Prognostic nutritional index is associated with disease severity and relapse in ANCA-associated vasculitis

Indices and ferritin level that predict organ involvement in adult-onset Still's disease

Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate whether C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR), lactate dehydrogenase to albumin ratio (LAR), ferritin to erythrocyte sedimentation rate ratio (FER), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), prognostic nutritional index (PNI) indices and ferritin level can predict organ involvement in adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) patients.Methods: This study was planned as a cross-sectional study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the usefulness of ferritin level and inflammatory indices in defining organ involvement.Results: Sixty-one patients diagnosed with AOSD were included in this study. Multivariate logistic regression analyzes showed that LAR (OR 1.028, 95% CI: 1.011-1.044) (p = 0.001) index predicted lymphadenopathy involvement, CAR (OR 1.249, 95% CI: 1.087-1.435) (p = 0.002) index predicted hepatomegaly involvement, ferritin level (OR 1.004, 95% CI: 1.001-1.008) (p = 0.007) predicted splenomegaly involvement, FER (OR 1.085, 95% CI: 1.012-1.164) (p = 0.021) and PNI (OR 0.271, 95% CI: 1.132-0.553) (p < 0.001) index predicted the occurrence of serositis.Conclusion: This study showed that ferritin level, CAR, FER, PNI and LAR markers may predict organ involvement at diagnosis in AOSD patients.

Evaluation of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) as a tool for assessing disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients

OBJECTIVES

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease of unknown exact cause, characterized by chronic inflammation. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI), reflecting albumin concentration and lymphocyte count, is a newly established inflammation-based nutritional score. This study aimed to determine the relationship between PNI and disease activity in RA patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 138 RA patients who met the 2010 revised criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) for RA. PNI was calculated using the following formula: 10 × serum albumin value (g/dL) + 0.005 × total lymphocyte count in the peripheral blood (per mm3). The study population was divided into two groups: DAS28-ESR ≤ 3.2 (group 1 with remission and low disease activity) and DAS28-ESR > 3.2 (group 2 with moderate and high disease activity).

RESULTS

A total of 138 patients with a mean age of 52.1 years were recruited. While the female gender was more prevalent in both groups, it was significantly higher in group 2 (p < 0.05). Group 2 exhibited a lower PNI compared to those in group 1 (42.17 ± 3.46 vs. 44.02 ± 2.92; p = 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that PNI was an independent predictor of disease activity (OR, 0.850; 95% CI, 0.735-0.983; p = 0.029). ROC curve analysis determined that the optimal cutoff value of PNI for disease activity was 43.01, with a sensitivity of 69.1% and specificity of 57.7% (AUC, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.57-0.75, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that the simple and readily available PNI could serve as an independent predictor of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Key Points •The relationship between disease activity and the prognostic nutritional index, which is a nutritional indicator, in rheumatoid arthritis patients was investigated. •It has been shown that there is a connection between low PNI and high disease activity. •It has been shown that PNI can be used to evaluate disease severity with a simple calculation.

Development of a novel predictive model for interstitial lung disease in ANCA-associated vasculitis prognostications within the Chinese population

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody vasculitis-associated interstitial lung disease (AAV-ILD) is a potentially life-threatening disease. However, very little research has been done on the condition's mortality risk. Hence, our objective is to find out the factors influencing the prognosis of AAV-ILD and employ these findings to create a nomogram model. Patients with AAV-ILD who received treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University during the period from March 1, 2011, to April 1, 2022 were selected for this research. The development of nomogram entailed a synergistic integration of univariate, Lasso, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Internal validation ensued through bootstrap techniques involving 1000 re-sampling iterations. Discrimination and calibration were assessed utilizing Harrell's C-index, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and calibration curve. Model performance was evaluated through integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), net reclassification improvement (NRI), and likelihood ratio test. The net benefit of the model was evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA). A cohort comprising 192 patients was enrolled for analysis. Throughout observation period, 32.29% of the population died. Key factors such as cardiac involvement, albumin, smoking history, and age displayed substantial prognostic relevance in AAV-ILD. These factors were incorporated to craft a predictive nomogram. Impressively, the model exhibited robust performance, boasting a Harrell's C index of 0.826 and an AUC of 0.940 (95% CI 0.904-0.976). The calibration curves depicted a high degree of harmony between predicted outcomes and actual observations. Significantly enhancing discriminative ability compared to the ILD-GAP model, the nomogram was validated through the IDI, NRI, and likelihood ratio test. DCA underscored the superior predictive value of the predictive model over the ILD-GAP model. The internal validation further affirmed this efficacy, with a mean Harrell's C-index of 0.815 for the predictive model. The nomogram model can be employed to predict the prognosis of patients with AAV-ILD. Moreover, the model performance is satisfactory. In the future, external datasets could be utilized for external validation.

A prognostic immune nutritional index can predict all-cause mortality in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis

Background

Studies have proposed that nutritional and immune-related markers are relevant with patient outcomes of various medical conditions and could be a useful indicator of patient prognostication.

Objectives

This study investigated whether a prognostic immune nutritional index (PINI) at diagnosis could predict adverse clinical outcomes in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Design

A retrospective, single-centre observational cohort analysis of patients with AAV.

Methods

All-cause mortality and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were investigated outcomes during the observation period. PINI was calculated by serum albumin (g/mL) × 0.9 - monocyte count (/mm3) × 0.0007, and the optimal cut-off of PINI was obtained using a Youden index-based bootstrapping method. Cox hazard analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of patient outcomes.

Results

Of the 250 eligible patients, the median age of patients was 60.0 years, and 34.0% were men. During the disease course, 33 (13.2%) died and 42 (16.8%) developed ESRD, respectively. The ideal PINI cut-offs for all-cause mortality and ESRD were set as ⩽2.47 and ⩽3.12 (sensitivity and specificity of 75.1% and 60.6% for mortality and 46.2% and 78.6% for ESRD). AAV patients with PINI ⩽2.47 and those with PINI ⩽3.12 exhibited significantly higher rates for all-cause mortality and ESRD compared to those with PINI >2.47 and >3.12. In the multivariable Cox analysis, PINI ⩽2.47 (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.173, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.129, 8.916, p = 0.029) was independently associated with all-cause patient mortality; however, PINI ⩽3.12 was not independently associated with ESRD (HR: 1.097, 95% CI: 0.419, 2.870, p = 0.850).

Conclusion

Findings from this study demonstrated PINI could predict all-cause patient mortality in AAV, and a higher clinical attention is warranted in those with PINI ⩽2.47 at initial diagnosis.

Longitudinal monitoring of circulating immune cell phenotypes in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a necrotizing multiorgan autoimmune disease that affects small- to medium-sized blood vessels. Despite the improvements in treatments, half of the patients with AAV still experience disease relapses. In this review, we focus on peripheral leukocyte properties and phenotypes in patients with AAV. In particular, we explore longitudinal changes in circulating immune cell phenotypes during the active phase of the disease and treatment. The numbers and phenotypes of leukocytes in peripheral blood were differs between AAV and healthy controls, AAV in active versus inactive phase, AAV in treatment responders versus non-responders, and AAV with and without severe infection. Therefore, biomarkers detected in peripheral blood immune cells may be useful for longitudinal monitoring of disease activity in AAV.

Prognostic Nutritional Index as a Predictor of Mortality in 101,616 Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

High mortality in dialysis patients is linked to malnutrition and inflammation. Prognostic nutritional index (PNI), calculated from serum albumin level and total lymphocyte count, has been developed as a prognostic marker for cancer patients. We investigated the clinical utility of PNI in predicting mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Thus, 101,616 patients who initiated hemodialysis in United States dialysis centers between 2007 and 2011 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Using the Cox regression model, we assessed the relationship between PNI and mortality. Further, the predictive value of PNI for one-year mortality was compared with that of its constituent using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, net reclassification improvement, and integrated discrimination improvement. Higher PNI quartiles were incrementally associated with lower mortality; in patients with PNI values of 39.5−<43.1, 43.1−<46.6, and ≥46.6 (reference: PNI < 39.5), case-mix adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 0.66 (0.64, 0.68), 0.49 (0.48, 0.51), and 0.36 (0.34, 0.37), respectively. PNI predicted mortality better than serum albumin level or total lymphocyte count alone. In the subgroup analysis, PNI performed well in predicting mortality in patients aged < 65 years. Our results indicate that PNI is a simple and practical prognostic marker in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Nutritional Status, Body Composition, and Inflammation Profile in Older Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 4-5: A Case-Control Study

