophosphamide, and 14% of patients received plasma exchange (PLEX). After induction, the median (interquartile range [IQR]) time to start avacopan was 3.6 (2.1-7.7) weeks, and the median time to discontinue prednisone after starting avacopan was 5.6 (3.3-9.5) weeks. Clinical remission was achieved in 90% of patients at week 26 and 84% of patients at week 52. Of the patients, 20% stopped avacopan due to adverse events, with the most common being elevated serum aminotransferases (4.3%).

Conclusion

A high rate of remission and an acceptable safety profile were observed with the use of avacopan in the treatment of AAV in this postmarketing analysis, including the populations excluded from the ADVOCATE trial.

Application of biological agents in the treatment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) has been traditionally treated using glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants. However, these treatment modes are associated with high recurrence AAV rates and adverse reactions. Therefore, treatment strategies for AAV need to be urgently optimized. The efficacy and safety of biological agents in the treatment of vasculitis have been clinically validated. This review comprehensively summarizes the evidence-based support for the clinical use of existing biological agents in AAV. The findings reveal that multiple biological agents not only effectively reduce the adverse reactions associated with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants but also demonstrate significant therapeutic efficacy. Notably, rituximab, an anti-CD20 antibody, has emerged as a first-line treatment option for AAV. Mepolizumab has shown promising results in relapsed and refractory eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Other biological agents targeting cytokines, complement, and other pathways have also demonstrated clinical benefits in recent studies. The widespread application of biological agents provides new insights into the treatment of AAV and is expected to drive further clinical research. These advancements not only improve patient outcomes but also offer more possibilities and hope in the field of AAV treatment.

Avacopan as an additional therapeutic intervention to promote renal recovery in severe ANCA-associated vasculitis: A case report

Avacopan, a C5a receptor antagonist (C5aR) presents a new therapeutic option to improve outcomes in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Here we present a case report of a patient initially requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT), where avacopan was added as an additional adjunctive therapeutic agent late in the treatment course.

[State-of-the-art trends in the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory kidney diseases: Translation of the fundamental science into clinical practice. A review]

Immune-mediated kidney diseases like glomerulonephritis and tubulointerstitial nephritis are not the most common cause of chronic kidney disease in the population, however the difficulties in their management, as well as a more rapid deterioration of kidney function, compared to diabetes mellitus and hypertension, justify the importance of this problem for internal medicine. Due to the fundamental discoveries in pathology and to the introduction of various methods of laboratory and instrumental investigation in the second half of the XX century substantial progress was made in the diagnostic approaches and treatment of these conditions. State-of-the-art diagnostic approach requires complex evaluation of the clinical, laboratory and morphological data to identify the nosological form of the disease. The accumulation of knowledge in the field of diseases' pathogenesis led to the revision of the current classification of glomerulonephritis that should be based on the immunopathogenesis of these conditions. The following phenotypes were suggested: autoimmunity-related, autoinflammation-related, alloimmunity-related, infections-related, and monoclonal gammopathy-related. The assessment of disease activity and chronicity in the kidney tissue should be mandatory. Personalized selection of the optimal treatment modality on the basis of the diagnosis, severity, and individual features of the patient is currently possible. The leading trends include rational prescription of glucocorticoids (steroid-sparing regimens) and cytotoxic agents, e.g. cyclophosphamide, as well as the introduction of multitarget regimens that include biologic agents or small molecules selectively suppressing B-cells or various complement pathways. Another mandatory component of treatment on par with immune suppression is nephroprotective therapy, which currently comprises not only traditional renin-angiotensin-aldosterone antagonists, but also endothelin receptor antagonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors. Current guidelines emphasize the importance of the non-pharmacological interventions for the implementation of the nephroprotective strategy. Rational combination of the aforementioned approaches allows for the optimization of the management of patients with immune-mediated kidney diseases, although it requires high competencies and strict adherence to the principles of the evidence-based medicine from the healthcare providers.