Immunoadsorption Improves Remission Rates of Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis and Severe Kidney Involvement

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The role of plasma exchange in treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) with severe kidney involvement is controversial. It is urgent to find effective treatments to improve prognosis of AAV patients. In this retrospective study, the outcomes of immunoadsorption (IA) onto protein A in AAV patients with severe kidney involvement were evaluated. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Clinical data of 60 patients with AAV and severe kidney involvement were analyzed. Patients received cyclophosphamide or rituximab for remission induction, among which 16 were additionally treated with IA. Remission, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), death, and relapse were compared. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of 60 patients, 56 patients (93.3%) were positive for myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA. At diagnosis, the estimated glomerular filtration rate and Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) was 13.0 (7.7, 18.7) mL/min/1.73 m² and 11.1 ± 3.4, respectively. After 3–17 days (mean 10.4 days) of induction treatment, the disease activity decreased more obviously in the IA group (<i>p</i> = 0.022) than the control group. IA showed superior over standard regimen in clearance of MPO-ANCA within 3–31 days (median 11 days) after treatment (78.4% vs. 9.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.005). After a median follow-up of 20.2 months, remission was achieved more quickly (<i>p</i> = 0.035) and higher (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1∼7.2<i>, p</i> = 0.033) in the IA group than the control group. IA therapy showed an advantage in reducing death (HR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1∼0.9<i>, p</i> = 0.032). There was no difference in developing into ESKD in both groups (HR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.3∼2.0<i>, p</i> = 0.504). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that early-stage remission was an independent predictor for ESKD (HR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.003∼0.25, <i>p</i> = 0.001) and death (HR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01∼0.51, <i>p</i> = 0.009). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> IA treatment induces quicker and higher remission and lower mortality in AAV patients with severe kidney involvement. The early remission independently predicts the outcomes for these patients.