Predictive factors of mortality in granulomatosis with polyangiitis: A single-center study

Intestinal perforation as a first presentation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis: unusual case report

INTRODUCTION

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) vasculitis typically involves upper and lower airways and kidneys. Gastrointestinal involvement is rare, clinically reported as esophageal involvement, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, intestinal perforation, colitis, and pancreatitis.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a 36 old man, with intestinal perforation, laterally diagnosed as granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

DISCUSSION

Only a few cases of intestinal perforation have been reported in the medical literature. GI symptoms may be present after the disease diagnosis in years. Intestinal perforation usually required surgery. The frequent kidney involvement of GPA is rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, presented as acute kidney injury, usually accompanied by GI symptoms. Cyclophosphamide plus corticosteroids remain the effective therapy. The patient with GPA had a normal life expectancy due to the advances in treatment. Renal involvement and GI manifestations are considered bad prognosis predictors.

CONCLUSION

This case report illustrates the need to consider intestinal perforation in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, early surgical intervention and appropriate immunosuppressive therapy can be lifesaving.

Association between different infection profiles and one-year outcomes in ANCA-associated vasculitis: a retrospective study with monthly infection screening

Objectives

This study aimed to explore clinical features of early infection in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) and to identify the association between the infection profile of patients with AAV during the first 3 months and 1-year survival.

Methods

A total of 415 newly diagnosed patients with AAV in the Department of Nephrology at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital from 2000 to 2018 were included. Four Cox regression models were used to analyse the association based on demographics, comorbidities, laboratory baseline index and therapy parameter. Infection screening was carried out monthly during the first 3 months after diagnosis.

Results

In all, 377 episodes of infection were identified among 220 patients during the first 3 months. The overall survival after 1 year was 73.0%. Respiratory infection (210 episodes/164 persons) accounted for more than half of infections. Infection was independently associated with 1-year mortality (adjusted HR 2.32, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.23, p=0.006) after adjustment. Respiratory infection (adjusted HR 4.36, 95% CI 2.86 to 8.06, p<0.001), Gram-negative bacterial infection (adjusted HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.91, p=0.047) and fungal infection (adjusted HR 1.77, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.94, p=0.026) was identified as a risk factor for 1-year mortality. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) prophylaxis (adjusted HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.97, p=0.040) was protective for 1-year mortality.

Conclusions

Infections, particularly respiratory infections, are a common and important class of complication in patients with AAV and are associated with early mortality. TMP-SMX prophylaxis might be necessary to improve short-term outcome. More consideration of infectious risk and regular infection screening should be given.

Simultaneous testicle and epididymis vasculitis revealing granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a systemic necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis, which predominantly affects small‐sized blood vessels. We aimed to report a case of GPA involving testicles and epididymis taken for malignancy. A 75‐year‐old patient was admitted for a painful left testicular mass. There was no extra urogenital manifestations on examination and the workup was unremarkable. Histological findings after orchidectomy revealed granulomatous inflammation of the testis and epididymis with fibrinoid necrosis and necrotic vasculitis consisting with the diagnosis of GPA. Further investigations regarding ear, nose, throat, pulmonary, and renal involvement were negative. Proteinase 3 antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (PR3‐ANCA) test was negative. Furthermore, infectious diseases especially tuberculosis were ruled out. Based on histopathological findings, limited GPA was diagnosed. The patient was treated with methotrexate and prednisone with good outcome. There was no relapse after 1 year of follow‐up. Isolated urogenital involvement may occur at the onset of GPA and can be taken for malignancy. Histopathological findings are the gold standard for the diagnosis. Treatment is based on steroids and immunosuppressive drugs.

Urogenital manifestations in granulomatosis with polyangiitis can be taken for malignancy when occurring at disease onset. In the absence of other signs or ANCA positivity, histopathological findings are crucial to guide diagnosis.