Background: Cumulative survival in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitis (VAA) is 88 and 78% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. Despite this, mortality continues to be 2.7 times higher than the general population. Differences in the clinical profile of VAA in different ethnicities have been observed.
Aim: To identify factors at the time of diagnosis, associated with mortality at one year of follow-up and to describe the clinical characteristics of these patients.
Material and methods: We identified in local databases and reviewed clinical records of patients with VAA with at least one year of follow up in a clinical hospital. Demographic and laboratory parameters and clinical activity scores were analyzed.
Results: Of 103 patients with VAA identified, 65 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Their age ranged from 45 to 63 years and 56% were women. Thirty-five patients (54%) were diagnosed as granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) and 30 patients (46%) with Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA). The frequency of renal disease was 53% and pulmonary involvement occurred in 72%. At one year of follow-up 11 patients died resulting in a mortality of 17%. Seven patients died within three months after diagnosis. MPO ANCA were more common than PR3 ANCA. In the multivariate analysis, the presence of ophthalmological involvement, lung kidney syndrome and a Five Factor Score (FFS) of 1 or more were independent factors associated with mortality at one year.
Conclusions: In these patients, pulmonary manifestations predominate. Lung kidney syndrome, ophthalmological involvement and a FFS score ≥ 1 were associated with mortality.