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ANCA-negativity prior to maintenance therapy linked with reduced risk for relapse
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody-negativity prior to maintenance therapy was linked with a reduced risk for relapse in patients with vasculitis, according to a recently published analysis from England.
Researchers assessed anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-positive patients from the CYCLOPS and IMPROVE trials, who were switched from cyclophosphamide to maintenance therapy after achieving clinical remission.
Investigators included 252 patients, of whom 40% had at least one relapse during the study. At the time of switching from induction therapy to maintenance therapy, 50% of ANCA-positive patients had a relapse vs. 33% of ANCA-negative patients. ANCA-negativity at the time of switching was thus linked with a reduced risk for relapse (ratio = 0.63). Furthermore, investigators found initial proteinase 3-ANCA, younger age, lower serum creatinine levels, pulsed cyclophosphamide for remission induction and mycophenolate mofetil for remission maintenance correlated with an increased risk for relapse.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.