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Randomised controlled trial of prolonged treatment in the remission phase of ANCA-associated vasculitis

Karras, Alexandre ; Pagnoux, Christian ; Haubitz, Marion ; De Groot, Kirsten ; Puechal, Xavier ; Tervaert, Jan Willem Cohen ; Segelmark, Marten LU ; Guillevin, Loic and Jayne, David (2017) In Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 76(10). p.1662-1668
Abstract

Objectives A prospective randomised trial to compare two different durations of maintenance immunosuppressive therapy for the prevention of relapse in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods P atients with AAV were recruited 18-24 months after diagnosis if they were in stable remission after cyclophosphamide/prednisolone-based induction followed by azathioprine/prednisolone maintenance therapy. They were randomised (1:1) to receive continued azathioprine/prednisolone to 48 months from diagnosis (continuation group) or to withdraw azathioprine/prednisolone by 24 months (withdrawal group). The primary endpoint was the relapse risk, from randomisation to 48 months from diagnosis. Results O ne... (More)

Objectives A prospective randomised trial to compare two different durations of maintenance immunosuppressive therapy for the prevention of relapse in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods P atients with AAV were recruited 18-24 months after diagnosis if they were in stable remission after cyclophosphamide/prednisolone-based induction followed by azathioprine/prednisolone maintenance therapy. They were randomised (1:1) to receive continued azathioprine/prednisolone to 48 months from diagnosis (continuation group) or to withdraw azathioprine/prednisolone by 24 months (withdrawal group). The primary endpoint was the relapse risk, from randomisation to 48 months from diagnosis. Results O ne hundred and seventeen patients were randomised and 110 remained to the trial end. At entry, median serum creatinine was 116 μmol/L (range 58-372), 53% were ANCA positive. The percentage of patients presenting with relapse was higher in the withdrawal than in the continuation treatment group (63% vs 22%, p<0.0001, OR 5.96, 95% CI 2.58 to 13.77). ANCA positivity at randomisation was associated with relapse risk (51% vs 29%, p=0.017, OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.16 to 5.68). Renal function, ANCA specificity, vasculitis type and age were not predictive of relapse. Severe adverse events were more frequent in the continuation than withdrawal groups (nine vs three events), but the continuation group had better renal outcome (0 vs 4 cases of end-stage renal disease), with no difference in patient survival. Conclusions P rolonged remission maintenance therapy with azathioprine/prednisolone, beyond 24 months after diagnosis reduces relapse risk out to 48 months and improves renal survival in AAV.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
volume
76
issue
10
pages
1662 - 1668
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:28546260
  • scopus:85024849963
ISSN
0003-4967
DOI
10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-211123
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
25978f74-9443-4136-abce-e6d954e961af
date added to LUP
2020-06-15 16:52:33
date last changed
2024-04-17 11:31:00
@article{25978f74-9443-4136-abce-e6d954e961af,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives A prospective randomised trial to compare two different durations of maintenance immunosuppressive therapy for the prevention of relapse in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods P atients with AAV were recruited 18-24 months after diagnosis if they were in stable remission after cyclophosphamide/prednisolone-based induction followed by azathioprine/prednisolone maintenance therapy. They were randomised (1:1) to receive continued azathioprine/prednisolone to 48 months from diagnosis (continuation group) or to withdraw azathioprine/prednisolone by 24 months (withdrawal group). The primary endpoint was the relapse risk, from randomisation to 48 months from diagnosis. Results O ne hundred and seventeen patients were randomised and 110 remained to the trial end. At entry, median serum creatinine was 116 μmol/L (range 58-372), 53% were ANCA positive. The percentage of patients presenting with relapse was higher in the withdrawal than in the continuation treatment group (63% vs 22%, p&lt;0.0001, OR 5.96, 95% CI 2.58 to 13.77). ANCA positivity at randomisation was associated with relapse risk (51% vs 29%, p=0.017, OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.16 to 5.68). Renal function, ANCA specificity, vasculitis type and age were not predictive of relapse. Severe adverse events were more frequent in the continuation than withdrawal groups (nine vs three events), but the continuation group had better renal outcome (0 vs 4 cases of end-stage renal disease), with no difference in patient survival. Conclusions P rolonged remission maintenance therapy with azathioprine/prednisolone, beyond 24 months after diagnosis reduces relapse risk out to 48 months and improves renal survival in AAV.</p>}},
  author       = {{Karras, Alexandre and Pagnoux, Christian and Haubitz, Marion and De Groot, Kirsten and Puechal, Xavier and Tervaert, Jan Willem Cohen and Segelmark, Marten and Guillevin, Loic and Jayne, David}},
  issn         = {{0003-4967}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10}},
  pages        = {{1662--1668}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases}},
  title        = {{Randomised controlled trial of prolonged treatment in the remission phase of ANCA-associated vasculitis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-211123}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-211123}},
  volume       = {{76}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}