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

ABSTRACT:

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. A

SUBMITTER: Morgan MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5461828 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature