Relapses in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis: likely to begin with the same organ as initial onset.
OBJECTIVE
In antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), relapses constitute a challenge despite initial good control. Our objective was to investigate whether patients with relapses shared the same initial organ involvement.


METHODS
One hundred sixty patients with AAV in our center were investigated. Of these 160, 38 experienced relapse during followup. Clinical and laboratory data were analyzed.


RESULTS
Among the 38 patients, there was a total of 55 relapse events, 39 (70.9%) of which had the same initial organ as in the initial onset.


CONCLUSIONS
Relapses in AAV were likely to begin with the same organ as in the initial onset; this facilitates early recognition of relapses.
Chen
Min
M
Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
Yu
Feng
F
Zhao
Ming-Hui
MH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents