78 research outputs found

    Determining outcomes and prognostic factors in ANCA associated vasculitis as a platform for the evaluation of newer treatments

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    Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV) is a multisystem disease with substantial morbidity and mortality despite modem treatment. Longer-term patient outcomes are inadequately defined and new safe therapies arc needed. The aims o[this thesis were to investigate long-term outcomes of patients with AAV, compare two different damage assessment scores and the study of a novel immune-suppressant, deoxyspcrgualin (DSG), in the treatment of relapsing and refractory disease. Survival was studied in 535 newly diagnosed patients recruited to four randomised controlled trials. After a median of 5.2 years 25% deaths occurred with a mortality rate ratio of 2.6 (95% Confidence Interval (Cl) 2.2-3.1 ) compared to an age and sex matched general population. Multivariable analysis showed severely impaired kidney function, advancing age, higher disease activity and white cell count and lower haemoglobin were significant negative prognostic factors. In the same cohort, 38% experienced a relapse. Higher risk for relapse was independently associated with anti-proteinase 3 (anti-PR3) antibodies and cardiovascular involvement whereas impaired kidney function conferred a lower risk. A comparison between the Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI) and the Combined Damage Assessment Index (CDA) showed good correlation between both indices. The CDA was more complex but captured more detail. An international expert panel developed recommendations for the conduct of clinical studies and therapeutic trials in AA V. The following areas were covered: disease definitions, disease activity states, outcome measures, eligibi lity criteria, trial design including relevant end-points and biomarkers. Areas for further research were identified. A prospective open label study in 44 patients with refractory or relapsing granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) treated for six months with DSG showed that 95% achieved either partial Of complete remission. Adverse events were common but rarely led to treatment discontinuation. Prolonged administration of DSG in eleven patients was effective III the majority without the occurrence of unexpected toxicity.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

    Common variants at 6p21.1 are associated with large artery atherosclerotic stroke

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    Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have not consistently detected replicable genetic risk factors for ischemic stroke, potentially due to etiological heterogeneity of this trait. We performed GWAS of ischemic stroke and a major ischemic stroke subtype (large artery atherosclerosis, LAA) using 1,162 ischemic stroke cases (including 421 LAA cases) and 1,244 population controls from Australia. Evidence for a genetic influence on ischemic stroke risk was detected, but this influence was higher and more significant for the LAA subtype. We identified a new LAA susceptibility locus on chromosome 6p21.1 (rs556621: odds ratio (OR) = 1.62, P = 3.9 × 10 -8) and replicated this association in 1,715 LAA cases and 52,695 population controls from 10 independent population cohorts (meta-analysis replication OR = 1.15, P = 3.9 × 10 -4; discovery and replication combined OR = 1.21, P = 4.7 × 10 -8). This study identifies a genetic risk locus for LAA and shows how analyzing etiological subtypes may better identify genetic risk alleles for ischemic stroke

    The long-term outcomes of systemic vasculitis.

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    Patients with generalized ANCA-associated small vessel vasculitis (AAV) have a very poor outcome if the ANCA-associated vasculitis is not diagnosed, evaluated and treated properly. The introduction of treatment with immunosuppressive therapy has improved patient survival dramatically but with considerable side effects. Besides, almost 50% of surviving patients experience a relapse of vasculitis. Since 1995, the European Vasculitis Society (EUVAS) has designed and conducted several clinical trials on patients with AAV independently of pharmaceutical companies. The studies included patients with newly diagnosed AAV and were stratified according to renal function and generalized versus more localized forms. As the immediate patient survival has improved, the longer term outcome has become more important. There are several reports on outcome of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis, but the patient groups were heterogeneous regarding diagnosis as well as treatment and follow-up. Therefore, EUVAS decided to further evaluate the effect and possible adverse events of the original randomized trials. This review presents an overview on long-term follow-up of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis, with focus on relapse rate, patient and renal survival and development of cardiovascular disease and malignancy

