The Prevalence and Management of Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis in China

Clinical characteristics and outcome of double-seropositive patients with anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical characteristics of double-seropositive patients (DPPs) with anti-glomerular basement membrane (Anti-GBM) antibodies and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA).

METHODS

We collected patients with both ANCA and anti-GBM positive glomerulonephritis who were hospitalized in the Department of Nephrology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2010 to August 2022. Retrospective analysis of the baseline clinical characteristics of patients and follow-up to explore relevant factors affecting renal and patient survival.

RESULTS

A total of 386 patients, including 69 ANCA negative anti-GBM glomerulonephritis patients, 296 anti-GBM negative ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) patients, and 21 DPPs were enrolled in this study. Among the 21 DPPs aged 68.0 years (59.5, 74.0), there were 11 males and 10 females. The median serum creatinine at diagnosis was 629.0 (343.85, 788.75) μmol/L, and the median eGFR (CKD-EPI) was 7.58 (4.74, 13.77) mL/min. Fifteen cases (71.4 %) underwent initial RRT. After a follow-up of 40.0 (11.0, 73.0) months, 13 out of 21 DPPs (61.9 %) received maintenance RRT, while 49 out of 69 (71.0 %) ANCA negative anti-GBM-GN patients and 124 out of 296 (41.9 %) anti-GBM negative AAV patients received maintenance RRT (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that DPPs and ANCA negative anti-GBM-GN patients were more likely to progress to ESRD than anti-GBM negative AAV patients (P = 0.001). Among the 21 patients with DPPs, renal survival was significantly better in patients with better initial renal function, including those who did not receive initial RRT (P = 0.003), with lower serum creatinine levels (Cr < 629.0 μmol/L, P = 0.004) and higher eGFR levels (eGFR ≥ 7.60 ml/min, P = 0.005) than those with poor initial renal function. At the end of follow-up, 14 out of 21 DPPs (66.7 %) survived. Survival analysis showed no significant difference among patients in DPPs group, ANCA negative anti-GBM-GN group, and anti-GBM negative AAV group.

CONCLUSIONS

DPPs and ANCA negative anti-GBM-GN patients were more likely to progress to ESRD than anti-GBM negative AAV patients. In DPPs, the poor renal function at diagnosis might be a risk factor associated with poor renal survival.

Enteric-coated Mycophenolate Sodium therApy versus cyclophosphamide for induction of Remission in Microscopic PolyAngiitis (EMSAR-MPA trial): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Several studies have demonstrated that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) may be an excellent alternative to cyclophosphamide (CYC) or rituximab for the induction of remission in non-life-threatening anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies associated vasculitis because of its strong immunosuppressive potency and low toxicity profile. Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) was introduced to reduce gastrointestinal adverse reactions of MMF. This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of EC-MPS combined with glucocorticoid in patients with active and non-life-threatening microscopic polyangiitis (MPA).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study is a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled, non-inferiority trial. A total of 110 patients with active and non-life-threatening MPA from 11 hospitals in Shanxi Province of China will be recruited and randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either EC-MPS or CYC. All patients will receive the same glucocorticoid plan. We will compare oral EC-MPS (720-1440 mg/day) with intravenous pulsed CYC (7.5-15 mg/kg) administered for 3-6 months. All patients will be switched from their assigned treatment (EC-MPS or CYC) to oral azathioprine (2 mg/kg/day) after remission has been achieved, between 3 and 6 months. Azathioprine will be continued until the study ends at 18 months. The primary end point of efficacy is the remission rate at 6 months. Follow-up will continue for 18 months in order to detect an influence of induction regimen on subsequent relapse rates.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has received approval from the Ethics Committee of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (2022YX-026). All participants are required to provide written informed consent and no study-related procedures will be performed until consent is obtained. The results of this trial will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2200063823.

Development of a radiomics nomogram to predict the treatment resistance of Chinese MPO-AAV patients with lung involvement: a two-center study

Background

Previous studies from our group and other investigators have shown that lung involvement is one of the independent predictors for treatment resistance in patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (MPO-AAV). However, it is unclear which image features of lung involvement can predict the therapeutic response in MPO-AAV patients, which is vital in decision-making for these patients. Our aim was to develop and validate a radiomics nomogram to predict treatment resistance of Chinese MPO-AAV patients based on low-dose multiple slices computed tomography (MSCT) of the involved lung with cohorts from two centers.