Nutritional status is a predictor of adverse outcomes and mortality in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD). This study aimed to explore and evaluate risk factors related to nutritional status, body composition, and inflammatory profile in patients with ACKD compared with age- and sex-matched controls in a Mediterranean cohort of the Spanish population. Out of 200 volunteers recruited, 150 participants (64%) were included, and a case-control study was conducted on 75 ACKD patients (stages 4−5), matched individually with controls at a ratio of 1:1 for both age and sex. At enrolment, demographic, clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory parameters were measured. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) was used to assess both body composition and hydration status. ACKD patients had lower body cell mass (BCM%), muscle mass (MM%) phase angle (PA), s-albumin, and higher C-reactive protein (s-CRP) than controls (at least, p < 0.05). PA correlated positively with BCM% (cases: r = 0.84; controls: r = 0.53, p < 0.001), MM% (cases: r = 0.65; controls: r = 0.31, p < 0.001), and inversely with s-CRP (cases: r = −0.30, p < 0.001; controls: r = −0.31, p = 0.40). By univariate and multivariate conditional regression analysis, total body water (OR: 1.186), extracellular mass (OR: 1.346), s-CRP (OR: 2.050), MM% (OR: 0.847), PA (OR: 0.058), and s-albumin (OR: 0.475) were significantly associated among cases to controls. Nutritional parameters and BIA-derived measures appear as prognostic entities in patients with stage 4−5 ACKD compared to matched controls in this Mediterranean cohort.

Serum albumin, prealbumin, and ischemia-modified albumin levels in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis: A prospective cohort study

Objectives

Acute phase reactants (APRs) are proteins altered by inflammation and are regarded as surrogate markers representing inflammatory status. This study evaluated changes of albumin (Alb), prealbumin (Palb), and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) in response to alterations in disease activity and the correlation between disease activity and Alb, Palb, and IMA.

Methods

Fifty-nine patients with AAV registered in the prospective SHAVE cohort, who had available serial blood samples at least three months apart were included (indicated as pre and post). Correlation analysis and linear regression were carried out to determine the relationship between continuous variables. Alb, Palb, and IMA levels in 40 healthy controls (HCs) were compared with patients with AAV.

Results

Comparison of Alb, Palb, and IMA levels in HCs and in patients at initial (pre) and follow-up (post) time points revealed that Alb levels significantly increased following the improvement of disease activity and were comparable between HCs and patients at follow-up (post). Meanwhile, there was no significant difference noted in Palb and IMA levels after the decrease of disease activity. While initial (pre) Alb and Palb were significantly associated with BVAS, a subgroup analysis of patients with new-onset disease showed Palb was no longer significantly associated with Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS). Multivariate linear regression showed Alb level (standardized β = -0.377; 95% confidence interval: -5.623, -1.260; p = 0.003) was an independent predictor of BVAS at baseline.

Conclusions

Among Alb, Palb, and IMA, we found that Alb could be a useful marker indicating disease activity in patients with AAV.

New body mass index for predicting prognosis in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody‐associated vasculitis

Objectives

Method

Results

Conclusion

Prognostic nutritional index is a predictor of mortality in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease

PURPOSE

Prognostic nutritional index (PNI), a composite indicator of inflammation and nutritional status, has recently been recognized as an independent prognostic marker for chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to investigate PNI and its relationship with mortality in elderly patients with CKD.

METHODS

Three hundred and fifty-nine patients over the age of 80 years with stage 3-4 CKD were enrolled in this retrospective study. PNI was used to assess the nutritional status of the patients. Patients were divided into two different groups as deceased and survived and as low PNI (< 39) and high PNI (≥ 39) according to median value of PNI.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 85.7 ± 3.7 years. One hundred and ninety-five (54.3%) patients died during follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed that male gender, PNI, proteinuria, and diabetes mellitus (DM) were independent predictors of mortality in elderly patients with CKD. When patients with low PNI were compared to those with high PNI, initiation of dialysis and mortality rate were significantly higher whereas albumin, hemoglobin and lymphocyte count were lower. Pearson correlation analysis showed that PNI was significantly correlated with albumin (r = 1.000, p < 0.001), hemoglobin (r = 0.340, p < 0.001) and eGFR (r = 0.123, p = 0.020). Hemoglobin was an independent predictor of PNI in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we observed that PNI was significantly associated with mortality over the age of 80 years in patients with CKD and can be used to monitor nutritional status in this patient population.

Prevalence and risk factors of relapse in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis receiving cyclophosphamide induction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of large observational studies

BACKGROUND

Clinical relapses are common in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). The aim of this systematic review was to estimate time-point prevalence and risk factors of relapse.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to March 30, 2020. Cohorts and post-hoc studies were included for the estimation of summary cumulative relapse rates (CRRs) and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Sensitivity and meta-regression analyses were also performed.

RESULTS

Of the 42 eligible studies, 24 studies with 6236 participants were used for the pooled analyses of CRRs. The summary 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year CRRs were 0.12 (95% CI, 0.10-0.14), 0.33 (0.29-0.38), and 0.47 (0.42-0.52), respectively. In meta-regressions, the baseline age was positively associated with 1-year CRR. The proportion of granulomatosis with polyangiitis was positively associated with 5-year CRR. Twenty-eight studies with 5390 participants were used for the meta-analysis of risk factors for relapse, including a lower level of baseline serum creatine, proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA positivity at diagnosis, an ANCA rise, extrarenal organ involvement (including lung, cardiovascular, upper respiratory, and gastrointestinal involvement), intravenous (vs oral) cyclophosphamide induction, a shorter course of immunosuppressant maintenance, and maintenance with mycophenolate mofetil (vs azathioprine).

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic review demonstrated that the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year cumulative probabilities of relapse were ∼12%, 33%, and 47% in AAV patients receiving cyclophosphamide induction, respectively. Early identification of risk factors for relapse is helpful to the risk stratification of patients so as to achieve personalized treatment.

Outcome Predictors of Biopsy-Proven Myeloperoxidase-Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Glomerulonephritis

Objective

To determine the prognostic values of histopathologic classification of myeloperoxidase-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis and other clinical and laboratory features at the time of presentation on renal and patient survival associated with myeloperoxidase-ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis (MPO-ANCA-GN).

Methods

A total of 112 patients diagnosed with MPO-ANCA-GN from October 2005 to December 2018 were enrolled. The baseline clinical characteristics, renal histopathological data, and risk factors predictive of renal and patient survival were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

All 112 patients underwent renal biopsy. Disease in 32 patients was classified as focal, 26 as mixed, 29 as crescentic, and 25 as sclerotic. Over a median follow-up period of 41.5 months, there were 44 patients dialysis-dependent. The renal survival rate was significantly higher in the focal group than the other groups (p < 0.001) and significantly lower in the sclerotic group (p < 0.05). In addition, disease histopathologically classified as sclerotic (p = 0.044), high serum creatinine level (≥320 μmol/L, p < 0.001), low albumin (<30 g/L, p = 0.024) and hemoglobin level (<90 g/L, p = 0.044) were associated with a greater risk of ESRD. After follow-up, 70 (62.5%) of 112 patients survived. Old age (≥60 years, p = 0.018) and low serum albumin (<30 g/L, p = 0.006) was significant risk factor for patient survival.

Conclusion

Among patients with MPO-ANCA-GN, those with poor renal function, disease histopathologically classified as sclerotic, and lower albumin and hemoglobin levels were risk factors for ESRD, while older age and low serum albumin level were associated with a greater risk for all-cause mortality.

Systemic inflammation response index predicts all-cause mortality in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis

OBJECTIVES

A systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) has been recently introduced as a tool for the assessment of the prognosis of several critical medical conditions. In this study, we investigated whether SIRI at diagnosis could estimate the cross-sectional disease activity and predict poor prognosis during follow-up in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of 224 immunosuppressive drug-naïve AAV patients and obtained clinical and laboratory data both at diagnosis and during follow-up. SIRI was calculated using the following equation: SIRI = peripheral blood neutrophil count × monocyte count/lymphocyte count.

RESULTS

The median age of AAV patients at diagnosis was 59.0 years and 33% were male. In the univariable linear regression analysis, SIRI value at diagnosis was not significantly correlated with the cross-sectional Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) (r = 0.125, P = 0.062). When the SIRI cut-off value at diagnosis was set at 2847.9 mm^-3 using the receiver operator characteristic curve, the sensitivity was 56.0% and the specificity was 68.3% for all-cause mortality [area 0.618, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.502, 0.734]. AAV patients with SIRI ≥ 2847.9 mm^-3 had a significantly higher risk for all-cause mortality than those with SIRI < 2847.9 mm^-3 [relative risk (RR) 2.747, 95% CI 1.181, 6.392]. During follow-up, AAV patients with SIRI ≥ 2847.9 mm^-3 exhibited a significantly lower patients' survival rate than those with SIRI < 2847.9 mm^-3 (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

SIRI at diagnosis could predict all-cause mortality during follow-up but it could not estimate the cross-sectional BVAS in AAV patients.

Serum Amyloid A Is a Biomarker of Disease Activity and Health-Related Quality-of-Life in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is one of the acute phase proteins synthesized in hepatocytes and secreted by various inflammation or infectious stimuli. We investigated the clinical implication of measuring SAA in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody- (ANCA-) associated vasculitis (AAV). Seventy-five patients who had been classified as AAV and enrolled in our prospective observational cohort for AAV patients were included. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained on the day of blood sampling, and SAA was measured by ELISA kits. Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) and Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) were assessed for disease activity and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) measures. We stratified patients into having high BVAS when the BVAS was over the median values, and those with either low SF-36 PCS or low SF-36 MCS were defined as having poor HRQoL. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate independent predictors of high BVAS. The relative risk (RR) was analyzed using the contingency tables and the chi-squared test. SAA was positively correlated with BVAS (r = 0.642) and FFS (r = 0.367) and was inversely correlated with both the SF-36 physical component summary (r = -0.456) and mental component summary scores (r = -0.394). Furthermore, SAA was significantly correlated with acute phase reactants ESR (r = 0.611) and CRP (r = 0.629). Patients with high BVAS exhibited significantly higher SAA than those with low BVAS (1317.1 ng/mL vs. 423.1 ng/mL). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, serum albumin (odds ratio (OR) 0.132) and SAA > 1173.6 ng/mL (OR 15.132) were independently associated with high BVAS. The risk of having high BVAS and poor HRQoL in patients with SAA > 1173.6 ng/mL was higher than in those with SAA ≤ 1173.6 ng/mL (RR 3.419 and 1.493). Our results suggest that SAA might be a useful biomarker in assessing disease activity and HRQoL in AAV.

Increased Frequencies of Switched Memory B Cells and Plasmablasts in Peripheral Blood from Patients with ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

B cells are thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody- (ANCA-) associated vasculitis (AAV). ANCAs have been proposed to cause vasculitis by activating primed neutrophils to damage small blood vessels. We studied a cohort of AAV patients of which a majority were in remission and diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Using flow cytometry, the frequencies of CD19⁺ B cells and subsets in peripheral blood from 106 patients with AAV and 134 healthy controls were assessed. B cells were divided into naive, preswitch memory, switched memory, and exhausted memory cells. Naive and switched memory cells were further subdivided into transitional cells and plasmablasts, respectively. In addition, serum concentrations of immunoglobulin A, G, and M were measured and clinical data were retrieved. AAV patients displayed, in relation to healthy controls, a decreased frequency of B cells of lymphocytes (5.1% vs. 8.3%) and total B cell number. For the subsets, a decrease in percentage of transitional B cells (0.7% vs. 4.4%) and expansions of switched memory B cells (22.3% vs. 16.5%) and plasmablasts (0.9% vs. 0.3%) were seen. A higher proportion of B cells was activated (CD95⁺) in patients (20.6% vs. 10.3%), and immunoglobulin levels were largely unaltered. No differences in B cell frequencies between patients in active disease and remission were observed. Patients in remission with a tendency to relapse had, compared to nonrelapsing patients, decreased frequencies of B cells (3.5% vs. 6.5%) and transitional B cells (0.1% vs. 1.1%) and an increased frequency of activated exhausted memory B cells (30.8% vs. 22.3%). AAV patients exhibit specific changes in frequencies of CD19⁺ B cells and their subsets in peripheral blood. These alterations could contribute to the autoantibody-driven inflammatory process in AAV.