    POS0246 SEQUENTIAL RITUXIMAB AND MEPOLIZUMAB IN EOSINOPHILIC GRANULOMATOSIS WITH POLYANGIITIS

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    BackgroundRituximab (RTX) is an effective remission-induction treatment in ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAVs). Some reports have suggested that it might be effective also in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA), to induce and maintain remission of vasculitic manifestations [1,2]. However, its effects for preventing respiratory relapses seem to be poor. Mepolizumab (Mepo) (both 100 and 300mg/month) is effective in improving respiratory manifestations and lung function, while partially controlling also systemic activity [3,4]. Isolated case reports further indicate that the sequential therapy with RTX and Mepo might be effective [5-7].ObjectivesThe study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a therapeutic regimen based on sequential RTX and Mepo for the control of EGPA.MethodsA multicenter, retrospective, cohort study was conducted on adult patients diagnosed with EGPA according to the ACR classification criteria [8] or MIRRA trial criteria [3]. Only patients who received induction therapy with RTX (any dosage), and subsequent treatment with Mepo (100-300 mg/4 weeks) within 12 months from last RTX administration were included. Patients receiving other induction therapies between RTX and Mepo were excluded. The effectiveness of sequential RTX and Mepo was assessed in terms of disease activity (by the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score, BVAS) and daily corticosteroid dosage. Safety data were also collected.ResultsThirty-four EGPA patients treated with sequential RTX and Mepo were included (59% females, median age of 51 years (IQR 40-58); 41% ANCA positive).In most cases (26/34; 76%), RTX was started at the dosage of 1g q2w, and all except two patients had active disease at time of RTX beginning [median BVAS of 9 (IQR 6-14)]. Specifically, most patients started RTX for the control of systemic manifestations (19/34; 56%), or of both systemic and respiratory symptoms (11/34; 32%). All except one patient were receiving oral corticosteroids, at a median dosage of 25 mg/day (10-38).Mepo was started after a median of 14 months (6-23) from RTX initiation and after a median of 5 months (IQR 3-11) from the last RTX administration. Mepo was used at the dosage of 100mg/4 weeks in 32/34 (94%), mostly for the control of respiratory manifestations (25/34, 74%). At the time of starting Mepo, the median BVAS was 4 (2-8), and median prednisolone dose 10 mg/day (7-15). After a median follow-up of 28 months (IQR 23-33) from starting Mepo, the median BVAS decreased to 1.5 (IQR 0-4) and the median corticosteroid dosage to 5 mg/day (2.5-5), with 7/34 (21%) patients being off steroids. At last follow-up, most patients were off-RTX (28/34), typically due to stable disease remission (20/34; 59%).Both RTX and Mepo were well-tolerated; 5 patients had adverse events on RTX (none serious), and 5 on Mepo (including one serious infection).ConclusionSequential use of RTX and Mepo seems to be effective for remission induction and maintenance in EGPA.References[1]Emmi, Ann Rheum Dis, 2018[2]Teixeira, RMD Open, 2019 3. Wechsler, NEJM, 2017[4]Bettiol, Arthritis Rheumatol, 2021[5]Shiroshita, Respir Med Case Rep, 2018[6]Higashitani, Mod Rheumatol Case Rep, 2021[7]Afiari, Cureus 2020[8]Masi, Arthritis Rheum, 1990Table 1.Effectiveness of sequential RTX and Mepo in the 34 patients included in the studyRTX beginningMepo beginningLast follow-upMedian time elapsed (IQR)-14 months (6-23) from RTX beginning28 months (23-33) from Mepo beginningDosage1g q2w (26/34);100mg/4 weeks (32/34)6 patients off Mepo; 28 patients off RTX375mg/m2 for 4 weeks (8/34)300mg/4 weeks (2/34)Reason for treatment beginning (manifestations)Systemic (19/34);Respiratory (25/34);-Systemic + respiratory (11/34);Systemic (4/34);Only respiratory (3/34);Remission maintenance (5/34)Other (1/34)BVAS (median, IQR)9 (6-14)4 (2-8)1.5 (0-4)Prednisolone dosage (median, IQR), mg/day25 (10-38)10 (7-15)5 (2.5-5)Disclosure of InterestsAlessandra Bettiol: None declared, Maria Letizia Urban: None declared, Federica Bello: None declared, Davide Fiori: None declared, Irene Mattioli: None declared, Giuseppe Lopalco: None declared, Florenzo Iannone: None declared, Allyson Egan: None declared, Luca Moroni: None declared, Lorenzo Dagna Consultant of: Consultation honoraria from GSK outside the current work, Marco Caminati: None declared, Simone Negrini: None declared, Paolo Cameli: None declared, Marco Folci: None declared, Paola Toniati: None declared, Roberto Padoan: None declared, Oliver Flossmann: None declared, Roser Solans-Laqué: None declared, Laura Losappio: None declared, Jan Schroeder Consultant of: Advisory Board fees from AstraZeneca and GSK, Marc André: None declared, Laura Moi: None declared, paola parronchi Consultant of: Consultation honoraria from GSK and Novartis, Fabrizio Conti: None declared, Savino Sciascia: None declared, David Jayne Consultant of: Consultant for Astra-Zeneca, Aurinia, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Chemocentryx, Chugai, CSL, GSK, Infla-RX, Janssen, Novartis, Roche/Genentech, Takeda and Vifor, Augusto Vaglio Consultant of: Consultation honoraria from GSK outside the current work, Giacomo Emmi Consultant of: Consultation honoraria from GSK outside the current work</jats:sec

    Effect of Disease Activity at Three and Six Months After Diagnosis on Long-Term Outcomes in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

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    OBJECTIVE: The treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) aims to suppress disease activity and prevent subsequent disease flare. This study sought to explore the association of early disease control with long-term outcomes to validate early disease control as an end point for future clinical trials in AAV. METHODS: Data from 4 European Vasculitis Society inception clinical trials in AAV (1995-2002) and subsequent data on long-term outcomes from the trial data registry were studied. Clinical parameters in patients with AAV at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after diagnosis were assessed to study the long-term risk of death and end-stage renal failure (ESRF). At 6 months, outcomes were defined based on a disease status of either sustained remission (remission by 3 months, sustained to 6 months), late remission (remission after 3 months and by 6 months), relapsing disease (remission by 3 months but relapse by 6 months), or refractory disease (no remission by 6 months). RESULTS: Of the 354 patients with AAV who were followed up for a median of 5.7 years, 46 (13%) developed ESRF, 66 (18.6%) died, and 89 (25.1%) had either died or developed ESRF. At 6 months, predictors of the composite end point of death or ESRF were as follows: age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1-1.05; P = 0.012), estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.92-0.95; P < 0.001), and disease status at 6 months (late remission, HR 2.94, 95% CI 1.1-7.85 [P = 0.031]; relapsing disease, HR 8.21, 95% CI 2.73-24.65 [P < 0.001]; refractory disease, HR 4.89, 95% CI 1.96-12.18 [P = 0.001]). Similar results were observed when these analyses were performed separately for death and for ESRF. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that disease status at 3 and 6 months following the diagnosis of AAV may be predictive of the long-term risk of mortality and ESRF, and therefore these may be valid end points for induction trials in AAV. The current findings need to be validated in a larger data set
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