Stable incidence of primary systemic vasculitides over five years: results from the German vasculitis register.
OBJECTIVE
To register all newly diagnosed patients with primary systemic vasculitides (PSV) in a large region in northern Germany.


METHODS
Between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2002 all newly diagnosed cases of PSV were identified in a large mixed rural/urban northern German region consisting of 2,777,275 habitants in a population-based prospective study. The following sources were used: departments of all hospitals, including their outpatient clinics; all departments of pathology; and the reference immunologic labs serving the catchment area.


RESULTS
During 5 years, 642 PSV patients were identified. The incidence rates for all PSV were between 40 and 54 cases per 1 million and per year. People at age 50 years and older had a 3-5-fold higher risk of developing PSV compared with those younger than 50 years. The incidence rates of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated PSV (Wegener's granulomatosis [WG], microscopic polyangiitis [MPA], Churg-Strauss syndrome [CSS]) were between 9.5 and 16/million/year. WG occured 2-3 times more frequently than MPA or CSS.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of a population-based vasculitis register over 5 years for the incidence of PSV among 2.78 million habitants in northern Germany revealed a stable incidence for all PSV. Compared with other European studies coming from small regions or referral centers, the incidence rates for ANCA-associated PSV were the same as in Norway, lower than those in United Kingdom, but higher than those in Spain.
Reinhold-Keller
Eva
E
University of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Rheumaklinik Bad Bramstedt, Bad Bramstedt, Germany. EvaReinholdHH@aol.com
Herlyn
Karen
K
Wagner-Bastmeyer
Rosemarie
R
Gross
Wolfgang L
WL
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D017678:Sex Distribution