Intravenous pulse methylprednisolone for induction of remission in severe ANCA associated Vasculitis: a multi-center retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous pulse methylprednisolone (MP) is commonly included in the management of severe ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) despite limited evidence of benefit. We aimed to evaluate outcomes in patients who had, or had not received MP, along with standard therapy for remission induction in severe AAV. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 114 consecutive patients from five centres in Europe and the United States with a new diagnosis of severe AAV (creatinine > 500 µmol/L or dialysis dependency) and that received standard therapy (plasma exchange, cyclophosphamide and high-dose oral corticosteroids) for remission induction with or without pulse MP between 2000 and 2013. We evaluated survival, renal recovery, relapses, and adverse events over the first 12 months. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients received pulse MP in addition to standard therapy compared to 62 patients that did not. There was no difference in survival, renal recovery or relapses. Treatment with MP associated with higher risk of infection during the first 3 months (hazard ratio (HR) 2.7, 95%CI [1.4-5.3], p = 0.004) and higher incidence of diabetes (HR 6.33 [1.94-20.63], p = 0.002), after adjustment for confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that addition of pulse intravenous MP to standard therapy for remission induction in severe AAV may not confer clinical benefit and may be associated with more episodes of infection and higher incidence of diabetes.

Subclinical Reactivation of Cytomegalovirus Drives CD4+CD28null T-Cell Expansion and Impaired Immune Response to Pneumococcal Vaccination in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

Background: Infection is the leading cause of death in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). Expansion of CD4+CD28null T cells is associated with increased risk of infection and mortality, but is only present in cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive individuals. We hypothesized that subclinical CMV reactivation drives CD4+CD28null T-cell expansion, that this is associated with impaired immune response to heterologous antigens, and that antiviral therapy may ameliorate this. Methods: In a proof-of-concept open-label clinical trial, 38 CMV-seropositive AAV patients were randomized to receive valacyclovir for 6 months or no intervention. CMV reactivation was measured monthly in plasma and urine. CD4+CD28null T cells were enumerated at baseline and at 6 months. At 6 months, 36 patients were vaccinated with a 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine. Serotype-specific immunoglobulin G was assayed before and 4 weeks postvaccination to calculate the antibody response ratio. Results: Valacyclovir treatment suppressed subclinical CMV reactivation and reduced CD4+CD28null T-cell proportion. CD4+CD28null T-cell reduction correlated with improved vaccine response, whereas CMV reactivation associated with reduced response to vaccination. Furthermore, expansion of CD4+CD28null T cells was associated with a reduction in the functional capacity of the CD4 compartment. Conclusions: Suppression of CMV may improve the immune response to a T-cell-dependent pneumococcal vaccination in patients with AAV, thus offering potential clinical benefit. Clinical Trials Registration: NCT01633476.

Treatment of fatigue with physical activity and behavioural change support in vasculitis: study protocol for an open-label randomised controlled feasibility study.

INTRODUCTION: Fatigue is a major cause of morbidity, limiting quality of life, in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). The aetiology of fatigue is multifactorial; biological and psychosocial mediators, such as sleep deprivation, pain and anxiety and depression, are important and may be improved by increasing physical activity. Current self-management advice is based on expert opinion and is poorly adhered to. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of increasing physical activity using a programme of direct contact and telephone support, to provide patient education, encourage behaviour self-monitoring and the development of an individual change plan with defined goals and feedback to treat fatigue compared with standard of care to inform the design of a large randomised controlled trial to test the efficacy and cost effectiveness of this programme. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Patients with AAV and significant levels of fatigue (patient self-report using multidimensional fatigue index score questionnaire ≥14) will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to the physical activity programme supported by behavioural change techniques or standard of care. The intervention programme will consist of 8 visits of supervised activity sessions and 12 telephone support calls over 12 weeks with the aim of increasing physical activity to the level advised by government guidelines. Assessment visits will be performed at baseline, 12, 24 and 52 weeks. The study will assess the feasibility of recruitment, retention, the acceptability, adherence and safety of the intervention, and collect data on various assessment tools to inform the design of a large definitive trial. A nested qualitative study will explore patient experience of the trial through focus groups or interviews. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: All required ethical and regulatory approvals have been obtained. Findings will be disseminated through conference presentations, patient networks and academic publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN11929227.

