Clinical review: Vasculitis on the intensive care unit -- part 2: treatment and prognosis

Acute Respiratory Failure in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: A Review

This review examines respiratory complications in autoimmune rheumatic diseases within intensive care units (ICUs). The respiratory system, primarily affected in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and scleroderma, often leads to respiratory failure. Common manifestations include alveolar hemorrhage, interstitial fibrosis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Early recognition and treatment of non-malignant conditions are crucial to prevent rapid disease progression, with ICU mortality rates ranging from 30% to 60%. Delayed immunosuppressive or antimicrobial therapy may result in organ system failure. Collaboration with rheumatic specialists is vital for accurate diagnosis and immediate intervention. Mortality rates for rheumatic diseases in the ICU surpass those of other conditions, underscoring the need for specialized care and proactive management. The review emphasizes comprehensive assessments, distinguishing disease-related complications from underlying issues, and the importance of vigilant monitoring to enhance patient outcomes.

Diagnosis and management of autoimmune diseases in the ICU

Autoimmune diseases encompass a broad spectrum of disorders characterized by disturbed immunoregulation leading to the development of specific autoantibodies, resulting in inflammation and multiple organ involvement. A distinction should be made between connective tissue diseases (mainly systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic scleroderma, inflammatory muscle diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis) and vasculitides (mainly small-vessel vasculitis such as antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis and immune-complex mediated vasculitis). Admission of patients with autoimmune diseases to the intensive care unit (ICU) is often triggered by disease flare-ups, infections, and organ failure and is associated with high mortality rates. Management of these patients is complex, including prompt disease identification, immunosuppressive treatment initiation, and life-sustaining therapies, and requires multi-disciplinary involvement. Data about autoimmune diseases in the ICU are limited and there is a need for multicenter, international collaboration to improve patients' diagnosis, management, and outcomes. The objective of this narrative review is to summarize the epidemiology, clinical features, and selected management of severe systemic autoimmune diseases.

Causes of acute respiratory failure in patients with small-vessel vasculitis admitted to intensive care units: a multicenter retrospective study

RATIONALE

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with known or de novo small-vessel vasculitis (Svv) may be secondary to the underlying immune disease or to other causes. Early identification of the cause of ARF is essential to initiate the most appropriate treatment in a timely fashion.

METHODS

A retrospective multicenter study in 10 French ICUs from January 2007 to January 2018 to assess the clinical presentation, main causes and outcome of ARF associated with Svv, and to identify variables associated with non-immune etiology of ARF in patients with known Svv.

RESULTS

During the study period, 121 patients [62 (50-75) years; 62% male; median SAPSII and SOFA scores 39 (27-52) and 6 (4-8), respectively] were analyzed. An immune cause was identified in 67 (55%), and a non-immune cause in 54 (45%) patients. ARF was associated with several causes in 43% (n  = 52) of cases. The main immune cause was diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) (n  = 47, 39%), whereas the main non-immune cause was pulmonary infection (n  = 35, 29%). The crude 90-day and 1-year mortality were higher in patients with non-immune ARF, as compared with their counterparts (32% and 38% vs. 15% and 20%, respectively; both p  = 0.03), but was marginally significantly higher after adjusted analysis in a Cox model (p  = 0.053). Among patients with a known Svv (n  = 70), immunosuppression [OR 9.41 (1.52-58.3); p  = 0.016], and a low vasculitis activity score [0.84 (0.77-0.93)] were independently associated with a non-immune cause, after adjustment for the time from disease onset to ARF, time from respiratory symptoms to ICU admission, and severe renal failure.

CONCLUSIONS

An extensive diagnosis workup is mandatory in ARF revealing or complicating Svv. Non-immune causes are involved in 43% of cases, and their short and mid-term prognosis may be poorer than those of immune ARF. Readily identified predictive factors of a non-immune cause could help avoiding unnecessary immunosuppressive therapies.

