Outcomes in ANCA-associated vasculitis patients with end-stage kidney disease on renal replacement therapy-A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is associated with poor prognosis in patients with anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). This study summarizes the existing evidence regarding outcomes in AAV patients with ESKD on renal replacement therapy.

METHODS: Searches of the MEDLINE and Embase databases were performed from inception until December 2021. Any study reporting outcomes after ESKD in patients with AAV on haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis was included. The mortality rate per 100 person-years (100 py) calculated with a random-effects meta-analysis model was the primary outcome. Rates of infections and relapses were secondary outcomes.

RESULTS: 2470 citations were found; 22 studies of 952 adult patients with over 3600 person-years of follow-up were included. The pooled mortality rate was 10.90 per 100 py (95% CI: 7.11 - 14.68, I2  = 90.8%). The pooled 1-year survival was 80.9% (95% CI: 75.6 - 86.1%, I2  = 86.1%) while the pooled 5-year survival was 61.0% (95% CI: 46.0 - 76.0%, I2  = 0.0%). The pooled severe infection rate was 66.57 per 100 py (95% CI: 13.64 - 119.50, I2  = 99.6%). The pooled relapse rate was 6.22 per 100 py (95% CI: 4.64 - 7.80, I2  = 46.6%). Only 1 paediatric study met the inclusion criteria and reported a mortality rate of 11.7 ± 1.9 deaths per 100 py (95% CI: 0.23 - 23.20) amongst 9 patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AAV and ESKD have a lower risk of relapse, but higher infection and mortality rates. More prospective research exploring the role of immunosuppression after ESKD is needed.