ANCA comes of age-but with caveats

Kidney Int. 2011 Apr;79(7):699-701. doi: 10.1038/ki.2010.558.

Abstract

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis are predominantly diseases of older patients, frequently involving the kidney. Bomback and colleagues studied disease outcome in very elderly patients (>80 years old) with ANCA-associated renal disease. Immunosuppression resulted in lower rates of end-stage renal disease at 1 year and lower mortality at 2 years. Although these data suggest we should treat these elderly patients with immunosuppression, the criteria for patient selection and the dosage and duration of the treatment regimen need to be established.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging*
  • Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis / blood
  • Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis / drug therapy*
  • Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis / immunology
  • Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis / mortality
  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / analysis*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biopsy
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Disease Progression
  • Glomerulonephritis / blood
  • Glomerulonephritis / drug therapy*
  • Glomerulonephritis / immunology
  • Glomerulonephritis / mortality
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / immunology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / mortality
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / prevention & control*
  • Patient Selection
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
  • Biomarkers
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Creatinine