Early infectious risk in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis according to remission-induction therapy

OBJECTIVE

Few comparative data exist on early infections secondary to remission-induction therapy (RIT) with rituximab (RTX) versus cyclophosphamide (CYC) in newly diagnosed anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients. We compared and analysed the rates and predictors of severe infection in such patients within the first 6 months following RIT.

METHOD

From the Caen University Hospital databases, we included all consecutive adults newly diagnosed with ANCA-positive granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis between January 2006 and December 2019. We compared rates of survival without severe infection and survival without infections of any severity within 6 months of RIT and used a multivariate Cox analysis to identify predictors of infection.

RESULTS

We included 145 patients, 27 in the RTX and 118 in the CYC group. Patients in the RTX group more frequently had pneumococcal vaccination (p < 0.01) and creatinine < 150 µmol/L; other characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Overall, 37 severe infections and 65 infections of any severity were recorded. Rates of survival without severe infection were similar in both groups (p = 0.69), but survival without infections of any severity was lower in the RTX group (p = 0.005). In multivariate analysis, risk factors at diagnosis for severe infections included chronic urinary tract disease, dialysis, and absence of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis (p < 0.01 each).

CONCLUSIONS

Within 6 months of RIT, rates of survival without severe infection were similar in newly diagnosed ANCA-positive AAV patients treated with RTX or CYC, but survival rates without infections of any severity appeared to be lower with RTX treatment.

AB0615 Clinical impact of ceruloplasmin levels at ANCA-associated vasculitis diagnosis

Background

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) plays a major role in loss of immunological tolerance leading to tissue destruction in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Ceruloplasmin is a protein with antiproteinase and antioxidant properties that inhibits MPO activity. Whether serum level of ceruloplasmin at AAV diagnosis has an impact is unknown.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of serum level of ceruloplasmin at diagnosis in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective unicentric study at Caen University Hospital, involving consecutive adult patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis between 2010 and 2021 who had available serum at diagnosis. Data was collected using the health records.

Ceruloplasmin was measured by standardized nephelometry (normal values: 0.15 – 0.50 g/L). Patients in each subgroup (whole cohort, microscopic polyangiitis and anti-MPO patients) were divided into two groups based on the median serum level of ceruloplasmin.

We estimated survival using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, and between-group differences were evaluated by the log-rank test. The study was approved by the local ethics committee of Caen University Hospital (n° 1947).

Results

Ninety-two patients were included, 46 (50%) granulomatosis with polyangiitis (41 anti-proteinase 3 and 5 anti-MPO) and 46 (50%) microscopic polyangiitis (45 anti-MPO and 1 anti-proteinase 3). The median level of ceruloplasmin was 0.44 g/L. No significant differences in the clinical presentation were observed between patients in the two groups (p>0.05). We observed 9 (19.6%) deaths in the low ceruloplasmin group and 5 (10.9%) in the high ceruloplasmin group (p=0.39). Vasculitis relapse occurred in 10/46 patients (22%) and 11/46 patients (24%) (p=1), renal failure leading to dialysis and/or renal transplant in 6/46 patients (13%) and 8/46 patients (17%) (p=0.77), respectively. No significant difference in survival was found (p=0.07). The same analyses were performed between the low and the high ceruloplasmin group with the microscopic polyangiitis subgroup (n=46), and no significant differences were found (p>0.05). However, within the anti-MPO subgroup (n=50), the survival was worse in the low ceruloplasmin group (p=0.03).

Conclusion

In anti-MPO AAV patients, serum level of ceruloplasmin at diagnosis seems to be associated with a significant impact on survival.

References

[1]Baskin E, et al. Ceruloplasmin levels in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive patients. Pediatr Nephrol. 2002;17(11):917–9.

[2]Ara J, et al. Ceruloplasmin in small vessel vasculitis. Nephrol Dial Transplant. févr 1999;14(2):515-7.

isclosure of Interests: None declared

POS0831 EARLY INFECTIOUS RISK IN PATIENTS WITH NEWLY-DIAGNOSED ANTI-NEUTROPHILCYTOPLASMIC ANTIBODY-ASSOCIATED VASCULITIS ACCORDING TO THE REMISSION-INDUCTIONTHERAPY: A FRENCH MONOCENTRIC RETROSPECTIVE STUDY INCLUDING 145 PATIENTS

Background:

Few comparative data exist on early infections secondary to remission-induction therapy (RIT) with rituximab versus cyclophosphamide in newly-diagnosed ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients.

Objectives:

We compared and analyzed the rate and predictors of severe infections in such patients within the first six months following RIT.

Methods:

We included, from the databases of Caen University Hospital, all consecutive adults newly-diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis between January 2006 and December 2019. We compared the survival without severe infections (WSI) and the survival without infection of any severity (WIOAS) within 6 months from the RIT, and used a multivariate cox analysis to identify predictors of infection.

Results:

We included 145 patients, 27 in rituximab group and 118 in cyclophosphamide group. Patients in the rituximab group more frequently had pneumococcal vaccination (p<0.01) and creatinine level <150 µmol/L, while other characteristics, including Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score, were comparable between both groups.

Overall, 37 severe infections and 65 infections of any severity were recorded. The survival WSI was similar in both groups (p=0.69), but survival WIOAS was lower in rituximab group (p=0.005).

In multivariate analysis, risk factors at diagnosis for severe infections were chronic urinary tract disease, dialysis and absence of prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (p<0.01 each).

Conclusion:

The survival WIS within the 6 months following RIT was similar in patients with newly-diagnosed AAV treated by rituximab or cyclophosphamide, but survival WIOAS appeared to be lower within the 6 months following rituximab despite a better pneumococcal vaccination coverage.

Figure 1.

Comparison of the 6-month survival without severe infection (A) or without infection of any severity (B) in patients with newly-diagnosed ANCA-associated vasculitis treated by rituximab or cyclophosphamide

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

[The immunological conflict in the transfusion-related acute lung injury or TRALI]

Despite its underrated incidence, transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is the leading cause of transfusion-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. The pulmonary edema in TRALI occurs in the course of the transfusion of apheresis products or erythrocyte concentrates. Its pathogenesis is attributed to the infusion of donor antibodies that recognize leucocyte antigens in the transfused host, with subsequent sequestration of leucocytes in the pulmonary vessels. It is also associated with the passive transfer of lipids and other biological response modifiers that accumulate during the storage or processing of blood components. The innate immunity and inflammatory kinins are key components. The knowledge of its etiopathogenesis must come into play for improving prevention and diagnosis and for application of adapted care of the patient.