How does the outcome of research training fellowships funded via the NHS compare with that from competitively funded fellowships from the MRC and other charities: a cross-sectional retrospective survey of trainees undertaking research training in the West Midlands.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the impact of research training funded via the National Health Service (NHS) on medical trainees compared with traditional clinical research training fellowships (CRTFs). DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Online survey of 221 clinical trainees who had completed a period of research during their clinical training between 2009 and 2015 in the West Midlands. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Research outcomes. RESULTS: Overall response rate was 59%, of whom 72 participants were funded by CRTFs and 51 funded by the NHS. Although participants with CRTFs were more likely to be awarded a higher degree compared with those on NHS-administered funding (66/72 CRTFs and 37/51 NHS, P=0.005), similar proportions of NHS-funded and CRTF-funded participants entered clinical lecturer posts on completing initial research training (8/51 NHS and 16/72 CRTF, P=0.37). 77% of participants had three or more publications (CRTF 57 and NHS 39, P=0.72). 57 participants had completed clinical training; similar proportions of CRTF-funded and NHS-funded trainees had research included in their consultant contract (12/22 NHS and 14/26 CRTF, P=0.96) or were appointed to academic posts (3 of 25 NHS funded and 6 of 32 CRTF, P>0.05). 95% of participants would recommend to colleagues and 82% of participants felt the research experience improved their provision of clinical care with no difference between CRTF-funded and NHS-funded participants (P=0.49). Continuing to participate in clinical work during the research reduced reports of trainee difficulty on returning to clinical work (23/108 continued clinical work vs 12/22 no clinical work, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Research training funded by the NHS provides a quality experience and contributes to the clinical academic capacity within the UK. More needs to be done to support NHS participants to successfully achieve a higher degree.

Negative anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody at switch to maintenance therapy is associated with a reduced risk of relapse.

BACKGROUND: Relapse of disease is frequent in anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). It is unclear whether persistent ANCA when starting maintenance therapy increases the risk of relapse. We examined the association between ANCA status and relapse in two randomised controlled trials. METHODS: ANCA-positive patients in two trials, CYCLOPS and IMPROVE, were switched from cyclophosphamide to maintenance therapy after achieving clinical remission. We classified patients as being either ANCA-positive or ANCA-negative at the time they started maintenance therapy. We compared the risk of relapse in ANCA-positive and ANCA-negative patients. RESULTS: Of 252 patients included, 102 (40%) experienced at least one relapse during the follow-up period. At the time of the switch from induction to maintenance therapy, 111 were ANCA-positive, of whom 55 (50%) relapsed, compared to 141 patients who were ANCA-negative, of whom 47 (33%) relapsed. In multivariable time-to-event analysis, a reduced risk of relapse was associated with having become ANCA-negative at the time of switching to maintenance therapy (hazard ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.42-0.95; p = 0.026). In addition, initial proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA, younger age, lower serum creatinine, pulsed cyclophosphamide for remission induction, and mycophenolate mofetil for remission maintenance were all associated with an increased risk of relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Becoming ANCA-negative before the switch to maintenance is associated with a reduced risk of relapse. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CYCLOPS: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00430105 . Registered retrospectively on 31 January 2007. IMPROVE: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00307645 . Registered retrospectively on 27 March 2006.

Valaciclovir to prevent Cytomegalovirus mediated adverse modulation of the immune system in ANCA-associated vasculitis (CANVAS): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) are systemic autoimmune inflammatory disorders characterised by necrotising inflammation affecting small to medium-sized blood vessels. Despite improvements in survival, infection and cardiovascular disease remain leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Considerable evidence suggests that CD4 + CD28null T-cell expansions, predominantly seen in Cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositive individuals, are associated with systemic dysregulation of immune function leading to a heightened risk of infection and cardiovascular disease. In patients with AAV, CD4 + CD28null expansions are driven by CMV and are associated with an increased risk of infection and mortality. The aim of this study is to explore in detail the ways in which CMV modulates the immune system and to determine whether treatment with valaciclovir blocks subclinical CMV reactivation in CMV seropositive AAV patients and ameliorates the CMV-induced adverse effects on the immune system. METHODS/DESIGN: CANVAS is a single-centre prospective open-label randomised controlled proof-of-concept trial of 50 adult CMV seropositive patients with stable AAV. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive valaciclovir orally (2 g QDS or reduced according to renal function) or no additional treatment for 6 months with an additional 6-month follow-up period. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients with CMV reactivation, as assessed by measurable viral load on quantitative blood and urine CMV polymerase chain reaction. The secondary outcomes are safety, change in the proportion of CD4+ CMV-specific T-cell population (defined as CD4 + CD28null cells) and change in soluble markers of inflammation from baseline to 6 months. Further tertiary and exploratory outcomes include persistence of the effect of valaciclovir on the proportion of CD4 + CD28null cells at 6 months post completion of treatment, change in the immune phenotype of CD4+ T cells and change in blood pressure and arterial stiffness parameters from baseline to 6 months. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will enable larger studies to be conducted to determine whether by controlling subclinical CMV reactivation, we can improve clinical endpoints such as infection and cardiovascular disease. The potential impact of this study is not limited to AAV, as CD4 + CD28null cells have been linked to adverse outcomes in other inflammatory conditions and in the context of an ageing immune system. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01633476 (registered 29 June 2012).

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm-associated glomerulonephritis.

Wegener's granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis, and renal limited vasculitis are associated with circulating anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies and are an important cause of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. This review gives an account of recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis underlying these conditions and how these may lead to future treatments. Consideration is given to recent clinical trials in the management of anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitides.