Pathways to renal biopsy and diagnosis among patients with ANCA small-vessel vasculitis.

OBJECTIVES: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody small-vessel vasculitis (ANCA-SVV) is an autoimmune systemic process increasingly recogniSed since the advent of antibody testing for the disease. Prompt diagnosis and institution of immunosuppressive therapy has been shown to improve patient outcome. The goal of this study was to better understand how patients navigate the health care system from symptom presentation to biopsy diagnosis, and to study the effects of prompt versus delayed diagnosis. METHODS: Disease symptoms and number of physicians seen prior to renal biopsy were assessed for 127 ANCA-SVV patients. Direct, delayed, and quest pathways to diagnosis and treatment of vasculitis were defined for both patients and providers. Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher exact tests were used to evaluate continual measures and compare categorical variables across pathways. RESULTS: Among patients who sought direct care, physician delay in referral to a nephrologist was common (49/127, 71%, p=0.0023). Patients who delayed seeking care also experienced a delayed diagnosis 57% of the time (p=0.0023). Patients presenting with prodromal flu or upper respiratory involvement were more likely to have a delay/quest patient pathway (56% and 55%, respectively) than a direct patient pathway (44%, p=0.033 and 45%, p=0.019, respectively). There was a trend for patients with more severe loss of renal function to have a more direct referral to a nephrologist. CONCLUSIONS: Delay in diagnosis of ANCA SVV may be due to lack of or non-specific symptoms, especially in patients who present with non-renal manifestations of disease. Better algorithms are needed to identify extra-renal manifestations, expedite diagnosis and improve patient outcomes.

Cyclosporin in idiopathic glomerular disease associated with the nephrotic syndrome : workshop recommendations.

Management of idiopathic glomerular disease associated with nephrotic syndrome (INS) remains controversial and one of the most complex areas relates to utilization of the drug cyclosporin. This is despite its demonstrated effectiveness in several histologic types of the INS in randomized controlled trials. Cyclosporin is effective in inducing remission of proteinuria in approximately 80% of steroid-sensitive cases of minimal change disease (MCD). Cyclosporin is also effective in both the induction of remission and long-term preservation of renal function in steroid-dependent/-resistant MCD and steroid-resistant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The overall response rate in FSGS is lower than in MCD, and long-term therapy (>12 months) may be required to both achieve remission and sustain it. Cyclosporin therapy is also of benefit in reducing proteinuria in 70-80% of patients with steroid-resistant membranous nephropathy (MGN). In MGN, the maximum benefit is often delayed compared to MCD (>12 weeks). Cyclosporin is generally well tolerated and safe. The major concern remains the nephrotoxicity, but with careful monitoring of the patient's renal function; minimizing the maintenance dose and utilizing repeat renal biopsy in those receiving long-term therapy, this risk can be minimized. The algorithms have been developed derived from the best evidence in the literature in each of the histologic types to help provide a guide to the integration of cyclosporin into the management of INS for the practicing nephrologist.

ANCA glomerulonephritis and vasculitis: a Chapel Hill perspective.

Microscopic polyangiitis, Wegener's granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, and pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis share pathogenic, pathological, and clinical features. They all involve capillaries, venules, arterioles, and small arteries. Approximately 90% of patients have autoantibodies either to myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA) or to proteinase 3 (PR3-ANCA). The clinical manifestations of ANCA-small vessel vasculitis are protean. These can be limited to the kidney alone, or may involve the upper respiratory tract, the lungs, the skin, or a number of other organs in various combinations. The characteristic feature of the glomerular lesion is a focal necrotizing glomerulonephritis associated with crescent formation and little or no glomerular staining for immunoglobulin by immunofluorescence microscopy. The renal manifestations can present as a rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis or that of a more indolent, remitting, and relapsing course that leads to substantial glomerulosclerosis. The two main prognostic markers of the long-term outcome are the presence of pulmonary hemorrhage (which accounts for at least half of all deaths) and the entry serum creatinine. The higher the entry serum creatinine, the higher the risk of developing end-stage renal disease. The treatment of ANCA-small vessel vasculitis and glomerulonephritis rests primarily on the use of induction high-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. Patients with pulmonary hemorrhage also benefit from plasmapheresis. With the use of an alkylating agent, the rate of remission is of the order of 75%, but relapses occur in about 30% of patients who achieve a remission, and in about 17% of patients after renal transplantation. Despite the improved outcome of patients with ANCA vasculitis in the recent decade, their long-term prognosis continues to be primarily determined by a rapid diagnosis, and the prompt institution of therapy.

