Serum syndecan1 has the potential to reflect activity at diagnosis and predict death during follow-up in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Objectives: This study investigated whether serum syndecan1 at diagnosis reflects activity at diagnosis and predicts poor outcomes during follow-up in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: The study included 79 patients with AAV from the cohort of Korean patients diagnosed with AAV. AAV-specific indices, including the Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS), five-factor score (FFS), 36-item short-form survey (SF-36) physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS), and vasculitis damage index (VDI), were assessed.

Application of the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria for Takayasu arteritis to previously diagnosed patients based on the 1990 ACR criteria.

Objectives: Recently, a joint group of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) proposed new criteria for Takayasu arteritis (TAK) (the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria). This study applied the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria to patients with previously diagnosed TAK based on the 1990 ACR criteria and investigated the concordance rate between the two criteria according to the four imaging modalities.

Methods: This study reviewed the medical records of 179 patients who met the 1990 ACR criteria for TAK.

Overlap syndrome of systemic sclerosis with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis according to 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria.

Background/aims: This study applied the 2022 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) criteria for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) to patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and investigated the frequency of overlap syndrome of SSc and AAV (SSc-AAV-OS).

Methods: Among the 232 patients diagnosed with SSc, 105 with signs suggestive of small- or medium-vessel vasculitis, which were defined as the present of interstitial lung disease (ILD), peripheral neuropathy, or suspected renal vasculitis, were included in this study and analyzed.

Results: Among the 105 SSc patients, the detection rate of ANCA was 19.

Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1 reflects the cross-sectional activity of microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Objectives: We investigated whether soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) reflects cross-sectional activity of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).

Methods: Forty-seven MPA and 32 GPA patients with well-documented clinical records and stored sera were enrolled. sTREM-1 levels were evaluated using Magnetic Luminex® assay, and disease activity was assessed using Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS).

Renal histopathological predictors of end-stage kidney disease in ANCA-associated vasculitis with glomerulonephritis: a single-centre study in Korea.

This study investigated whether histopathological classification and histologic lesion scores could significantly and independently predict the progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in Korean patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis-glomerulonephritis (AAV-GN). This study included 113 patients with AAV-GN confirmed by kidney biopsy. The glomerular, tubulointerstitial, and vascular lesions were systematically assessed using a scoring system.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis classification by cluster analysis based on clinical phenotypes: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) refers to a group of small vessel inflammatory disorders. Overlapping clinical phenotypes of AAV subgroups continually provoke controversies over their diagnostic and classification criteria.

Methods: Using the agglomerative hierarchical clustering method, we classified 210 Korean patients diagnosed with AAV into mutually exclusive clusters according to Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score items, ANCA specificity, sex, and age.

A prognostic immune nutritional index can predict all-cause mortality in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Background: Studies have proposed that nutritional and immune-related markers are relevant with patient outcomes of various medical conditions and could be a useful indicator of patient prognostication.

Objectives: This study investigated whether a prognostic immune nutritional index (PINI) at diagnosis could predict adverse clinical outcomes in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Design: A retrospective, single-centre observational cohort analysis of patients with AAV.

Implication of Serious Infections in Patients With Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis for the First Cycle of Rituximab: A Pilot Study in a Single Korean Center.

Objective: This study investigated the clinical implications of serious infections in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) who received the first cycle of rituximab (RTX) during the first 6 months of follow-up.

Methods: The medical records of 36 AAV patients treated with RTX were reviewed. A weekly dose of 375 mg/m2 RTX was administered for 4 weeks to all patients along with glucocorticoids.

Modified Body Mass Index at Diagnosis is a Useful Predictor of Mortality in Patients With Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitis.

Objective: We investigated whether modified body mass index (mBMI) at diagnosis could predict all-cause mortality during follow-up in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: The medical records of 203 AAV patients with BMI ≥18.5 kg/m were reviewed.

New index using triglyceride glucose-body mass index for predicting mortality in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) and a new index using TyG-BMI (NITGB) could predict all-cause mortality in non-obese patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: The medical records of 78 non-obese AAV patients (BMI < 23.0 kg/m for Asians) were retrospectively reviewed.

Acute Brain Infarction in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis: A Korean Single-Center Study.

Objectives: This study investigated the clinical and radiological features of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients with acute brain infarction, using a cohort of Korean patients with AAV.

Methods: This study included 263 patients with AAV. Acute brain infarction was defined as infarction that occurred within 7 days or less.

Soluble Tyro-3 and Axl may reflect the current activity and renal involvement in patients with microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Objectives: This study investigated whether soluble Tyro-3 (sTyro-3), sAxl, and sMer could reflect the current activity in patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 76 patients with MPA and GPA, and measure the serum concentrations of sTyro-3, sAxl, and sMer using the stored serum at AAV diagnosis. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV)-specific indices included Birmingham vasculitis activity index (BVAS), five-factor score, the short-form 36-item health survey, and vasculitis damage index.

Circulating cold-inducible RNA-binding protein levels in microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis : Correlation with disease activity.

Objective: This study investigated whether circulating cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) could be a biomarker to reflect the current activity, function, and damage status in patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).

Methods: This study selected 39 MPA and 26 GPA patients. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV)-specific indices include the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Index (BVAS), five-factor score (FFS), the Korean version of the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS), and the vasculitis damage index (VDI).

Lung function trajectory of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Objectives: To explore the course of lung function and RA disease activity and predictive factors for deteriorating lung function in patients with RA-interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods: The Korean Rheumatoid Arthritis-Interstitial Lung Disease cohort is a multicentre, prospective observational cohort. Patients with RA-ILD were enrolled and followed up annually for 3 years for RA disease activity and ILD status assessment.

Serum soluble interleukin-7 receptor alpha levels are negatively correlated with the simultaneous activity of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Objectives: This study investigated whether serum soluble interleukin-7 receptor alpha (sIL-7Rα) levels could reflect the simultaneous activity of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: Sixty patients with AAV were included in this study. AAV-related variables and clinical and laboratory data were collected at the two-time points (at early high and late low BVAS) for each patient along with blood sampling.

Predictive potential of albumin-alkaline phosphatase ratio for cerebrovascular accident in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Background: This study investigated the predictive potential of the albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) for cerebrovascular accident (CVA) occurrence in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Methods: This study included 239 AAV patients and reviewed their medical records retrospectively. AAPR was calculated using the following formula: AAPR = serum albumin (g/dL)/serum alkaline phosphatase (IU/L).

Comparison of the 2022 ACR/EULAR Classification Criteria for Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis with Previous Criteria.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) comprises group of small vessel vasculitides, including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). In 2022, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) jointly proposed new classification criteria for AAV (the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria). In this review, we briefly summarize the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria for GPA, MPA, and EGPA, and introduce our clinical experience with applying them to patients who were previously diagnosed with AAV based on three criteria: firstly, the classification criteria for GPA and EGPA proposed by the ACR in 1990; secondly, the algorithm for the classification of AAV and polyarteritis nodosa proposed by the European Medicines Agency algorithm in 2007 (the 2007 EMA algorithm); and thirdly, the revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference nomenclature of vasculitides in 2012 (the 2012 CHCC definitions).

Soluble immune checkpoint molecules in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Immune checkpoint molecules balance immune effector responses with regulatory reactions. We speculated that soluble immune checkpoint molecules are involved in dysregulation of the immune response and autoimmunity. We evaluated the association between soluble immune checkpoint molecules and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methotrexate, leflunomide and tacrolimus use and the progression of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Objective: To examine the association between MTX, LEF and tacrolimus use and the progression of RA-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods: The Korean RA-ILD cohort prospectively enrolled patients with RA-associated ILD at multiple centres from 2015 to 2018 and followed up with them for 3 years. ILD progression was defined by any of the followings: a decrease of ≥10% in forced vital capacity, a decrease of ≥15% in the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, or death from respiratory failure.

A retrospective analysis of the relationship between anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis.

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody testing is used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and associated with interstitial lung disease in RA. Herein, we investigate the relationship between anti-CCP antibody and ILD in SSc. We performed a retrospective analysis at a tertiary medical center between 2005 and 2019.

Interferon-gamma Release Assay Results Are Reliable for Screening for Latent Tuberculosis in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitis.

Background/aim: This study investigated a correlation between ex vivo interferon-gamma (IFN)-gamma production using IFN-gamma releasing assay (IGRA) and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) activity assessed by Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) in AAV patients.

Patients And Methods: A total of 113 patients with AAV were consecutively selected from the AAV cohort and their medical records were reviewed. IGRA was performed at AAV diagnosis and before the initiation of glucocorticoids or immunosuppressive drugs for AAV treatment.

Clinical impact of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positivity on the occurrence of interstitial lung disease in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis.

Background: This study investigated the clinical impact of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positivity on the occurrence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with probable and definite polymyositis (PM)/dermatomyositis (DM) who met both the Bohan and Peter and the 2017 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology criteria.

Methods: The medical records of 75 PM/DM patients were retrospectively reviewed. ANCA and anti-Jo 1 positivity at diagnosis were obtained, and pulmonary function test and chest high-resolution computed tomography results at ILD occurrence were collected.