title: Benefits of an expanded use of plasma exchange for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis within a dedicated clinical service.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current recommendations for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) support its management within a dedicated clinical service. Therapies for AAV are imperfect with many patients failing to achieve disease control and others experiencing disease relapse. Plasma exchange (PEX) may be beneficial especially when the kidney is involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within a new, dedicated service we retrospectively assessed, over a 6-year period, the benefits of PEX in two patient cohorts, discriminated by PEX treatment alone. Patients received PEX alongside standard of care if they fulfilled any of the following criteria: 1. serum creatinine >500 μmol/l or dialysis-requiring renal failure, 2. alveolar haemorrhage, 3. renal biopsy showing ≥30 % focal and necrotising lesions ± cellular crescents. Outcome measures included disease remission and relapse, cumulative immunosuppression, and morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 104 new patients, 58 patients received PEX at presentation, 46 did not. Cyclophosphamide and/or rituximab dosing was similar for both groups. Although patients receiving PEX had poorer renal function, a higher C-reactive protein and disease activity score at presentation disease remission rate was similar in both groups (no PEX vs. PEX: 96 % vs. 98 %). The PEX group entered remission quicker (no PEX vs. PEX: 3.9 ± 4.0 vs. 2.8 ± 1.3 months, p < 0.05), with a lower 3-month cumulative glucocorticoid dose (no PEX vs. PEX: 2.5 ± 0.4 vs. 2.3 ± 0.2 g, p < 0.001). Relapse was similar between groups but adverse events lower in the PEX group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PEX may be of benefit in AAV. Larger, longer randomised controlled trials are now needed.
authors.affiliation: BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, EH16 4TJ, Edinburgh, UK. bean.dhaun@ed.ac.uk.|Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. bean.dhaun@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dhaun
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. andrew.saunders18@btinternet.com.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. c.bellamy@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christopher O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Bellamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. rociomartinezgallardo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rocío Martinez
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gallardo
authors.affiliation: Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Edinburgh, UK. lynnmanson@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manson
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. david.kluth@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kluth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D056648:Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies