Table 1.
Baseline clinical characteristics and initial treatment of patients with ANCA-positive AAV
| Characteristic | Total | Younger group | Elderly group | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of patients | 70 | 34 | 36 | |
| Age (yr) | 62.8 ± 13.3 | 52.9 ± 12.0 | 72.2 ± 5.4 | <0.001 |
| Male sex | 45 (64.3) | 23 (67.6) | 22 (61.1) | 0.57 |
| Comorbidities | ||||
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 (28.6) | 12 (35.3) | 8 (22.2) | 0.23 |
| Hypertension | 24 (34.3) | 11 (32.4) | 13 (36.1) | 0.74 |
| ANCA subtype | 0.16 | |||
| MPO/P-ANCA | 52 (74.3) | 23 (67.6) | 29 (80.6) | |
| PR3/C-ANCA | 15 (21.4) | 8 (23.5) | 7 (19.4) | |
| Double-positive | 3 (4.3) | 3 (8.8) | 0 (0) | |
| Organ involvement | ||||
| Kidney | 49 (70.0) | 23 (63.6) | 26 (72.2) | 0.68 |
| Lung | 49 (70.0) | 22 (64.7) | 27 (75.0) | 0.35 |
| Skin | 14 (20.0) | 8 (23.5) | 6 (16.7) | 0.47 |
| ENT | 21 (30.0) | 12 (35.3) | 9 (25.0) | 0.35 |
| Nerve | 22 (31.4) | 11 (32.4) | 11 (30.6) | 0.87 |
| Gastrointestinal | 2 (2.9) | 1 (2.9) | 1 (2.8) | 0.97 |
| Laboratory findings | ||||
| WBC (×103/mm3) | 11,759 ± 6,466 | 11,803 ± 7,147 | 11,718 ± 5,853 | 0.96 |
| Platelet (×103/mm3) | 287 ± 120 | 293 ± 120 | 282 ± 122 | 0.73 |
| Hemoglobin (g/dL) | 10.0 ± 2.1 | 10.6 ± 2.5 | 9.4 ± 1.6 | 0.02 |
| Albumin (g/dL) | 3.1 ± 0.7 | 3.3 ± 0.7 | 2.9 ± 0.6 | 0.02 |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 149.5 ± 51.5 | 161.3 ± 46.1 | 138.4 ± 54.5 | 0.08 |
| CRP (mg/L) | 3.3 (0.8–7.2) | 1.3 (0.4–5.4) | 4.8 (1.8–11.4) | 0.004 |
| BUN (mg/dL) | 31.3 (16.9–56.3) | 24.8 (13.1–50.0) | 38.9 (19.5–62.7) | 0.25 |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 2.0 (0.9–5.2) | 1.5 (0.8–5.1) | 2.5 (0.9–5.2) | 0.64 |
| eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 29.6 (10.6–88.0) | 47.5 (12.3–107.7) | 24.6 (10.1–73.2) | 0.39 |
| Severe proteinuriaa | 18 (25.7) | 10 (29.4) | 8 (22.2) | 0.49 |
| Severe hematuriaa | 25 (35.7) | 10 (29.4) | 15 (41.7) | 0.29 |
| UPCR (g/g)b | 1.6 (0.8–3.8) | 1.4 (0.8–3.6) | 1.7 (0.9–4.0) | 0.85 |
| Induction treatment | 0.11 | |||
| Intravenous CYC + steroids | 19 (27.1) | 12 (35.3) | 7 (19.4) | |
| Oral CYC + steroids | 15 (21.4) | 4 (11.8) | 11 (30.6) | |
| Steroids only | 23 (32.9) | 14 (41.2) | 9 (25.0) | |
| Othersc | 3 (4.3) | 1 (2.9) | 2 (5.6) | |
| Untreated | 10 (14.3) | 3 (8.8) | 7 (19.4) | |
| Plasmapheresis | 5 (7.1) | 3 (8.8) | 2 (5.6) | 0.60 |
| Pulse steroids | 35 (50.0) | 18 (52.9) | 17 (47.2) | 0.63 |
| Initial dialysis dependency | 22 (31.4) | 9 (26.5) | 13 (36.1) | 0.39 |
Data are expressed as number only, mean ± standard deviation, number (%), or median (interquartile range). Younger group, aged <65 years; elderly group, aged ≥65 years.
AAV, ANCA-associated vasculitis; ANCA, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; CRP, C-reactive protein; CYC, cyclophosphamide; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; ENT; ear, nose, and throat; MPO, myeloperoxidase; PR3, proteinase 3; UPCR, urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio; WBC, white blood cells.
Severe proteinuria and hematuria were defined as dipstick urine protein ≥3+ and urine red blood cells ≥100/high-power field, respectively.
Measured only in 56 patients.
Rituximab or mycophenolate mofetil + steroids.