Hospitalisation rates and characteristics for adult and childhood immunoglobulin A vasculitis in Western Australia

Association of the Monocyte-to-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio with Gastrointestinal Involvement of Immunoglobulin a Vasculitis

Objective

To illustrate the association of monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) and other serum indicators with the pathogenesis and prognosis of immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) patients in different subgroups.

Methods

A total of 158 adult patients and 113 healthy controls were enrolled, and the clinical presentation and laboratory indexes were comprehensively assessed.

Results

IgAV patients show significantly elevated levels of inflammatory parameters and lipid profiles compared to healthy controls (P < 0.05). Higher levels of the MHR and other normal inflammatory indicators were found in patients with Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement compared to other subgroups. And in group with GI involvement, significantly higher white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, complement 4 (C4), NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) and PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio) levels and lower levels of apolipoprotein-a (Apo-a) were observed. Their correlation analysis demonstrated positive results between MHR level and white blood cell (WBC) count (r = 0.416, P = 0.034), D-Dimer (r = 0.464, P = 0.026) and monocyte (r = 0.947, P < 0.001). And the time until first remission of skin purpura was shown positively correlated with their age (r = 0.456, P = 0.043), C-reactive protein (CRP) level (r = 0.641, P = 0.018), D-Dimer level (r = 0.502, P = 0.040) while negatively correlated with albumin (Alb) level (r=-0.626, P = 0.003) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level (r=-0.478, P = 0.033).

Conclusion

Our study suggests that those biomarkers represented for inflammatory responses, lipid profile and immunological functions have significant differences in the subgroups of adult IgAV patients. In addition, we also found that MHR level may serve as a potential biomarker for the pathogenesis and prognosis of IgAV patients with GI involvement.

Navigating the initial diagnosis and management of adult IgA vasculitis: A review

Background

IgA vasculitis in adults has not been thoroughly studied. This has left a practice gap related to the management and follow-up of a population that is at an increased risk of comorbidities and potentially poor outcomes. For this reason, it is important to synthesize evidence from the current literature because this can help direct the movement for more robust studies to clarify best practice recommendations.

Objective

We sought to create a narrative review for the practicing dermatologist when diagnosing and leading the care of IgA vasculitis in adult patients.

Methods

A broad literature search was performed with a focus on articles that were published after the introduction of the most updated European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology/Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization/Pediatric Rheumatology European Society criteria.

Results

The characteristics and management guidelines for IgA vasculitis in adults have been refined, although more rigorous studies are needed to develop best practice recommendations.

Limitations

Because of the lack of sufficient randomized controlled trials on IgA vasculitis in adults, this narrative review is composed of mostly observational, descriptive studies.

Conclusion

Adults with IgA vasculitis are at an increased risk of complicated disease course, necessitating formal diagnostic assessment and clear-cut follow-up recommendations to manage and prevent poor health outcomes related to various comorbidities.

Biologics for immunoglobulin A vasculitis: targeting vasculitis or comorbid disease?

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical features and treatments, including the use of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in a large cohort of pediatric and adult immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV). Since data on the use of bDMARDs in IgAV are very limited, we collated the reasons for use of bDMARDs during the disease course. Patients who were enrolled in the Hacettepe University Vasculitis Research Centre (HUVAC) registry were included. In this prospective database dating from 2014, there were 436 IgAV patients classified as IgAV according to Ankara 2008 and/or American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria. 88 adults and 330 pediatric IgAV patients were included as the main study group. Concomitant spondyloarthritis (SpA) was observed only in adult patients (10% vs 0% in children, p < 0.001). IgAV relapse was more common in adults than in children (p: 0.017). Adult patients were mostly treated with corticosteroid (p < 0.001) and conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug treatment (< 0.001), while more than half of the pediatric patients were followed up without immunosuppressive treatment. Ten (11%) adult patients used biologics. Among them, two patients used rituximab due to IgAV disease activity, three used infliximab due to SpA, three used etanercept due to SpA (one patient had a pediatric onset enthesitis-related arthritis), and two used anakinra due to recurrent familial Mediterranean fever attacks. This is the first study evaluating the use of all bDMARDs for any reason in the IgAV cohorts in the literature. None of the pediatric patients used biologics. Our data suggest biologics are mainly used for comorbid inflammatory diseases over refractory vasculitis in adult IgAV.

Correlations of Serological Markers with Development of Systemic Involvement in Adult Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis: A Retrospective Study of 259 Patients in Central China

OBJECTIVE

Although relatively rare, adult immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) can lead to severe complications and longer hospitalization, and result in poor prognosis, when compared to childhood IgAV. Hence, early identification and prevention for patients prone to develop systemic involvement are essential. The purpose of this study was to explore the correlations of common serological markers with the development of systemic involvement in adult IgAV.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed for adult IgAV patients, who were hospitalized in Wuhan Union Hospital between January 2016 and December 2019. A total of 259 patients were enrolled, and the pre-treatment serological markers were comprehensively assessed.

RESULTS

In the present study, 49.0% and 33.2% of patients developed renal and gastrointestinal (GI) involvement, respectively. Furthermore, the elevated levels of white blood cells count, D-Dimer (D-D), C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil granulocyte ratio (NE%) >60% were significantly associated with GI involvement in the univariate analysis, while the decrease in high density lipoprotein level, and the elevated D-D and CRP levels were significantly associated with renal involvement (P<0.05). Moreover, a prediction model that combined multiple markers was established by performing a logistic regression analysis, and this presented a more favorable value of prediction than the individual serological markers.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that common serological markers have close correlations with systemic involvement in adult IgAV, and that the establishment of a prediction model for systemic involvement may be helpful in facilitating personalized therapeutic strategies and clinical management for IgAV patients.

Morbidity and mortality in adult-onset IgA vasculitis: a long-term population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES

With sparse data available, we investigated mortality and risk factors in adults with IgAV.

METHODS

Observational population-based cohort study using state-wide linked longitudinal health data for hospitalised adults with IgAV (n = 267) and matched comparators (n = 1080) between 1980-2015. Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and serious infections (SI) were recorded over an extensive lookback period prior to diagnosis. Date and causes of death were extracted from WA Death Registry. Mortality rate (deaths/1000 person-years) ratios (MRR) and hazard ratio (HR) for survival were assessed.

RESULTS

During 9.9 (±9.8) years lookback patients with IgAV accrued higher CCI scores (2.60 vs1.50 p < 0.001) and had higher risk of SI (OR 8.4, p < 0.001), not fully explained by CCI scores. During 19 years follow-up, the rate of death in Patients with IgAV (n = 137) was higher than in comparators (n = 397) (MRR 2.06, CI 1.70-2.50, p < 0.01) and the general population (SMRR 5.64, CI 4.25, 7.53, p < 0.001). Survival in IgAV was reduced at five (72.7 vs. 89.7%) and twenty years (45.2% vs. 65.6%) (both p < 0.05). CCI (HR1.88, CI:1.25 - 2.73, p = 0.001), renal failure (HR 1.48, CI: 1.04 - 2.22, p = 0.03) and prior SI (HR 1.48, CI:1.01 - 2.16, p = 0.04) were independent risk factors. Death from infections (5.8 vs 1.8%, p = 0.02) was significantly more frequent in patients with IgAV.

CONCLUSIONS

Premorbid comorbidity accrual appears increased in hospitalized patients with IgAV and predicts premature death. As comorbidity does not fully explain the increased risk of premorbid infections or the increased mortality due to infections in IgAV, prospective studies are needed.

Infection Rates Before and After Diagnosis of IgA Vasculitis in Childhood: A Population-wide Study Using Non-exposed Matched Controls

OBJECTIVE

Clinical data suggest that infections can trigger IgA vasculitis (IgAV), but longterm observations are lacking. We compared rates, types, and microorganisms for serious infection before and after diagnosis for children with IgAV and non-exposed controls.

METHODS

Using population-based administrative linked health datasets we estimated incidence rates (IR) for serious infection per 1000 person-months for patients with IgAV (n = 504, age 5 yrs, 59.1% males) and controls matched for age, sex, and year of presentation (n = 1281, age 6 yrs, 66% males). Time zero (T0) was the date of IgAV diagnosis or equivalent date in controls, lookback (median 38 mos) was the period prior to T0, and followup (median 239 mos) was the period after T0.

RESULTS

During lookback, prevalence of serious infection was similar in patients with IgAV and controls (11.5% vs 9.5%, respectively), but patients with IgAV had a higher rate of upper respiratory tract infections [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.79; 95% CI 1.39-2.31] with shorter time between first serious infection and T0 (27 vs 43 mos; p = 0.02). During followup, patients were at a constant increased risk for serious infections (IRR 1.46, 95% CI 1.35-1.58). These rates were higher during followup: sepsis (IRR 12.6), pneumonia (IRR 6.19), upper respiratory tract infections (IRR 2.36), and skin infections (IRR 1.85). There was little overlap between patients with serious infections in the lookback and followup periods.

CONCLUSION

In patients with childhood IgAV there is an increased longterm risk for a broader spectrum of infections, which is unrelated to serious infections prior to diagnosis or treatment. This suggests disease-specific factors may have a lasting effect on immune competence in childhood IgAV.