Venous thromboembolic events in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitide

Aim

To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides.

Material and methods

The patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosus with polyangiitis (EGPA) were included in the retrospective study. ANCA-associated vasculitides were classified according to the Revised International Chapel Hill Nomenclature of Vasculitides (2012). We studied occurence and risk factors of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

Results

VTE were identified in 27 (7.2%) patients: 13 (5.5%) patients with GPA, 6 (9.2%) patients with MPA and 8 (10.8%) patients with EGPA. The differences between the three groups did not reach statistical significance. There were 26 patients with DVT and 6 patients with PE. The latter was associated with DVT in 5 cases. Possible predictors of VTE included male gender and lung disease. The risk of VTE was highest within the first 6 months after diagnosis. The prevalence of VTE was 1.31 by 100 patient-years. However, it increased up to 6.9 by 100 patient-years within 6 months after diagnosis.

Conclusion

The risk of VTE is high in patients with ANCAassociated vasculitides, particularly within the first 6 months after diagnosis.

Key words

ANCA-associated vasculitis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, venous thromboembolic events.