Predictors of Mortality in Critically Ill Patients With Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis

Background: Patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) may require intensive care unit (ICU) admission due to different reasons, and the in-ICU mortality is high among AAV patients. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical features and risk factors of mortality of patients with AAV in the ICU.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted based on 83 AAV patients admitted to the ICU in a tertiary medical institution in China. Data on clinical characteristics, laboratory tests, treatment in ICU and outcomes were collected. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to explore the variables that were independently related to mortality. Kaplan–Meier method was used to assess the long-term survival.

Results: Among the 83 patients, 41 (49.4%) were female. The mean age of patients was 66 ± 13 years. Forty-four patients deceased, with the in-ICU mortality of 53%. The most common cause for ICU admission was active vasculitis (40/83, 48.2%). The main cause of death was infection (27/44, 61.4%) followed by active vasculitis (15/44, 34.1%). A multivariate analysis revealed that the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) at ICU admission (OR = 1.333, 95% CI: 1.031–1.722) and respiratory failure (OR = 620.452, 95% CI: 11.495–33490.306) were independent risk factors of in-ICU death. However, hemoglobin (OR = 0.919, 95% CI: 0.849–0.995) was an independent protective factor. The nomogram established in this study was practical in predicting the risk of in-ICU mortality for AAV patients. Moreover, for 39 patients survived to the ICU stay, the cumulative survival rates at 0.5, 1, and 5 years were 58.3%, 54.2%, and 33.9%, respectively, and the median survival time was 14 months.

Conclusion: In our study, active vasculitis was the most frequent reason for ICU admission, and the main cause of death was infection. APACHE II and respiratory failure were independent risk factors while hemoglobin was an independent protective factor of in-ICU mortality for AAV patients admitted to the ICU. The risk prediction model developed in this study may be a useful tool for clinicians in early recognition of high-risk patients and applying appropriate management.

Cyclophosphamide for interstitial lung disease-associated acute respiratory failure: mortality, clinical response and radiological characteristics

Background

Treatment for interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) is challenging, and literature to guide such treatment is scarce. The reported in-hospital mortality rates of ILD patients with ARF are high (62–66%). Cyclophosphamide is considered a second-line treatment in steroid-refractory ILD-associated ARF. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the in-hospital mortality in patients with ILD-associated ARF treated with cyclophosphamide. The second aim was to compare computed tomographic (CT) patterns and physiological and ventilator parameters between survivors and non-survivors.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of patients with ILD-associated ARF treated with cyclophosphamide between February 2016 and October 2017. Patients were categorized into three subgroups: connective tissue disease (CTD)-associated ILD, other ILD or vasculitis. In-hospital mortality was evaluated in the whole cohort and in these subgroups. Clinical response was determined using physiological and ventilator parameters: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score (SOFA), PaO2/FiO2 (P/F) ratio and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) before and after cyclophosphamide treatment. The following CT features were quantified: ground-glass opacification (GGO) proportion, reticulation proportion, overall extent of parenchymal disease and fibrosis coarseness score.

Results

Fifteen patients were included. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 40%. In-hospital mortality rates for CTD-associated ILD, other ILD and vasculitis were 20, 57, and 33%, respectively. The GGO proportion (71% vs 45%) was higher in non-survivors. There were no significant differences in the SOFA score, P/F ratio or Cdyn between survivors and non-survivors. However, in survivors the P/F ratio increased from 129 to 220 mmHg and Cdyn from 75 to 92 mL/cmH2O 3 days after cyclophosphamide treatment. In non-survivors the P/F ratio hardly changed (113–114 mmHg) and Cdyn even decreased (27–20 mL/cmH2O).

Conclusion

In this study, we found a mortality rate of 40% in patients treated with cyclophosphamide for ILD-associated ARF. Connective tissue disease-associated ILD and vasculitis were associated with a lower risk of death. In non-survivors, the CT GGO proportion was significantly higher. The P/F ratio and Cdyn in survivors increased after 3 days of cyclophosphamide treatment.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-021-01615-2.

Ophthalmology in Critical Care

Ophthalmic disease encountered in the intensive care unit (ICU) has a wide spectrum of prevalence and severity. Prolonged exposure of the cornea is common and preventable. Trauma, glaucoma, infection, vascular disease, and burns are among the potential causes of vision loss. Patients are predisposed to ocular complications by the ICU environment and critical illness itself. Critically ill patients require prioritization of life-sustaining interventions, and less emphasis is placed on ophthalmic disease, leading to missed opportunities for vision-saving intervention. It is therefore imperative for intensivists, nurses, and other providers to have an increased awareness and understanding of the broad range of ocular conditions potentially seen in the ICU.

Main tract stenosis complicated by granulomatous with polyangiitis: A case report

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a rheumatic auto-immune disease involved in vasculitis. It is rarely reported that anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) associated with GPA would cause main tract stenosis. The current report documents a 54-year-old woman, with a history of severe cough, presented with wheezing and shortness of breath. Although she was treated with cephalosporin antibiotics for half a month, the symptoms were not alleviated. Accordingly, laboratory testing, radiology and pathology was performed at the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Huashan Hospital. Blood samples were tested negative for ANCAs. Chest CT revealed stenosis of the main trachea and uneven thickening of the tracheal wall. Nasal sinuses CT scanning indicated thickening of the nasal mucosa. Pathological analysis demonstrated chronic granulomatous inflammation with focal lesions. According to the classification criteria of ACR/EULAR provisional 2017, the patient was diagnosed with the ANCAs-negative GPA. Following treatment with oral prednisone only for 6 months, obstruction of main tract was significantly improved. This case study is of interest for the promotion a potentially novel therapeutic intervention for GPA associated with the absence ANCA of in clinic.

Recommendations for managing the manifestations of severe and life-threatening mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Some of the manifestations of mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome (MCS) can be severe or life-threatening, and should be rapidly contained but, as the therapeutic approaches to such conditions are largely based on anecdotal data, a consensus conference was organised by the Italian Group for the Study of Cryoglobulinemia (GISC) with the aim of providing a set of recommendations based on an in-depth survey of the available data and expert opinion.

METHODS

The consensus panel, which included specialists working in different medical fields involved in the management of MCS patients, was first asked to divide the manifestations of MCS into severe or life-threatening conditions on the basis of their own experience, after which a complete literature review was carried out in accordance with the Cochrane guidelines for systematic reviews.

RESULTS

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) was considered the elective first-line treatment in the case of life-threatening manifestations of MCS (LT-MCS) and patients with severe clinical symptoms (S-MCS) who fail to respond to (or who are ineligible for) other treatments. The data supporting the combined use of cyclophosphamide and TPE were considered limited and inconclusive. High-dose pulsed glucocorticoid (GCS) therapy can be considered the first-line treatment of severe MCS, generally in association with TPE. Rituximab (RTX)-based treatments should be considered in patients with skin ulcers, peripheral neuropathy or glomerulonephritis, and in patients with persistent LT-MCS after TPE. In patients with hepatitis C virus-related MCS with S-MCS, viral eradication should be attempted as soon as a patient's condition allows the use of direct-acting antivirals.

Outcomes of patients admitted to intensive care units for acute manifestation of small-vessel vasculitis: a multicenter, retrospective study

Background

The outcomes of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for acute manifestation of small-vessel vasculitis are poorly reported. The aim of the present study was to determine the mortality rate and prognostic factors of patients admitted to the ICU for acute small-vessel vasculitis.

Methods

This retrospective, multicenter study was conducted from January 2001 to December 2014 in 20 ICUs in France. Patients were identified from computerized registers of each hospital using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). Inclusion criteria were (1) known or highly suspected granulomatosis with polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis (respectively, ICD-9 codes M31.3, M30.1, and M31.7), or anti–glomerular basement membrane antibody disease (ICD-9 codes N08.5X-005 or M31.0+); (2) admission to the ICU for the management of an acute manifestation of vasculitis; and (3) administration of a cyclophosphamide pulse in the ICU or within 48 h before admission to the ICU. The primary endpoint was assessment of mortality rate 90 days after admission to the ICU.