Recurrent ANCA-associated small vessel vasculitis after transplantation: A pooled analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated small vessel vasculitis (ANCA-SVV) after renal transplantation has been described in case series. However, general information regarding the frequency, character, and predictors of recurrent disease after transplantation is currently lacking. We considered the rate of relapse, whether a positive ANCA at the time of transplantation predicted relapse, and whether cyclosporine A prevented recurrent disease. METHODS: We performed a pooled analysis of published data, added to the experience at the Universities of North Carolina (14 patients) and Lund, Sweden (11 patients). To avoid reporting bias, only case series were included for analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed by disease category (Wegener's granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis, or necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis) and ANCA staining pattern. RESULTS: ANCA-SVV recurred in 17.3% of all patients (N = 127), in 20% of cyclosporine A-treated patients (N = 85), and in 25.6% of patients with circulating ANCA at the time of transplantation (N = 39). There was no statistically significant difference in the relapse rate between patients treated and those not treated with cyclosporine A (P = 0.45), between those with and without circulating ANCA at the time of transplant (P = 0.75), or between patients with Wegener's granulomatosis and those with microscopic polyangiitis or necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis alone (P = 0.62). CONCLUSION: There is a substantial relapse rate in the ANCA-SVV population. Therapy with cyclosporine A does not protect against recurrent ANCA-SVV, and the presence of a positive ANCA at the time of transplantation does not preclude transplantation. These conclusions must be substantiated with a prospective study of renal transplantation in patients with ANCA-SVV so as to optimize their management.

Mycophenolate mofetil therapy in lupus nephritis: clinical observations.

Controlled clinical trials in renal transplantation have demonstrated that mycophenolate mofetil is well tolerated and has lower renal transplant rejection rates than azathioprine regimens. This study reports on the clinical experiences at two institutions with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for severe lupus nephritis. Twelve patients with relapsing or resistant nephritis previously treated with cyclophosphamide therapy and one patient who refused cyclophosphamide as initial therapy for diffuse proliferative nephritis but accepted MMF were included. During combined MMF/prednisone therapy, serum creatinine values remained normal or declined from elevated values: mean change in serum creatinine was -0.26+/-0.46 microM/L, P = 0.039. Proteinuria significantly decreased: mean change in urine protein-to-creatinine ratios was -2.53+/-3.76, P = 0.039. Decreased serum complement component C3 and elevated anti-double-stranded DNA antibody levels at baseline improved in some, but not all, patients. The mean initial dose of MMF was 0.92 g/d (range, 0.5 to 2 g/d). The mean duration of therapy was 12.9 mo (range, 3 to 24 mo). Adverse events included herpes simplex stomatitis associated with severe leukopenia (n = 1), asymptomatic leukopenia (n = 2), nausea/ diarrhea (n = 2), thinning of scalp hair (n = 1), pancreatitis (n = 1), and pneumonia without leukopenia (n = 1). Recurrence of the pancreatitis led to discontinuation of MMF in this patient; all other adverse events resolved with dose reduction. It is concluded that MMF is well tolerated and has possible efficacy in controlling major renal manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. Controlled clinical trials are needed to define the role of MMF in the management of lupus nephritis.

