Clinical features and management of Chinese anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis patients with spontaneous renal hemorrhage: a single-center report and systematic review.

INTRODUCTION

Spontaneous renal hemorrhage (SRH) in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is rare but fatal. We aimed to characterize clinical manifestations and managements of AAV patients with SRH.

METHOD

Hospitalized AAV patients were screened from January 2000 to April 2021, at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH). Also, a systematic review was based on retrieving all the relevant literature from PubMed, MedlinePlus, and Web of Science until April 2021. Clinical features, management, and prognosis of the patients were collected and concluded.

RESULTS

In PUMCH, four out of 1640 AAV patients with SRH were included in our study; three had granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and one had microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). The ratio of men to women was 3 to 1, and the average age of onset was 55 years. The Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) ranged from 21 to 23. Combining with documented reports, 13 patients were diagnosed as AAV complicated with SRH (including four from PUMCH), 7 with GPA, and 6 with MPA. Mean BVAS was 25.2 ± 6.6. The symptoms of SRH presented as severe back or abdominal pain. Patients with SRH to age- and gender-matched patients without SRH were compared, and we found that in the SRH group, the duration of disease was shorter, and BVAS, renal function, and inflammatory markers (WBC and ESR) were significantly greater, whereas Hb, Alb, and renal function greatly reduced.

CONCLUSION

This is the first summary of clinical features and treatments of SRH in AAV. Patients with AAV in early stage and with high disease activity appeared to be more likely to develop SRH. Key Points • This is the first summary of clinical features and treatments of SRH in AAV. • SRH more likely occurs in AAV patients in the early stage (≤ 3 months) and with high disease activity. • Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of SRH when AAV patients complain of back or abdominal pain.