Results

Eighty-two patients at 20 centers were included, 94 % of whom had a recent (<6 months) diagnosis of small-vessel vasculitis. Forty-four patients (54 %) had granulomatosis with polyangiitis. The main reasons for admission were respiratory failure (34 %) and pulmonary-renal syndrome (33 %). Mechanical ventilation was required in 51 % of patients, catecholamines in 31 %, and renal replacement therapy in 71 %. Overall mortality at 90 days was 18 % and the mortality in ICU was 16 %. The main causes of death in the ICU were disease flare in 69 % and infection in 31 %. In univariable analysis, relevant factors associated with death in nonsurvivors compared with survivors were Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (median [interquartile range] 51 [38–82] vs. 36 [27–42], p = 0.005), age (67 years [62–74] vs. 58 years [40–68], p < 0.003), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score on the day of cyclophosphamide administration (11 [6–12] vs. 6 [3–7], p = 0.0004), and delayed administration of cyclophosphamide (5 days [3–14] vs. 2 days [1–5], p = 0.0053).

Conclusions

Patients admitted to the ICU for management of acute small-vessel vasculitis benefit from early, aggressive intensive care treatment, associated with an 18 % death rate at 90 days.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-016-1189-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Role of gingival manifestation in diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis)

Purpose

This report describes a case of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in which the gingival manifestation was crucial in both making an early diagnosis and possibly in deciding the approach to treatment.

Methods

A 57-year-old sailor presented to the Department of Dentistry at Ulsan University Hospital complaining of gingival swelling since approximately 2 months. He had orofacial granulomatous lesions and the specific gingival manifestation of strawberry gingivitis.

Results

The diagnosis of GPA was made on the basis of clinical symptoms and signs, and confirmed by the presence of the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody and a positive biopsy. The patient was admitted to the hospital and subsequently placed on a disease-modifying therapy regimen that included methotrexate and prednisone.

Conclusions

Identification of the gingival manifestation of the disease permitted an early diagnosis and prompt therapy in a disease in which time is a crucial factor. Because of its rapid progression and potentially fatal outcome, an early diagnosis of GPA is important. Therefore, dentists should be aware of the oral signs and symptoms of such systemic diseases.

Pulmonary-renal syndromes: Experience from an Indian Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND

The etiology of patients presenting with pulmonary-renal syndrome (PRS) to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in India is not previously reported.

AIMS

The aim was to describe the prevalence, etiology, clinical manifestations, and outcomes of PRS in an Indian ICU and identify variables that differentiate immunologic causes of PRS from tropical syndromes presenting with PRS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective observational study of all patients presenting with PRS over 1-year. Clinical characteristics of patients with "definite PRS" were compared with those with "PRS mimics".

RESULTS

We saw 27 patients with "provisional PRS" over the said duration; this included 13 patients with "definite PRS" and 14 with "PRS mimics". The clinical symptoms were similar, but patients with PRS were younger and presented with longer symptom duration. Ninety-two percent of the PRS cohort required mechanical ventilation, 77% required vasopressors and 61.5% required dialysis within 48 h of ICU admission. The etiologic diagnosis of PRS was made after ICU admission in 61.5%. Systemic lupus erythrematosus (54%) was the most common diagnosis. A combination of biopsy and serology was needed in the majority (69%, 9/13). Pulse methylprednisolone (92%) and cyclophosphamide (61.5%) was the most common protocol employed. Patients with PRS had more alveolar hemorrhage, hypoxemia and higher mortality (69%) when compared to "PRS mimics".

CONCLUSION

The spectrum of PRS is different in the tropics and tropical syndromes presenting with PRS are not uncommon. Multicentric studies are needed to further characterize the burden, etiology, treatment protocols, and outcomes of PRS in India.

Renal disease presenting as acute kidney injury: the diagnostic conundrum on the intensive care unit

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is commonplace in most ICUs. In many cases the cause is believed to be multifactorial with sepsis being a major component. However, occasionally intrinsic renal disease will present to the ICU and as such critical care practitioners should be aware of this possibility and the ways in which such conditions may present.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although a relatively rare occurrence the treatment for patients with intrinsic renal disease, particularly those who present as part of a vasculitic process, differs considerably from usual organ support employed on intensive care. Recent studies indicate that the outlook for these patients is poor particularly when the diagnosis is delayed. The use of serological investigations as well as other diagnostic techniques are discussed.