Methods

A total of 151 MPO-AAV patients with lung involvement (MPO-AAV-LI) from two centers were enrolled. Two different models (Model 1: radiomics signature; Model 2: radiomics nomogram) were built based on the clinical and MSCT data to predict the treatment resistance of MPO-AAV with lung involvement in training and test cohorts. The performance of the models was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC). The better model was further validated. A nomogram was constructed and evaluated by DCA and calibration curves, which further tested in all enrolled data and compared with the other model.

Results

Model 2 had a higher predicting ability than Model 1 both in training (AUC: 0.948 vs. 0.824; p = 0.039) and test cohorts (AUC: 0.913 vs. 0.898; p = 0.043). As a better model, Model 2 obtained an excellent predictive performance (AUC: 0.929; 95% CI: 0.827-1.000) in the validation cohort. The DCA curve demonstrated that Model 2 was clinically feasible. The calibration curves of Model 2 closely aligned with the true treatment resistance rate in the training (p = 0.28) and test sets (p = 0.70). In addition, the predictive performance of Model 2 (AUC: 0.929; 95% CI: 0.875-0.964) was superior to Model 1 (AUC: 0.862; 95% CI: 0.796-0.913) and serum creatinine (AUC: 0.867; 95% CI: 0.802-0.917) in all patients (all p< 0.05).

Conclusion

The radiomics nomogram (Model 2) is a useful, non-invasive tool for predicting the treatment resistance of MPO-AAV patients with lung involvement, which might aid in individualizing treatment decisions.

Association between the AKT1 single nucleotide polymorphism (rs2498786, rs2494752 and rs5811155) and microscopic polyangiitis risk in a Chinese population

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by ANCA in blood and necrotizing inflammation of small and medium-sized vessels, one of the three clinical phenotypes of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Autophagy has been confirmed to be involved in the pathogenesis of AAV. AKT1 is one of the autophagy-regulated proteins. Its single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with multiple immune-related diseases, but there are rarely studies in AAV. The incidence rate of AAV has a notable geographic difference, and MPA is predominant in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between AKT1 SNP and MPA risk. Genotypes of 8 loci in AKT1 were evaluated by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and high-throughput sequencing in 416 people, including 208 MPA patients and 208 healthy volunteers from Guangxi in China. Additionally, data of 387 healthy volunteers from China were obtained from the 1000Genomes Project on public database. Differences were observed between the loci (rs2498786, rs2494752, and rs5811155) genotypes in AKT1 and MPA risk (P = 7.0 × 10^-4, P = 3.0 × 10^-4, and P = 5.9 × 10^-5, respectively). A negative association was detected in the Dominant model (P = 1.2 × 10^-3, P = 2.0 × 10^-4 and P = 3.6 × 10^-5, respectively). A haplotype (G-G-T) was associated with MPA risk negatively (P = 7.0 × 10^-4). This study suggests that alleles (rs2498786 G, rs2494752 G and rs5811155 insT) are protective factors for MPA and alleles (rs2494752 G and rs5811155 insT) for MPO-ANCA in patients with MPA. There is a haplotype (G-G-T), which is a protective factor for MPA. It suggests that the role of AKT1 in MPA/AAV needs further study to provide more intervention targets for MPA/AAV.

Clinical features and markers to identify pulmonary lesions caused by infection or vasculitis in AAV patients

OBJECTIVES

Pulmonary lesion is frequently seen in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients primarily due to AAV lung involvement or infection, which are hard to differentiate due to their high similarity in clinical manifestations. We aimed to analyze the clinical features of pulmonary lesions consequent to AAV involvement or infection in AAV patients and further identify the markers for differential diagnosis.

METHODS

140 AAV patients who admitted to the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2016 to July 2021 were included in this study. According to the nature of lung conditions, these patients were divided into the non-pulmonary lesion group, the lung infection group and the non-pulmonary infection group, and their demographics, clinical symptoms, imaging features, as well as laboratory findings were compared. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn, and the diagnostic efficacy of single biomarker and composite biomarkers on pulmonary infection was then evaluated.

RESULTS

The patients in the lung infection group were significantly older than those in the no lesion group (63.19 ± 14.55 vs 54.82 ± 15.08, p = 0.022). Patients in the lung infection group presented more frequent symptoms and more obvious pulmonary image findings. Compared with patients in the non-pulmonary infection group, patients in the lung infection group showed a higher symptom incidence of fever, chest tightness, cough and expectoration, and hemoptysis (52.94% vs 16.00%, 61.76% vs 40.00%, 72.06% vs 46.00%, 27.94% vs 8.00%, p < 0.05, respectively), and more changes in pulmonary CT scanning images in terms of patched/striped compact opacity, alveolar hemorrhage, bronchiectasis, pleural effusion, as well as mediastinal lymphadenopathy (89.71% vs 52.00%, 11.76% vs 2.00%, 22.06% vs 8.00%, 50.00% vs 20.00%, 48.53% vs 24.00%, p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, patients in the lung infection group had significantly higher levels of serum pro-calcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), amyloid A (SAA), blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLCR), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), as well as Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) than patients in the other two groups (p < 0.05). Among all biomarkers, PCT exhibited the highest diagnostic efficacy (0.928; 95%CI 0.89-0.97) for pulmonary infected AAV patients at a cut-off score of 0.235 ng/ml with 85.3% sensitivity and 84% specificity. Moreover, the composite biomarker of PCT-CRP-NLCR showed more diagnostic efficacy (0.979; 95% CI 0.95-1.00) in distinguishing the infectious and non-infectious lung injuries in AAV patients.

CONCLUSIONS

AAV patients with lung infection manifested more clinical symptoms and prominent lung image changes. The PCT and composite biomarker PCT-CRP-NLCR showed high diagnostic efficacy for a lung infection in AAV patients. Pulmonary lesion caused by either infection or AAV involvement is commonly seen and difficult to distinguish. We aim to identify the biomarkers that can be applied in the differentiation diagnosis of pulmonary lesions in AAV patients.

Bronchiectasis in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a case control study on clinical features and prognosis

BACKGROUND

Bronchiectasis was reported in 2%-40% of patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), but there were no studies on the prevalence, risk factors and impact of AAV-associated bronchiectasis in Chinese patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

AAV patients were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical, laboratory and imaging features and the prognosis were analyzed and compared between those with and without bronchiectasis.

RESULTS

Bronchiectasis was present in 48/212 (22.6%) of our AAV patients, among whom 41 were confirmed in 210 patients (19.5%) who received chest HRCT at the initial diagnosis of AAV. There were more women and fewer smokers in those with bronchiectasis as compared to those without. Cases with positive anti-MPO were more likely to have bronchiectasis (26.2%), and those with bronchiectasis were more likely to be anti-MPO positive (93.8%). Patients who had a diagnosis of bronchiectasis before AAV were more likely to have nervous system involvement, while patients without bronchiectasis had higher 24h proteinuria. The presence of bronchiectasis showed no significant effect on the 1, 3, 5-year survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly 20% of patients showed bronchiectasis on chest HRCT at the initial diagnosis of AAV, and positivity of anti-MPO was associated with bronchiectasis in a Chinese cohort of AAV patients.

Identification of diagnostic markers and immune cell infiltration characteristics in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis by weighted gene co-expression network analysis

Background

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a group of life-threatening systemic autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the AAV hub gene and immune cell infiltration, and its value for clinical disease treatment.

Methods

We downloaded the microarray information of 37 AAV patients and 27 controls from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Genes were classified into totally different modules exploitation weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). AAV diagnostic indicators were screened and then assessed immune cell infiltration by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and CIBERSORT. Finally, Connectivity Map analysis was applied to predict possible AAV glomerulus injury improvement therapies.

Results

WGCNA was developed and differentially expressed genes were classified into 6 modules, the black module was most tightly correlated to AAV. Among them, TIMP1 and FCER1G were most closely related to clinical features. Resting mast cells and monocytes emerged as having the foremost distinguished variations in AAV. C3AR1 and FCER1G were involved in AAV development by immune regulation. Connectivity Map analysis indicated the most significant compound was fisetin.

Conclusions

The present study is that the initial to spot immune cell infiltration with microarray data of glomeruli in AAV, which provides novel proof and clues for additional analysis of the molecular mechanisms.

Systemic immune-inflammation index predicts a reduced risk of end-stage renal disease in Chinese patients with myeloperoxidase-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: A retrospective observational study

Chronic inflammation has been indicated to be important in the pathogenesis of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is a novel marker of inflammation. The present study was thus performed to explore the association between the SII at diagnosis and inflammatory response and disease activity in Chinese patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-AAV. Furthermore, it was evaluated whether the SII is able to predict the progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and patient survival. A total of 190 patients with MPO-AAV were included in the present study. The baseline SII was positively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP; r=0.274, P<0.0001) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; r=0.481, P<0.0001). However, the SII had no obvious correlation with the Birmingham vasculitis activity score. Patients with SII≥2,136.45 exhibited better cumulative renal survival rates than those with SII<2,136.45 (P=0.001). However, no significant difference in patient survival was indicated between patients with SII≥2,136.45 and those with SII<2,136.45 at diagnosis. In conclusion, the SII was positively correlated with CRP and ESR in Chinese patients with MPO-AAV. Furthermore, the SII may be an independent factor associated with a reduced risk of ESRD.

Case Report: Activating PIK3CD Mutation in Patients Presenting With Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis

Activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ syndrome (APDS) is an autosomal dominant primary immunodeficiency caused by gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in PIK3CD or PIK3R1 genes. The phenotypes of APDS are highly variable, ranging from asymptomatic adults to profound immunodeficiency causing early death in childhood. Herein, we reported two pediatric patients with APDS presented with recurrent lung infections, sinusitis, hematuria, and positive anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), previously diagnosed as granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Bronchoscopy showed mucosal nodule lymphoid hyperplasia in the entire airway. Many inflammatory cells infiltrated around the airway and in the lung parenchyma, and numbers of CD3⁺ T cells and CD20⁺ B cells were significantly increased, especially CD3+ T cells. Whole exome sequencing showed that they had the E1021K (c.3061 G >A) mutation in the PIK3CD gene. These are the first reported cases of APDS presenting as childhood-onset GPA. Pediatricians should suspect of APDS in the differential diagnosis of children who present with GPA-like symptoms. Additionally, timely and repeated bronchoscopies could contribute to providing an important diagnostic clue for APDS.

Clinical features and outcomes of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis in Chinese elderly and very elderly patients

PURPOSE

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is predominantly a disease of the elderly, and the incidence increases with age. However, there are few data focusing on the clinical features in elderly onset AAV, especially in very elderly onset AAV in China. The aim of this study was to explore whether elderly onset AAV shows any specific clinical features and outcomes in Chinese patients.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study in Xiangya Hospital, a mixed tertiary medical center in south China. A total of 177 patients presenting with AAV were included between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017. Patients were divided into younger group (age < 65 years) and older group (age ≥ 65 years) which was sub-divided into elderly group (age 65-74 years) and very elderly group (age ≥ 75 years). And their medical records were analyzed by retrospective review.

RESULTS

We found patients in the very elderly group had more chest and cardiovascular involvement (P = 0.033 and P = 0.017). Older AAV patients had less renal involvement and lower serum C4 level (P = 0.013 and P = 0.003). Very elderly AAV patients had lower platelet counts. Patients in the younger group had a higher level of BVAS among three groups (P < 0.05 younger group vs. very elderly group; P < 0.05 younger group vs. elderly group). There were no significant difference in the proportion of ESRD patients among the three groups (P = 0.473). Patients in the very elderly group had the poorest patient survival (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Older AAV patients had less renal involvement, lower serum C4 level and BVAS. The very elderly group got the most chest and cardiovascular involvement and had lower platelet counts. Older age is associated with higher mortality in AAV patients.

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.

