Outcomes of hydralazine induced renal vasculitis.

OBJECTIVE

Hydralazine has been implicated as an etiologic agent for lupus-like syndrome and vasculitis. Hydralazine-induced vasculitis frequently affects the kidney, but the long-term renal outcomes in these patients have not yet been studied.

METHODS

Patients who had a diagnosis of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and were on hydralazine at the time of AAV diagnosis were included in this retrospective cohort study. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from the review of medical records.

RESULTS

Seven patients met the criteria for hydralazine-induced AAV. Five patients (71%) were African-American and four (57%) were female. The median age was 69 years at the time of diagnosis. All patients had renal involvement with two of them showing lung involvement as well. All patients had positive MPO antibody and one patient had positive PR3 antibody. ANA was positive in all patients, and three of seven patients had positive anti-histone antibody. All of them were treated with immunosuppression and withdrawal of hydralazine. Three patients reached end-stage renal disease. The median follow-up time was 13 months.

CONCLUSION

Renal involvement in hydralazine-induced AAV was universal and can be associated with a poor renal outcome despite immunosuppressive therapy.