SUMMARY

Not all AKI as described by changes in creatinine and urine output which presents or develops on the ICU is the same. AKI is a syndrome which encompasses many conditions and as such is nondiagnostic. Clinicians, when faced with AKI should satisfy themselves as to the likely cause of the AKI.

Prognosis and ICU outcome of systemic vasculitis

BACKGROUND

Systemic vasculitis may cause life threatening complications requiring admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes of systemic vasculitis patients admitted to the ICU and to identify prognosis factors.

METHODS

During a ten-year period, records of 31 adult patients with systemic vasculitis admitted to ICUs (median age: 63 y.o, sex ratio M/F: 21/10, SAPS II: 40) were reviewed including clinical and biological parameters, use of mechanical ventilation, catecholamine or/and dialysis support. Mortality was assessed and data were analyzed to identify predictive factors of outcome.

RESULTS

Causes of ICU admissions were active manifestation of vasculitis (n = 19), septic shock (n = 8) and miscellaneous (n = 4). Sixteen patients (52%) died in ICU. By univariate analysis, mortality was associated with higher SOFA (p = 0.006) and SAPS II (p = 0.004) scores. The need for a catecholamine support or/and a renal replacement therapy, and the occurrence of an ARDS significantly worsen the prognosis. By multivariate analysis, only SAPS II (Odd ratio: 1.16, 95% CI [1.01; 1.33]) and BVAS scores (Odd ratio: 1.16, 95% CI = [1.01; 1.34]) were predictive of mortality.

CONCLUSION

The mortality rate of severe vasculitis requiring an admission to ICU was high. High levels of SAPS II and BVAS scores at admission were predictive of mortality.

[Dermatological conditions requiring intensive care]

Some skin conditions may require treatment in intensive care units. The early diagnosis of life-threatening dermatoses is a considerable challenge. We review skin diseases which may require intensive care. In addition to Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, representing adverse skin reactions, we discuss staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis as infection-associated dermatoses, as well as angioedema. We focus on the course of disease describing clinical presentations, diagnostics and therapeutic strategies with respect to critical medical conditions.

Wegener's granulomatosis: a review of clinical features and an update in diagnosis and treatment

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is an idiopathic, systemic inflammatory disease characterized by necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and pauci-immune small-vessel vasculitis of upper and lower respiratory tract and kidneys. The condition affects both genders equally, although some inconsistent gender differences have been observed. The aetiology of WG remains unknown although a number of exogenous factors have been suggested to be of aetiological relevance. Most clinical characteristics of this disease are non-specific, making clinical diagnosis challenging. Histopathological examination of lesional and peritoneal tissue is not pathognomonic, but is an essential investigation to confirm the presence of disease and exclude other disorders. At present, despite the increasingly wide range of potential therapies, cyclophosphamide plus corticosteroids remain the most recognized and effective means of inducing and sustaining remission of WG.

Wegener's granulomatosis in a middle-aged woman presenting with dyspnea, rash, hemoptysis and recurrent eye complaints: a case report

Introduction

Wegener’s granulomatosis presenting as diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is uncommon. However, the recognition of multisystem disease involving joints, kidney, eye and lung is critical for diagnosing Wegener's vasculitis. This is not the first report of this kind in the literature.

Case presentation

A 51-year-old Croatian woman presented to our Emergency Department with a history of progressively worsening productive cough and shortness of breath, epistaxis and two episodes of hemoptysis. She developed respiratory failure due to diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, which was successfully treated with high-dose steroids, cyclophosphamide and plasmapheresis. Her clinical course was complicated with methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus pneumonia, which has been associated with Wegener’s granulomatosis flares.

Conclusion

The recognition of multisystem disease is critical for diagnosing Wegener's vasculitis. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage can be a fulminant manifestation of Wegener’s granulomatosis, in which case immediate and aggressive treatment with pulse steroids, high-dose cyclophosphamide and plasma exchange can be life-saving.

Vasculitic emergencies in the intensive care unit: a special focus on cryoglobulinemic vasculitis

Vasculitis is characterized by the infiltration of vessel walls by inflammatory leukocytes with reactive damage and subsequent loss of vessel integrity. The clinical course of systemic vasculitis may be punctuated by acute life-threatening manifestations that require intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Furthermore, the diagnosis may be established in the ICU after admission for a severe inaugural symptom, mostly acute respiratory failure. Among the systemic vasculitides, cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) has been rarely studied in an ICU setting. Severe CV-related complications may involve the kidneys, lungs, heart, gut, and/or central nervous system. The diagnosis of CV in the ICU may be delayed or completely unrecognized. A high level of suspicion is critical to obtain a timely and accurate diagnosis and to initiate appropriate treatment. We describe severe acute manifestations of CV based on six selected patients admitted to our ICU. That all six patients survived suggests the benefit of prompt ICU admission of patients with severe CV.

Outcome of patients with connective tissue disease requiring intensive care for respiratory failure

Occasionally acute respiratory failure (ARF) develops in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD), but the etiologies of ARF in these patients are not fully elucidated. The objective of this study is to find out the causes of ARF leading to intensive care unit (ICU) admission in these patients and to assess their clinical outcome. The medical records of 1,870 consecutive patients admitted to the ICU in Seoul National University Hospital since January 2005-September 2008 were reviewed. A total of 66 patients with CTD were analyzed. The median age was 58 years, and 45 patients were women. The median length of ICU stay was 16 days with a median duration of mechanical ventilation support of 15 days. The distribution of underlying CTD was 17 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus; 15 with rheumatoid arthritis; 14 with systemic vasculitis; and nine with polymyositis-dermatomyositis. Pneumonia was the leading cause of ARF in 24 patients (36%). We could not identify the cause of ARF in 14. Other causes of ARF were acute pulmonary edema for nine patients, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage for eight and Pneumocystis pneumonia for four. Forty-one patients (62%) died during admission, and the mortality rate was the lowest in those with acute pulmonary edema. Use of norepinephrine was statistically higher in nonsurvivors. We could identify the cause of ARF leading to ICU admission in at least 80% of patients with CTD. However, these patients still showed a high mortality rate regardless of etiology. Their survival might be influenced by hemodynamic status.

[Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage: Causes and outcomes in a referral center]

OBJECTIVE

To identify the most common causes of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) and the evolution of cases during hospitalization.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A review of cases diagnosed with DAH; the diagnoses were classified according to existing criteria and the progression of the cases was determined.

RESULTS

We identified 17 cases of DAH, with the leading cause being ANCA associated vasculitis (41% of cases), followed by cases secondary to drugs (18%). In 35% of the cases, there was a failure in identifying an etiology. Six patients died (35%), the only factor associated with mortality was male gender 5/6 vs 3/11, p=0.05.

CONCLUSIONS

The most frequent cause of alveolar hemorrhage was ANCA associated vasculitis. The mortality in DAH is about 35%, males seem to have a worse prognosis.

Churg-Strauss syndrome following cessation of allergic desensitization vaccination: a case report

Introduction

Churg-Strauss syndrome is a vasculitis of medium to small sized vessels. Diagnosis is mainly clinical with findings of asthma, eosinophilia, rhinosinusitis and signs of vasculitis in major organs.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 19-year-old Persian male who developed signs and symptoms of this syndrome related to hyposensitization treatments for allergy control.

Conclusions

No unifying etiology for the disease can be presented as it is found associated with environmental factors, medications, infections and is even considered a variant of asthma with predisposition to vasculitic involvement. Therefore, it is important to recognize this disease and be aware of underdiagnosis because of emphasis on pathologic evidence. Here, we present a case of allergic desensitization causing Churg-Strauss syndrome in the absence of other known factors.

Outcome of thirty patients with ANCA-associated renal vasculitis admitted to the intensive care unit

The natural course of as-yet-untreated ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) or complications of immunosuppressive treatment may result in rapid clinical deterioration with the need of admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the outcome of patients with renal AAV admitted to the ICU in a single center. We reviewed the medical records of all 218 patients with AAV followed in our department between January 2001 and December 2006 and selected those admitted to the ICU. To assess the severity of critical illness, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score on the first ICU day were calculated. Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) was calculated to represent the total disease activity. Thirty patients with AAV (11 women, 19 men; mean age 61.5 +/- 13.2 years; 20 x cANCA, 10 x pANCA positive) were included. The most common reasons for ICU admission were as follows: active vasculitis (13 patients, 43.3 %), infections (7 patients, 23.3%), and other causes (10 patients, 33.3%). The in-ICU mortality was 33.3% (10 patients). The most common cause of death was septic shock (in 5 patients). The APACHE II (33.5 vs. 23.8) and SOFA scores (11.9 vs. 6.6), but not BVAS (11.5 vs. 16.1), were statistically significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the in-ICU mortality in AAV patients may be predicted by APACHE II and SOFA scores. While active vasculitis is the most frequent reason for ICU admission, the mortality rate is highest in patients with infectious complications.

Wegener's granulomatosis: an update on diagnosis and therapy

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a unique clinicopathological disease characterized by necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis of the respiratory tract, pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis and small-vessel vasculitis. Owing to its wide range of clinical manifestations, WG has a broad spectrum of severity that includes the potential for alveolar hemorrhage or rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, which are immediately life threatening. WG is associated with the presence of circulating antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (c-ANCAs). The most widely accepted pathogenetic model suggests that c-ANCA-activated cytokine-primed neutrophils induce microvascular damage and a rapid escalation of inflammation with recruitment of mononuclear cells. The diagnosis of WG is made on the basis of typical clinical and radiologic findings, by biopsy of involved organ, the presence of c-ANCA and exclusion of all other small-vessel vasculitis. Currently, a regimen consisting of daily cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids is considered standard therapy. A number of trials have evaluated the efficacy of less-toxic immunosuppressants and antibacterials for treating patients with WG, resulting in the identification of effective alternative regimens to induce or maintain remission in certain subpopulations of patients. Recent investigation has focused on other immunomodulatory agents (e.g., TNF-alpha inhibitors and anti-CD20 antibodies), intravenous immunoglobulins and antithymocyte globulins for treating patients with resistant WG.

Outcome of Patients With Small-Vessel Vasculitis Admitted to a Medical ICU

PURPOSES

This study aims to describe the clinical course and prognostic factors of patients with small-vessel vasculitis admitted to a medical ICU.

METHODS

We reviewed the clinical records of 38 patients with small-vessel vasculitis admitted consecutively to the ICU between January 1997 and May 2004. The APACHE (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation) III prognostic system was used to determine the severity of illness on the first ICU day; the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score was used to measure organ dysfunction, and the Birmingham vasculitis activity score for Wegener granulomatosis (BVAS/WG) was used to assess vasculitis activity. Outcome measures were the 28-day mortality and ICU length of stay.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients (50%) had Wegener granulomatosis, 16 patients (42%) had microscopic polyangiitis, 2 patients had CNS vasculitis, and 1 patient had Churg-Strauss syndrome. Reasons for ICU admission included alveolar hemorrhage in 14 patients (37%), sepsis in 5 patients (13%), seizures in 3 patients (8%), and pneumonia in 2 patients (5%). The median ICU length of stay was 4.0 days (interquartile range, 2.0 to 6.0 days). The APACHE III score was lower in survivors than nonsurvivors (p = 0.010). The predicted hospital mortality was 54% for nonsurvivors and 21% for survivors (p = 0.0038). The mean SOFA score was 11.6 (SD, 2.6) in nonsurvivors, compared to 6.9 (SD, 2.4) in survivors (p = 0.0004). Mean BVAS/WG scores were 8.6 (SD, 3.6) in nonsurvivors and 4.7 (SD, 4.6) in survivors (p = 0.0889). Twenty-six percent of the patients received invasive mechanical ventilation, and 33% underwent dialysis. The 28-day and 1-year mortality rates were 11% and 29%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The mortality of patients with small-vessel vasculitis admitted to the ICU is lower than predicted, and alveolar hemorrhage is the most common reason for ICU admission.