Prognostic markers in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated microscopic polyangiitis and glomerulonephritis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic value of clinical, laboratory, and pathologic features at the time of presentation on patient and renal survival in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated microscopic polyangiitis and glomerulonephritis (excluding Wegener's granulomatosis). One hundred seven ANCA-positive patients with necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis, including 69 with evidence for microscopic polyangiitis, were evaluated for this study. The relative risk of death was calculated for the following potential prognostic indicators: (1) ANCA pattern; (2) pulmonary hemorrhage at onset; (3) presence of extrarenal manifestations versus renal limited disease; and (4) treatment with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide (intravenous or oral), compared with corticosteroids alone. Cox's proportional hazard model was used to assess the predictive value of the following variables on renal survival: (1) age; (2) race; (3) pulmonary symptoms at onset of disease; (4) renal pathology; (5) ANCA pattern; and (6) peak serum creatinine values obtained near the time of renal biopsy. Patients were followed prospectively for 2.5 yr (range, 5 days to 12 yr 2 months). There were 12 disease-related deaths and 46 patients who reached ESRD. The relative risk (and 95% confidence interval) of patient death was 8.65 (3.36, 22.2) times greater in patients who presented with pulmonary hemorrhage, and 3.78 (1.22, 11.70) times greater in patients with cytoplasmic ANCA compared to those with perinuclear ANCA. The relative risk of pulmonary hemorrhage was no different by ANCA pattern. The risk of death was 5.56 times lower in the cyclophosphamide-treated patients versus those treated with corticosteroids alone. The predictors of renal survival were entry serum creatinine value (P = 0.0002), race (African Americans having a worse outcome compared with Caucasians, P = 0.0008), and the presence of arterial sclerosis on kidney biopsy (P = 0.0076) when controlling for age, ANCA pattern, microscopic polyangiitis versus glomerulonephritis alone, and pulmonary involvement. Pathology indices such as glomerular necrosis, glomerular crescents, glomerular sclerosis, and interstitial sclerosis were not predictive of renal survival when controlling for entry serum creatinine value, race, and arterial sclerosis. However, in the subgroup of patients with a peak creatinine value of < or = 3.0 mg/dL (N = 29), increased interstitial sclerosis was a predictor of a poor renal outcome (P = 0.04).

Treatment response and relapse in antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated microscopic polyangiitis and glomerulonephritis.

In this study, the rate of remission, relapse, and treatment resistance in 107 patients with microscopic polyangiitis and necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies were assessed. Patients with Wegener's granulomatosis were excluded. Prospective criteria were identified to assess remission, relapse, and resistant disease. Ninety-seven of the 107 patients received treatment with corticosteroids (N = 25) or with cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids (N = 72). Of these patients, 75 (77.3%) went into remission (complete remission, N = 61; remission on therapy, N = 14). Of the 75 responders, 32 patients (43%) remained in long-term remission, for a mean follow-up of 44 +/- 29 months; 15 patients (20%) progressed to ESRD without signs of relapse, for a mean of 21.4 +/- 22.8 months after the end of treatment; 6 patients died. Twenty-two of the 75 patients who initially responded to treatment (29%) suffered a relapse that occurred within 18 months of the end of therapy and usually affected the same organ systems as on initial presentation. There was a significant difference in the remission rate between the corticosteroid-treated patients and the cyclophosphamide-treated patients (56% versus 84.7%, P = 0.003), and the cyclophosphamide-treated patients had three times less risk of experiencing a relapse than did corticosteroid-treated patients (0.31, 95% Cl = (0.12, 0.84)). Seventy-seven percent (17 of 22 patients) of treatment resistance occurred in patients who presented with fulminant disease or advanced and severe renal disease. It was concluded that most patients with microscopic polyangiitis or necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis achieve remission with therapy. Relapses occur in 29% of patients and generally respond to retreatment. Initial treatment with cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids rather than corticosteroids alone results in a lower frequency of relapse. Even patients who require dialysis at presentation may benefit from treatment, however, patients who are not treated until the disease process is life-threatening may die before induction therapy is complete, indicating the continued need for early diagnosis and therapy.