The Clinical and Pathological Features of Children With Microscopic Polyangiitis

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the clinical features, pathological characteristics, and the prognosis of children with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Methods: Ten children with MPA that were hospitalized in our hospital were included in this study. The children's pre-diagnosis status, clinical manifestations, renal pathology, treatment, and prognosis data were analyzed retrospectively. Results: All 10 cases included female patients with a median age of 8.9 years old at the time of diagnosis. MPO-ANCA antibody was positive in all cases, combined with a positive anti-GBM antibody in two cases. Nine cases had primary AAV and one had antithyroid drug (ATD)-associated MPA (secondary to methimazole). Renal involvement was found in all 10 patients, lung impairment was present in eight cases, and anemia was present in nine patients. Renal biopsies were performed in all 10 patients. Segmental focal or global glomerular necrosis was observed in 70% of the patients (7/10). The treatment mainly included steroid use combined with Cyclophosphamide and Mycophenolate. The follow-up s of the patients revealed normal renal function in eight patients and progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in two patients. Conclusions: Female predisposition and positive MPO-ANCA antibody were prominent in children with MPA. The patients' kidneys and lungs were the most frequently involved organs. Corticosteroid combined with immunosuppressive therapy was recommended for the treatment of MPA. Early diagnosis, prompt aggressive treatment, and regular follow-ups are also very important factors associated with a good prognosis.

The association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with all-cause mortality in Chinese patients with MPO-ANCA associated vasculitis

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been recently reported to be a promising inflammatory marker to assess systemic inflammation in many disorders. However, there are only a few studies looking at NLR in patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). This study was thus undertaken to explore the relationship between NLR at diagnosis with inflammatory response and disease activity among MPO-AAV patients in a single Chinese center. Furthermore, we evaluated whether NLR could predict the renal prognosis and patient outcome. 188 patients with MPO-AAV were included in this study. Baseline NLR was positively correlated with CRP (r = 0.404, P < 0.001) and negatively with serum levels of C3 (r =  - 0.163, P = 0.035), but it had no obvious correlation with Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS). Patients with MPO-AAV having NLR ≥ 9.53 exhibited higher risk for all-cause mortality than those having NLR < 9.53 (P < 0.0001). However, no significant difference was found in the kidney survival between patients having NLR ≥ 9.53 and those NLR < 9.53 at diagnosis. In multivariate analysis, NLR was positively associated with all-cause mortality (P = 0.037, HR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.04-3.78). There was no association between NLR with ESRD observed using univariate analysis or multivariate analysis. This large retrospective study of MPO-AAV patients in a single Chinese center demonstrates that NLR positively correlates with CRP and negatively correlates with serum levels of C3 in Chinese patients with MPO-AAV. Importantly, higher NLR predicts increased mortality and is, therefore, a useful independent prognostic in MPO-AAV.

Risk factors for treatment resistance and relapse of Chinese patients with MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis

Identification of risk factors for treatment resistance and relapse would be crucial to personalization therapy in patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (MPO-AAV). Current evidence with regard to the risk factors for treatment resistance and relapse remains limited and inconclusive. We aimed to assess the predictors for treatment resistance and relapse in a single-center cohort of Chinese patients with MPO-AAV in this study. In total, 184 patients with MPO-AAV were included. Treatment resistance occurred in 64 (34.9%) of 184 patients and was positively associated with lung involvement (odds ratio [OR] 3.581, 95% CI 1.137-11.278, p = 0.029) and the initial serum creatinine level (OR 1.004, 95% CI 1.001-1.007, p = 0.010) and was negatively associated with platelet (OR 0.992, 95% CI 0.987-0.998, p = 0.007) and serum C3 levels (OR 0.998, 95% CI 0.996-0.999, p = 0.004). Relapse occurred in 29 (24.17%) of 120 patients in whom remission was achieved and was independently associated with lung involvement (hazard ratio [HR] 4.595, 95% CI 1.272-16.599, p = 0.020) and cardiovascular involvement (HR 3.689, 95% CI 1.237-11, p = 0.019,). The serum globulin was demonstrated to be negatively associated with relapse independently (HR 0.876; 95% CI 0.806-0.953; p = 0.002). This retrospective study of MPO-AAV patients in a single Chinese center suggests that treatment resistance was positively associated with lung involvement and the initial serum creatinine level and was negatively associated with platelet and serum C3 levels. Lung involvement and cardiovascular involvement were associated with an increased risk of relapse, while the higher serum globulin was demonstrated to be in association with a decreased risk of relapse.

The effect of pulse methylprednisolone induction therapy in Chinese patients with dialysis-dependent MPO-ANCA associated vasculitis

BACKGROUND

Pulse methylprednisolone (MP) was routinely used before commencing standard immunosuppressive therapy for induction of remission in patients with dialysis-dependent anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) in spite of the paucity of evidence of benefit. The aim of this study was thus to determine whether the addition of pulse MP to standard induction immunosuppressive therapy in severe myeloperoxidase (MPO) -AAV patients who were on dialysis at onset is associated with an improvement in kidney recovery and patient survival. Furthermore, we analyzed the factors associated with restoration of kidney function and mortality in a single Chinese cohort.

METHODS

69 MPO-AAV patients who were on dialysis at the time of diagnosis were included in this study. The MP group (n = 30) received pulse MP (5-10 mg/kg/day) for 3 days before the standard immunosuppressive therapy. The Non-MP group (n = 39) had no MP pulses. The outcomes and adverse events between the two groups were compared. In addition, the predictive value of the clinical and histological parameters for kidney and patient survival was assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULT

There was no difference in patient survival, kidney recovery and the rates of adverse events between the two groups. A higher Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) was shown to be a negative prognostic factor for kidney function restoration (p = 0.046, OR 0.811, 95% CI 0.660-0.997). BVAS was also demonstrated to be an independent predictor for both all-cause death (p = 0.007, OR 1.324, 95% CI 1.079-1.624) and therapy-related death (p = 0.003, OR 1.574, 95% CI 1.171-2.115). Patients' eGFR at the presentation of the disease was shown to be an independent predictor for therapy-related death (p = 0.027, OR 2.535, 95% CI 1.112-5.779).

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective study of MPO-AAV patients who required dialysis at presentation in a single Chinese center suggests that the addition of pulse MP to standard immunosuppressive induction therapy for remission appears to confer no benefit in terms of improving patient outcomes. Further research is required to determine the role of pulse MP in severe MPO-AAV.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes in microscopic polyangiitis patients with renal involvement: a study of 124 Chinese patients

BACKGROUND

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a systemic autoimmune disease, and renal involvement is frequently present in MPA. MPA patients with renal involvement may have a worse prognosis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic factors associated with all-cause death and renal survival in MPA patients with renal involvement.

METHODS

A retrospective observational cohort study was performed. One hundred twenty-four patients newly diagnosed with MPA with renal involvement excluding end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who were hospitalized at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2012 to July 2017 were included. All the survivors were followed up with until July 2018. The clinical and laboratory data at the time of the initial MPA diagnosis were collected, and the predictive values of the variables for mortality and renal outcome were analysed.

RESULTS

Among the 124 patients, 52 were men (41.9%) and 72 were women (58.1%), and the age range was from 25 to 85 years (63.9±10.6 years). Seventy-six patients (61.3%) had pulmonary involvement. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that age≥65 years (HR: 2.437; P=0.021), serum creatinine≥500 μmol/L (HR=2.207; P=0.009) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) (HR=2.366; P=0.013) were associated with mortality. Cox multivariate analysis identified that serum creatinine≥500 μmol/L (HR=8.236; P<0.001) and ILD (HR=2.649; P=0.001) were independent detrimental factors for renal survival, and immunosuppressive treatment was a protective factor for renal survival (HR=0.349; P=0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the serum creatinine level at diagnosis was 0.705 for mortality and 0.870 for progression to ESRD or the doubling of serum creatinine.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, serum creatinine level at diagnosis and ILD were independent predictors of mortality in MPA patients with renal involvement. Serum creatinine level at diagnosis, ILD and immunosuppressive treatment were independently related to renal survival.

Oral candidiasis is a significant predictor of subsequent severe infections during immunosuppressive therapy in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis

BACKGROUND

Several studies have identified predictors of severe infections in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). However, the development of oral candidiasis (OC) as a predictor of subsequent severe infections has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the association between OC and subsequent severe infection requiring hospitalization during immunosuppressive therapy in AAV.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective cohort study included 71 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AAV from Aichi Medical University Hospital, Japan, starting immunosuppressive therapy between March 2013 and December 2018. The relationships between OC and subsequent severe infections were assessed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for clinically relevant factors.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period (median, 23 months; interquartile range, 11-51 months), 25 severe infectious episodes occurred in 19 patients (26.8%) and OC occurred in 17 patients (23.9%). A log-rank test showed that the OC group was significantly associated with severe infection (P <  0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models identified lower serum albumin (per 1 g/dl adjusted hazard ratio (HR)  = 0.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.85; P  =  0.018), use of methylprednisolone pulse (adjusted HR  =  5.44, 95% CI: 1.54-20.0; P  =  0.010), and OC (adjusted HR  = 5.31, 95% CI: 1.86-15.8; P  =  0.002) as significant predictors of severe infection. Furthermore, a significant effect modification of the use of methylprednisolone pulse on OC was observed (P <  0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

