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The endothelial-specific Angiopoietin-Tie2 ligand-receptor system is an important regulator of endothelial activation. Binding of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) to Tie2 receptor renders the endothelial barrier responsive to pro-inflammatory cytokines. We previously showed that circulating Ang-2 correlated with disease severity in a small cohort of critically ill patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis. The current study reassessed Ang-2 as a biomarker of disease activity and relapse in AAV. Circulating Ang-2 was measured in 162 patients with severe AAV (BVAS/WG≥3, with or without glomerulonephritis) in a clinical trial. Ang-2 levels during active AAV were compared to levels in the same patients during remission (BVAS/WG = 0). Levels in clinical subsets of AAV were compared, and association with future disease course was assessed. Ang-2 levels were elevated in severe disease (median 3.0 ng/ml, interquartile range 1.9-4.4) compared to healthy controls (1.2, 0.9-1.5). However, they did not reliably decline with successful treatment (median 2.6 ng/ml, interquartile range 1.9-3.8, median change -0.1). Ang-2 correlated weakly with BVAS/WG score (r = 0.17), moderately with markers of systemic inflammation (r = 0.25-0.41), and inversely with renal function (r = -0.36). Levels were higher in patients with glomerulonephritis, but levels adjusted for renal dysfunction were no different in patients with or without glomerulonephritis. Levels were higher in patients with newly diagnosed AAV and lower in patients in whom treatment had recently been started. Ang-2 levels during active disease did not predict response to treatment, and Ang-2 levels in remission did not predict time to flare. Thus, Ang-2 appears to have limited practical value in AAV as a biomarker of disease activity at time of measurement or for predicting future activity.

The vasculitides are a heterogeneous group of conditions typified by their ability to cause vessel inflammation with or without necrosis. They present with a wide variety of signs and symptoms and, if left untreated, carry a significant burden of mortality and morbidity. The antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are three separate conditions – granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA; formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA; previously known as Churg-Strauss syndrome). This review examines recent developments in the pathogenesis and treatment of AAV, focusing on developments in treatment following the introduction of rituximab, in particular.

Background Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) are subgroups of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) defined historically by clinical and histological features. GPA and MPA are heterogeneous entities with overlapping phenotypes. To identify novel subgroupings, cluster analysis was used to explore the phenotypic spectrum of AAV. Methods This study used a dataset of patients newly diagnosed as having GPA and MPA enrolled in five clinical trials. One cluster model included nine clinical baseline variables as input variables, and a second cluster model additionally included ANCA specificities. The clustering process involved multiple correspondence analyses followed by hierarchical ascendant cluster analysis. The clinical relevance of the generated clusters was analysed by their summary characteristics and outcomes. Results The analyses involved data for 673 subjects: 396 (59%) with GPA and 277 (41%) with MPA. Both cluster models resulted in five partially redundant clusters of subjects, and the model including ANCA resulted in more pertinent separations. These clusters were named ‘renal AAV with proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA’ (40% of subjects), ‘renal AAV without PR3-ANCA’ (32%) and ‘non-renal AAV’ (12%), ‘cardiovascular AAV’ (9%) and ‘gastrointestinal AAV’ (7%). The five clusters had distinct death and relapse rates. On the basis of 4 variables, 651 subjects (97%) could be accurately allocated to 1 of the 5 classes. Conclusions This analysis suggests that AAV encompasses five classes associated with different outcomes. As compared with the traditional GPA–MPA separation, this classification system may better reflect the phenotypic spectrum of AAV.

Objective Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). On the other hand, AAV patients may develop complications or other conditions that mimic CNS involvement. We aimed to present the clinical, laboratory and imaging features of our AAV patients with CNS involvement and conditions other than CNS involvement that caused neurologic symptoms . Method We surveyed the charts of 430 AAV patients in order to identify patients who were evaluated for neurologic symptoms suggesting CNS involvement. We extracted data on their demographics, AAV features, neurologic symptoms, final diagnoses after neurologic work-up, and their outcomes. Results Of 430 AAV patients, 61 patients (14%) (41 GPA, 11 MPA, 9 EGPA; 27 women, 34 men; mean age: 51.6 ± 15.4 years) with neurologic symptoms were identified. At the time of the occurrence of neurologic symptoms, all patients had active disease [median (IQR) BVAS=11.9 (7–15)]. The causes of neurologic symptoms were CNS involvement of AAV in 7 patients (meningeal involvement in 3, ischemic cerebrovascular accident in 2, intracranial hypertension in 1, and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in 1), other AAV manifestations such as ocular, orbital and nasopharyngeal involvement in 30, and drug-related adverse events or comorbidities mimicking CNS involvement such as infections, atherosclerotic or thromboembolic events in 15 patients. Neurologic work-up did not lead to an underlying condition in 9. Conclusion CNS involvement was uncommon, observed in only 1.6% of patients. AAV manifestations other than CNS involvement, as well as complications like infections and cardiovascular disease may mimic CNS involvement in patients with AAV.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) has a relapsing-remitting course and, even with the availability of effective maintenance therapies such as rituximab, relapse rates remain high. Relapse is associated with the accrual of organ damage stemming from both the underlying disease and from the effects of AAV treatments; thus, early detection and proactive prevention are crucial. AAV study populations typically include mixed cohorts of patients with new-onset and relapsing disease. Although data specifically addressing re-induction of remission after relapse are limited, available evidence suggests high remission rates when rituximab is combined with glucocorticoids. However, the balance between effective disease control and the potential treatment-related side effects must be carefully considered, and new therapeutic options may help improve this tradeoff. The aim of this review is to explore what is known about relapse risk and relapse management while considering emerging pathogenic and therapeutic paradigms.

Calprotectin is produced by neutrophils and macrophages, and released during the acute phase of the ANCA vasculitis. The aim of our study was to determine if serum and urine calprotectin are disease activity and prognosis biomarkers in ANCA vasculitis patients during remission. Forty-two ANCA vasculitis patients were included. Twenty-seven patients were in remission phase under immunosuppressive therapy, and 15 patients were in the acute phase. Four healthy controls were included. We determined calprotectin in serum and urine samples at the time of the inclusion. We recorded the incidence of relapse and the evolution of GFR, proteinuria, hematuria, and C reactive protein and ANCA titer during 24 months of follow-up. In remission phase, serum calprotectin was higher than in healthy controls but lower compared to acute patients (p = 0.05). Serum calprotectin at inclusion was higher in patients who increased proteinuria during follow-up (p = 0.04), with hematuria (p = 0.08), and with non-decreasing ANCA titer (p = 0.0019). Serum calprotectin at inclusion in stable patients who subsequently decreased GFR during follow-up was higher compared with those with a stable or improving GFR (p = 0.03). Urine calprotectin was lower in patients with sclerotic histology in remission (p = 0.03) and acute phase (p = 0.12) compared to the rest of histologies. Worsening of renal function, hematuria, rising proteinuria and non-decreasing ANCA correlated with higher levels of serum calprotectin at recruitment. Low urine calprotectin was found in patients with sclerotic histology. Calprotectin during remission in ANCA vasculitis may be useful to identify subclinical inflammation and worse renal prognosis patients.

Background Prognostication in glomerulonephritis with severe kidney function impairment is critical for evaluating the benefit-to-risk ratio of immunosuppression. We hypothesized that the urine biomarker epidermal growth factor (EGF) could have good discrimination power to identify subjects who might ultimately recover kidney function. Methods We included 82 subjects with glomerulonephritis and severe kidney function impairment at admission (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≤ 30 mL/min/1.73m 2 ): 58 with lupus nephritis (LN) and 24 with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Thirty-five subjects required kidney replacement therapy (KRT) at presentation. Urine epidermal growth factor was measured and corrected by urine creatinine (uEGF/Cr) and the population was analyzed by uEGF/Cr tertiles. The primary outcome was time to recovery of eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73m 2 and time to recovery of kidney function with dialysis independence in those with initial KRT. Results Forty-four (54%) participants met the primary outcome of recovery of eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73m 2 . The 6-month recovery rates were 93%, 57%, and 0% for participants in the highest, middle, and lowest uEGF/Cr tertile, respectively. Recovery of the kidney function was faster and led to a higher post-therapy eGFR in the highest uEGF/Cr tertile. In the ROC analysis, uEGF/Cr was a predictor of recovery with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.92 (95% CI 0.87–0.98), and a cutoff of 2.60 ng/mg had 100% sensitivity to detect patients who recovered kidney function. In the subgroup of participants with initial KRT, the cut-off of uEGF/Cr of 2.0 ng/mg had 100% sensitivity to detect participants who recovered kidney function with dialysis independence by 6 months. Conclusions Urine EGF/Cr is a promising biomarker to aid in the prediction of recovery of kidney function in glomerulonephritis with severe kidney function impairment. Graphical abstract

ANCA-associated-vasculitis (AAV) comprises three different diseases entities: Churg–Strauss syndrome, microscopic polyangiitis, and Wegener’s granulomatosis. AAV is an autoimmune disease with complex pathophysiology. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) with specificity for proteinase-3 (PR3) or myeloperoxidase (MPO) are hallmarks of AAV and have a pivotal role in disease development. In addition to ANCA, the cellular immune system contributes to the pathogenesis of the disease. ANCA-mediated degranulation of neutrophils causes vasculitic damage; T cells drive granuloma formation, promote vasculitic damage by several different pathways, and enhance autoantibody production by B cells. Recently, complementary PR3 and lysosomal membrane protein-2 were suggested as novel autoantigens in AAV. New findings also indicate the importance of complement, danger-associated molecular patterns, and dendritic cells in AAV. This review highlights novel pathophysiological findings in AAV and puts them into context with the current understanding of disease mechanisms. Furthermore, implications for present and new therapeutic strategies are discussed.

Vasculitides associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are heterogeneous, systemic, low prevalence and high morbidity and mortality entities. They include granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. In Latin America, there are few descriptive registries of these patients. The objective of the study was to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics and in-hospital morbidity and mortality of patients with vasculitis associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in a university hospital in Colombia. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. We performed computer searches with terms related to patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, between 2005 and 2017 who met the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for vasculitis associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, and their clinical and laboratory characteristics. One hundred and six patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis were included in the study. The average age was 55 years, and 57.5% were women. In 68.8% of the cases, the diagnosis was made during hospitalization, with an average hospital stay of 16.6 days (± 12.22). The distribution by type of vasculitis was: granulomatosis with polyangiitis 52%, microscopic polyangiitis 45.2% and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis 1.8%. Alveolar hemorrhage occurred in 35% of patients; 20.7% had variable renal involvement, of which 53.8% progressed to advanced kidney disease. Treatment included glucocorticoids 91.5%, cyclophosphamide 62.2%, plasmapheresis 14.1%, and 41.5% required renal replacement therapy. In-hospital mortality was 16.5%, Sepsis was the most common cause of death. We present clinical information on a group of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis; renal involvement was the the most common type of affectation. Both the clinical and serological characteristics of our registry were similar to those described in other Latin American and European cohorts, and a lower in-hospital mortality rate was evidenced.