Pulmonary Vasculitis

Chest Imaging ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 355-359
Author(s):  
Felipe Martínez

Vasculitis refers to inflammation of blood vessel walls that results in vascular wall destruction and ischemic injury to affected organs. Common vasculitides discussed herein include Takayasu arteritis (TAK), giant cell arteritis (GCA), antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides such as granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease or Goodpasture syndrome. Vasculitides are further subcategorized depending of the size of the predominantly affected vessels: large, medium and small vessel vasculitis. The affected vessel size strongly influences the clinical and imaging manifestations of the disease. Intrathoracic involvement is more common in small and large vessel vasculitides. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), a common manifestation of vasculitis, is considered a syndrome rather than a specific entity and will be discussed in this chapter. However, it should be noted that DAH may also result from non-vasculitic etiologies. The work up and diagnosis of patients with primary vasculitides is challenging and requires close collaboration between the clinician, the radiologist and the pathologist. Radiographic abnormalities are non specific or may be absent. CT and MRI are the imaging modalities of choice for the evaluation and follow up of these patients, and should be considered despite normal radiographics.

This chapter covers the connective tissue diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, scleroderma, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Churg–Strauss syndrome), and microscopic polyangiitis), polyarteritis nodosa, and Behçet’s disease. For each example of a connective tissue disease it provides an overview of the condition and classification criteria, alongside the prognosis. Techniques and tricks for diagnosis, clinical features, assessment tools, and treatment are all covered. Key points of nursing care are described, including the nurse’s role in treatment with thalidomide and cyclophosphamide, and any particular organs that can be affected is detailed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. e615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antje Bischof ◽  
Veronika K. Jaeger ◽  
Robert D. M. Hadden ◽  
Raashid A. Luqmani ◽  
Anne-Katrin Pröbstel ◽  
...  

ObjectiveReported prevalence of vasculitic neuropathy (VN) in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is highly variable, and associations with other organ manifestations have not been studied systematically while accounting for diagnostic certainty of VN.MethodsData of all patients with AAV within the Diagnostic and Classification criteria for primary systemic VASculitis study were analyzed cross-sectionally. VN was categorized as definite (histology proven), probable (multiple mononeuropathy or nerve biopsy consistent with vasculitis), or possible (all others). Associations with other organ manifestations were compared in patients with and without VN.ResultsNine hundred fifty-five patients (mean age 57 years, range 18–91 years, 51% female) were identified. Of these, 572 had granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), 218 microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and 165 eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). The prevalence of VN was 65% in EGPA, 23% in MPA, and 19% in GPA. Nerve biopsy was performed in 32/269 (12%) patients, demonstrating definite vasculitis in 17/32 (53%) of patients. VN was associated with myeloperoxidase-ANCA positivity (p = 0.004) and skin (p < 0.001), musculoskeletal, (p < 0.001) and cardiovascular (p = 0.005) involvement. Patients with VN were less likely to have renal (p < 0.001), eye (p < 0.001), and gastrointestinal (p = 0.023) involvement.ConclusionsOur study provides comprehensive insights into the prevalence and organ associations of VN in a large, systematically collected AAV cohort. VN is most commonly associated with skin, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular manifestations. In routine clinical practice, diagnosis of VN is infrequently confirmed by the gold standard of nerve biopsy but rather supported by the clinical setting of active systemic AAV.


Rheumatology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii84-iii94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Trivioli ◽  
Benjamin Terrier ◽  
Augusto Vaglio

Abstract Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis is characterized by asthma, blood and tissue eosinophilia and small-vessel vasculitis. The clinical presentation is variable, but two main clinic-pathologic subsets can be distinguished: one hallmarked by positive ANCA and predominant ‘vasculitic’ manifestations (e.g. glomerulonephritis, purpura and mononeuritis multiplex) and the other by negative ANCA and prominent ‘eosinophilic’ manifestations (e.g. lung infiltrates and cardiomyopathy). The pathogenesis is not fully understood but probably results from the interplay between T and B cells and eosinophils. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis must be differentiated from several conditions, including hypereosinophilic syndromes and other small-vessel vasculitides. The overall survival is good; however, patients frequently relapse and have persistent symptoms. The recently developed monoclonal antibodies targeting B cells and eosinophilopoietic cytokines such as IL-5 are emerging as valid alternatives to conventional immunosuppressive therapies. In this review, we discuss the essential features of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, with particular respect to the most relevant issues concerning clinical presentation and management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Allyson Egan ◽  
Pasupathy Sivasothy ◽  
Robin Gore ◽  
Marcos MartinezDel-Pero ◽  
Lisa Willcocks ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims EGPA is a small vessel vasculitis characterised by the presence of tissue eosinophilia, necrotising vasculitis and granulomatous inflammation1. Typically, a prodromal asthmatic phase, leads to an eosinophilic stage, which can evolve to include the presence of vasculitis with renal manifestations. In the recent randomised, placebo-controlled MIRRA trial for relapsing and refractory EGPA, adjuvant therapy with anti-IL5 mAB Mepolizumab [MEPO] at 300mg s/c monthly, accrued longer times in remission, reduced steroid exposure and reduced relapse rates2. The aim of our study was to analyse the response and outcome for EGPA patients who received 100mg s/c of MEPO monthly for a minimum of 52 weeks, with particular focus on the steroid minimisation benefits. Method This retrospective, descriptive study analysed 13 patients with EGPA, who received 100mg s/m monthly MEPO therapy under the eosinophilic asthma care-pathway. Time points of assessment included MEPO commencement [M0] and 12 [M12] months. Results One patient had MEPO switched to Rituximab to treat both EGPA and new onset rheumatoid arthritis Conclusion The relapsing nature of EGPA places a potential dependency of therapy on steroids for asthmatic and vasculitic flares. This underscores the importance of targeted pathway specific biologic therapy to minimise steroid exposure, prevent tissue damage and ensure early response to therapy. This study demonstrates that anti-IL5 serves as a favourable model with steroid minimisation, improvement in asthma control questionnaire, reduction in BVAS and eosinophil counts at the 100mg s/c dosage. ANCA positive serology normalised in all four patients, independent of subtype. Well tolerated, it demonstrated considerable clinical benefit, with 12 patients [92.3%] continuing anti-IL5 therapy beyond 12 months. Adjuvant therapy with conventional immunosuppressants was well tolerated and renal function was preserved. ADDIN Mendeley Bibliography CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. J.C.Jenette, et al Revised International Chapel Hil Consensus Conference Nomenclature of Vasculitides. 65, 1–11 (2013). 2. Wechsler, M. E. et al. Mepolizumab or Placebo for Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis. N. Engl. J. Med. 376, 1921–1932 (2017).


Rheumatology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 2107-2116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Puéchal ◽  
Christian Pagnoux ◽  
Gabriel Baron ◽  
François Lifermann ◽  
Loïk Geffray ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective In a previous controlled trial, 1-year adjunction of AZA to glucocorticoids (GC) for patients with non-severe, newly diagnosed eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) failed to lower remission failure, vasculitis relapse and isolated asthma/rhinosinus exacerbation rates, or cumulative GC use at month (M) 24. The aim of this study was to analyse longer-term outcomes to determine whether subsequent vasculitis relapse or isolated asthma/rhinosinus exacerbation (IARE) rates differed. Methods After M24, patients were followed prospectively, being treated based on physicians’ best judgment. Flares and reasons for increased GC dose or immunosuppressant use were recorded, and reviewed according to randomization group to distinguish vasculitis relapses from IAREs according to EGPA Task Force recommendations. Results Fifty EGPA trial participants were followed for a median (interquartile range) of 6.3 (5.4–7.6) years; two (4%) died 11 months post-inclusion. By M24, vasculitis had relapsed in 21/49 (43%) patients and 14/50 (28%) had IAREs. Another patient died 4.8 years post-inclusion (infection). Among nine patients with subsequent vasculitis relapses, three had a major relapse and three had their first relapse after M24; among 25 patients with later IAREs, 17 occurred after M24. At 5 years, respective vasculitis relapse and IARE rates were 48% (95% CI 34.0, 62.6) and 56% (95% CI 41.7, 70.8), with no between-arm differences (P = 0.32 and 0.13). No entry clinical or biological parameter was associated with these outcomes during follow-up. Conclusion These results confirmed that 1-year AZA and GC induction obtained good overall survival but no long-term benefit for non-severe EGPA patients. Vasculitis relapses, occurring mostly during the first 2 years, and IAREs, occurring throughout follow-up, require other preventive treatments. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00647166.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Lau ◽  
Ramandeep Bains ◽  
Duminda Suraweera ◽  
Jane Ma ◽  
Emil R. Heinze ◽  
...  

This paper describes one patient with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody- (ANCA-) associated vasculitis who initially presented with multiple ischemic fingers and toes. On further evaluation, the patient was also found to have pulmonary-renal involvement and episcleritis. The diagnosis was supported with a positive cANCA (anti-proteinase 3) and a bronchoscopy consistent with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Although the patient refused a tissue biopsy, clinical presentation including nasal ulceration, sinus congestion, and epistaxis and anti-proteinase 3 antibody were more consistent with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) rather than Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) or Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA) based on the recently presented ACR/EULAR Provisional 2017 Classification Criteria for GPA (Luqmani et al., 2016). The patient responded well to therapy including high dose steroids and cyclophosphamide, with improvement of all organs involved and had no further digital ischemia or gangrene on follow-up. We include a review of the English literature summarizing presentation, management, and outcome of 16 similar cases.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nestor Oliva-Damaso ◽  
Andrew S Bomback

Abstract The nomenclature for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated kidney disease has evolved from honorific eponyms to a descriptive-based classification scheme (Chapel Hill Consensus Conference 2012). Microscopic polyangiitis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis do not correlate with presentation, response rates and relapse rates as when comparing myeloperoxidase versus leukocyte proteinase 3. Here we discuss the limitations of the currently used classification and propose an alternative, simple classification according to (i) ANCA type and (ii) organ involvement, which provides important clinical information of prognosis and outcomes.


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