OC is one of the predictors of subsequent severe infections. The results suggest the importance of prolonging infection surveillance, especially for patients who developed OC under strong immunosuppressive therapy.

Risk HLA class II alleles and amino acid residues in myeloperoxidase-ANCA-associated vasculitis

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) indicated that myeloperoxidase-ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) is associated with HLA-DQ. However, susceptibility alleles in these loci have been under-investigated. Here we genotyped 258 Chinese patients with myeloperoxidase-AAV and 597 healthy control individuals at HLA DRB1, DQA1, DQB1 and DPB1, and extracted the encoded amino acid sequences from the IMGT/HLA database. The replication cohort included 97 cases and 107 controls. T cell epitopes of myeloperoxidase were predicted and docked to the HLA molecules. We found DQA1∗0302 (odds ratio 2.34 (95% confidence interval 1.75-3.14)) and DQB1∗0303 (odds ratio 1.89 (1.45-2.48)) were risk alleles for myeloperoxidase-AAV. They are in overt linkage disequilibrium (r² 0.69) and the haplotype DQA1∗0302-DQB1∗0303 presents a significant risk (haplotype score 6.39) as well. Aspartate160 on the DQ α chain (odds ratio 2.06 (1.60-2.67)), encoded by DQA1∗0302, and isoleucine185 on the DQ β chain (odds ratio 1.73 (1.38-2.18)), encoded by DQB1∗0303, both located in the α2β2 domains, conferred significant risk for myeloperoxidase-AAV. Homologous modeling showed that DQα∗160D may confer susceptibility to myeloperoxidase-AAV by altering dimerization of the HLA molecules. Thus, more attention should be paid to the roles of amino acids in the α2β2 domains in addition to the α1β1 binding groove of HLA class II molecules.

Inflammation level and renal function injury in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a correlation with low albumin and high-density lipoprotein

Aim: To explore the correlation of inflammation level and organ involvement in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients with Alb and HDL. Materials & methods: Serum levels of Alb and HDL were measured, with AAV patients being grouped according to serum Alb and HDL levels, and indicators reflecting inflammation and renal injury were compared. Results: Serum levels of creatinine (Cr), uric acid and CRP and renal involvement rates were higher in lower Alb patients; Cr, CRP, renal and cardiovascular involvement rates in lower HDL patients were higher. Alb and HDL were negatively correlated with CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Conclusion: Serum Alb and HDL were good indictors for disease monitoring in AAV.

Pituitary Involvement in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Retrospective Analysis in a Single Chinese Hospital and a Literature Review

PURPOSE

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is an anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis that can involve virtually many organs, including the pituitary. Pituitary involvement in GPA is rare, with only case reports or small case series published previously.

METHODS

We used the electronic medical record system in our hospital to identify four patients of pituitary involvement in GPA. We summarized the clinical characteristics, radiographic findings, treatments, and clinical outcomes of the four patients. We further performed a systematic literature review of 66 GPA cases with pituitary involvement that were published on the PubMed database.

RESULTS

The four women in our report were between 57 and 73 years of age. All patients had pituitary abnormalities on radiology; three developed diabetes insipidus (DI). All patients had multisystem involvement. After treatment with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide (CYC), all patients showed clinical improvement but pituitary function did not resume. Literature review identified 66 additional patients with pituitary involvement in GPA; diabetes insipidus (57/66, 86.4%) and hypogonadism (34/66, 51.5%) were the most frequent pituitary disorders, and the most frequent imaging lesion was an enlarged pituitary (25/64, 39.1%). After treatment with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive agents, most patients (45/66, 68.2%) developed remission from systemic disease, 13 patients (13/57, 22.8%) showed remission of DI, and 8 patients (8/46, 17.4%) showed remission of hormone deficiencies.

CONCLUSIONS

GPA should be carefully considered as a potential cause of pituitary dysfunction (PD), especially when multisystem dysfunction exists. Conventional treatment with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive agents improves systemic symptoms, but pituitary disorders persisted in most patients.

ANCA associated vasculitis: experience of a tertiary care referral center

Background and objectives:

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitis is a small vessel vasculitis with insufficient epidemiologic estimates in the United States. We aimed to determine demographic and clinical features of ANCA associated vasculitis patients presenting to a large tertiary care referral center in Upstate New York. Design, setting, participants, and measurements: A retrospective analysis of cases with pauci-immune GN on renal biopsy and clinical diagnosis of ANCA vasculitis presenting over 11 years was conducted. Outcomes of interest were: demographics, ANCA antibody positivity, patient and renal survival, and regional trends.

Results:

986 biopsies were reviewed, 41 cases met the criteria for inclusion: 18 GPA, 19 MPA, and 4 double positive (anti-GBM disease plus ANCA vasculitis). Mean age at presentation was 52.4 years (SD 23.7), 23 (56%) were male and median creatinine was 2.6 mg/dL. The median patient follow up was 77 weeks (IQR 10 - 263 weeks), with a 3-month mortality rate of 5.7% and a 1-year estimated mortality rate of 12%. Thirteen patients required hemodialysis at the time of diagnosis; 7 patients came off dialysis, with median time to renal recovery of 4.86 weeks (IQR 1.57 - 23.85 weeks). C-ANCA positivity (p < 0.001) and C-ANCA plus PR3 antibody pairing (p = 0.005) was statistically significant in GPA versus MPA. P-ANCA positivity was observed in MPA versus GPA (p = 0.02) and double positive versus GPA (p = 0.002), with P-ANCA and MPO antibody pairing in MPA versus GPA (p = 0.044). Thirty-seven of the 41 cases were referred locally, 16 cases were from within a 15-mile radius of Albany, Schenectady, and Saratoga counties.

Conclusions:

ANCA vasculitis is associated with end stage renal disease and increased mortality. Our study suggests the possibility of higher regional incidence of pauci-immune GN in Upstate New York. Further studies should investigate the causes of clustering of cases to specific regions.

Risk factors for infectious complications of ANCA-associated vasculitis: a cohort study

Background

Severe infections are common complications of immunosuppressive treatment for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) with renal involvement. We investigated the clinical characteristics and risk factors of severe infection in Chinese patients with AAV after immunosuppressive therapy.

Methods

A total of 248 patients with a new diagnosis of ANCA-associated vasculitis were included in this study. The incidence, time, site, and risk factors of severe infection by the induction therapies were analysed. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

A total of 103 episodes of severe infection were identified in 86 (34.7%, 86/248) patients during a median follow-up of 15 months. The incidence of infection during induction therapy was 38.5% for corticosteroids (CS), 39.0% for CS+ intravenous cyclophosphamide (IV-CYC), 33.8% for CS+ mycophenolate mofetil and 22.5% for CS + tripterygium glycosides, 76 (73.8%) infection episodes occurred within 6 months, while 66 (64.1%) occurred within 3 months. Pneumonia (71.8%, 74/103) was the most frequent type of infection, and the main pathogenic spectrum included bacteria (78.6%), fungi (12.6%), and viruses (8.7%). The risk factors associated with infection were age at the time of diagnosis (HR = 1.003, 95% CI = 1.000–1.006), smoking (HR = 2.338, 95% CI = 1.236–4.424), baseline secrum creatinine (SCr) ≥5.74 mg/dl (HR = 2.153, 95% CI = 1.323–3.502), CD4⁺ T cell< 281 μl (HR = 1.813, 95% CI = 1.133–2.900), and intravenous cyclophosphamide regimen (HR = 1.951, 95% CI =1.520–2.740). Twelve (13.9%) patients died of severe pneumonia.

Conclusion

The infection rate during induction therapy was high in patients with AAV. Bacterial pneumonia was the main type of infection encountered. Age at the time of diagnosis, smoking, baseline SCr ≥5.74 mg/dl, CD4⁺ T cell< 281 μl, and IV-CYC therapy were identified as risk factors for infection.