Predictors of Treatment Outcomes in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis with Severe Kidney Failure

Background and objectives

In ANCA-associated GN, severe renal dysfunction portends a poor prognosis for renal recovery and patient survival. This study evaluated the prognostic factors affecting renal and patient outcomes in patients presenting with severe kidney failure to guide immunosuppressive therapy.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

This study retrospectively evaluated clinical and histopathologic characteristics of 155 patients who underwent biopsy between October 1985 and February 2011 (median eGFR at presentation, 7.1 ml/min per 1.73 m²; 87% required hemodialysis), all treated with immunosuppressive medications. Three outcomes of interest were measured: patient survival, renal survival, and treatment response (defined as dialysis-free survival without active vasculitis by 4 months after biopsy). Competing risk, Cox, and logistic regression analyses were conducted for each outcome measure.

Results

Within 4 months after biopsy, treatment response was attained in 51% of patients, 35% remained on dialysis, and 14% died. In a competing risk analysis, estimated cumulative incidence rates of ESRD and disease-related mortality were 26% and 17% at 1 year and 32% and 28% at 5 years, respectively. Cyclophosphamide therapy and treatment response by 4 months were independently associated with patient and renal survival, adjusting for the percentage of normal glomeruli, histopathologic chronicity index score, and baseline clinical characteristics. Only 5% of patients still dialysis dependent at 4 months subsequently recovered renal function. Low chronicity index score (odds ratio [OR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.04 to 1.30, per unit decrease) and baseline eGFR>10 ml/min per 1.73 m² (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.09 to 7.01) were significantly associated with treatment response by 4 months. Among cyclophosphamide-treated patients, the likelihood of treatment response was >14% even with highest chronicity index score and eGFR<10 ml/min per 1.73 m².

Conclusions

Although low baseline renal function and severe renal scarring are associated with lower treatment response rate, no “futility” threshold could be identified. Conversely, continued immunosuppressive therapy beyond 4 months is unlikely to benefit patients who remain dialysis dependent.     

Neutrophils from vasculitis patients exhibit an increased propensity for activation by anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies

Anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are thought to be pathogenic in ANCA‐associated vasculitis (AAV) by stimulating polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) to degranulate and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this study was to investigate if PMNs from AAV patients are stimulated more readily by ANCA compared with PMNs from healthy controls (HCs). Differences in ANCA characteristics that can account for different stimulation potential were also studied. PMNs from five AAV patients and five HCs were stimulated with 10 different immunoglobulins (Ig)Gs, purified from PR3–ANCA‐positive patients, and ROS production, degranulation and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation was measured. ANCA levels, affinity and clinical data of the AAV donors were recorded. The results show that PMNs from AAV patients produce more intracellular ROS (P = 0·019), but degranulate to a similar extent as PMNs from HCs. ROS production correlated with NET formation. Factors that may influence the ability of ANCA to activate PMNs include affinity and specificity for N‐terminal epitopes. In conclusion, our results indicate that PMNs from AAV patients in remission behave quite similarly to HC PMNs, with the exception of a greater intracellular ROS production. This could contribute to more extensive NET formation and thus an increased exposure of the ANCA autoantigens to the immune system.     

系统性血管炎与肾脏

系统性血管炎是一大类以血管壁炎症为特征的多系统损害的自身免疫性疾病。肾脏复杂的血管结构不仅是保 证肾脏发挥生理功能的基础,也是导致肾脏成为系统性血管炎最常受累器官。根据受累血管大小不同,肾脏受累临 床表现多样。文章根据大、中、小系统性血管炎肾脏受累的临床特征、发病机制、合并症及治疗现状做一概述。在临 床工作中重视肾脏相关表现,有助于系统性血管炎的及时诊断与规范治疗。     

颞动脉炎

颞动脉炎是好发于老年人的系统性血管炎,是老年人头痛、失明的重要原因之一,如未及时治疗可导致失明等严重并发症.典型临床表现包括颞部头痛、间歇性下颌运动障碍和视力障碍(视物模糊、复视、短暂失明等).但部分患者症状不典型,漏诊和延误诊断发生率高.颞动脉活检是确诊本病的金标准.颞动脉炎首选激素治疗,同时应予以低剂量阿司匹林降低缺血性事件的发生.早期诊疗可显著减少失明和脑卒中等严重并发症的发生.     

A comprehensive review of myelodysplastic syndrome patients with autoimmune diseases

Primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are heterogeneous clonal hemopoietic disorders clinically presented with a varying degree of peripheral cytopenias and an increased probability of leukemic evolution. A distinct subset of MDS patients manifests overt autoimmune-inflammatory manifestations, the underlying pathogenesis and prognostic significance of which still remain controversial. In this review we attempt to analyze clinical aspects of MDS-related rheumatoid disease, and discuss pathophysiologic associations between autoimmunity and distorted BM function in preleukemic states in light of recent findings, in vivo and in vitro. We further explore the potential of recent biological and molecular advances to forward therapeutic targeting against both autoimmune and malignant process.     

老年抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体相关性小血管炎肺部损害29例临床分析

目的 探讨老年抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体(ANCA)相关性小血管炎肺脏损害的临床特征.方法 分析2002年9月至2011年9月住院的29例60岁以上的ANCA相关性小血管炎肺损害患者的临床资料.结果 29例ANCA相关性小血管炎肺脏损害患者.常见症状有咳嗽、咯痰(19/29,65.5%);呼吸困难(14/29,48.2%);咯血(7/29,24.1%)和发热(16/29,55.1%).所有患者ANCA均阳性,其中髓过氧化物酶(MPO)-ANCA阳性率89.7%(26/29),蛋白酶3(PR3)-ANCA阳性率10.3%(3/29).胸部影像学表现为肺间质纤维化16例,磨玻璃影者6例,浸润影5例,结节性病变1例,胸腔积液1例.24例(82.8%)合并肾脏受累表现.经激素和免疫抑制剂治疗后短期预后较好,9例(31%)于初诊及随访期间因肺部感染呼吸衰竭等死亡.结论 老年原发性ANCA相关性小血管炎患者常有肺脏损害,其临床表现无特异性,肺间质纤维化、磨玻璃影为常见影像学表现,且多合并肾脏受累.     

Evolution of biomarkers of liver fibrosis and liver insufficiency in hepatitis C virus-infected patients treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin and rituximab

Therapeutic options in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related vasculitis may target the viral trigger using antiviral therapy [pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV)], and/or the downstream B-cell arm of autoimmunity with rituximab (RTX). To date, no study has compared the efficacy of RTX combined with PEG-IFN/RBV on biomarkers of liver insufficiency in patients with severe liver fibrosis. Twenty-eight untreated HCV-related vasculitis patients with severe liver fibrosis (Metavir F3-F4) were included: 14 patients received RTX plus PEG-IFN/RBV and 14 patients PEG-IFN/RBV. The main clinical and biological data were recorded and compared at baseline, month 3 (M3), M12 and M24 of follow-up. Baseline epidemiological, clinical, virological and immunological features were similar between the groups. The virological response did not differ between cases and controls. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level and HCV viral load did not increase in patients treated with RTX. Serum albumin levels increased in patients treated with RTX at M3 and M6 (108% and 111% of baseline value; P = 0.06 and P = 0.13), whereas it was stable in patients treated without RTX. FibroTest values decreased from 0.70 at baseline to 0.59 at M3 (P = 0.5) and returned to 0.69 at M24 in the RTX-PEG-IFN/RBV group, whereas they were stable in the PEG-IFN/RBV group. RTX is safe in patients with severe HCV liver fibrosis and vasculitis. No beneficial effects of RTX were evidenced on liver fibrosis progression, but we found interesting correlations with the serum albumin level, FibroTest values and B-cell count.     

Anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody‐associated systemic vasculitis: nature or nurture?

This review examines the environmental and genetic contributions to the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated systemic vasculitides. The dominant environmental risk factors appear to be silica exposure for all three syndromes, and vitamin D deficiency is strongly suggested by the latitude and ultraviolet radiation gradient observed for Wegener's granulomatosis and Churg-Strauss syndrome. Genetic factors are generally not very strong, consistent with the rarity of these conditions in children. However, multiple genetic factors, each with a relatively small effect, may combine to create a state of susceptibility towards autoimmunity. With infection as a triggering agent, it is possible to synthesise a pathogenetic hypothesis that accounts for both environmental and genetic effects in regard to both necrotising vasculitis and granuloma formation.     

Sjogren's Syndrome Complicated with IgA Nephropathy and Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis

We report a case of primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) with cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis and IgA nephropathy. The accurate diagnosis of SS was established based on objective signs and symptoms of ocular and oral dryness, a characteristic appearance of a biopsy sample from a minor salivary gland, and the presence of anti-SS-A autoantibody. A second autoimmune disorder was not present, so the diagnosis of primary SS was established. A histologic finding of skin biopsy of purpuric lesion was typical for leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Renal biopsy was performed for nephrotic range proteinuria. The pathologic finding of renal biopsy was IgA glomerulonephritis with crescent formation. The patient was treated with small doses of glucocorticoids and maintenance hemodialysis. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis is one of the most characteristic extraglandular manifestations of SS. However, IgA nephropathy associated with SS and leukocytoclastic vasculitis is a rare finding. SS patients with glomerulonephritis present a more diverse outcome, even requiring hemodialysis. Therefore, renal biopsy is warranted in SS with glomerulonephritis and systemic vasculitis.     

Vasculite testicular – uma manifestação rara de artrite reumatoide

Testicular vasculitis is a very rare extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We describe the case of a 53-year-old man diagnosed with RA for eight years, who was poorly controlled and developed rheumatoid vasculitis, which manifested as leg ulcers and peripheral polyneuropathy. The patient also had acute neutrophilic meningitis and was treated with antibiotics and intravenous pulse therapy with methylprednisolone (500 mg daily) for three days, followed by oral cyclophosphamide (2 mg/kg daily) and prednisone. Overall improvement was observed, and the patient was discharged. But 15 days later, the meningitis recurred, and the patient was readmitted and treated again with antibiotics. Three days later, he developed pain and enlargement of his left testicle with gangrene. Unilateral orchiectomy was performed, revealing lymphocytic vasculitis. The patient died two days later due to aspiration pneumonia. This case illustrates a rare and severe manifestation of rheumatoid vasculitis.