Abstract
Objective. To describe pulmonary involvement at time of diagnosis in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), as defined by computed tomography (CT).
Methods. Patients with thoracic CT performed on or after the onset of AAV (n = 140; 75 women; granulomatosis with polyangiitis, n = 79; microscopic polyangiitis MPA, n = 61) followed at a tertiary referral center vasculitis clinic were studied. Radiological patterns of pulmonary involvement were evaluated from the CT studies using a predefined protocol, and compared to proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA specificity.
Results. Of the patients, 77% had an abnormal thoracic CT study. The most common abnormality was nodular disease (24%), of which the majority were peribronchial nodules, followed by bronchiectasis and pleural effusion (19%, each), pulmonary hemorrhage and lymph node enlargement (14%, each), emphysema (13%), and cavitating lesions (11%). Central airways disease and a nodular pattern of pulmonary involvement were more common in PR3-ANCA–positive patients (p < 0.05). Usual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP) and bronchiectasis were more prevalent in MPO-ANCA–positive patients (p < 0.05). Alveolar hemorrhage, pleural effusion, lymph node enlargement, and pulmonary venous congestion were more frequent in MPO-ANCA–positive patients.
Conclusion. Pulmonary involvement is frequent and among 140 patients with AAV who underwent a thoracic CT study, almost 80% have pulmonary abnormalities on thoracic CT. Central airway disease occurs exclusively among patients with PR3-ANCA while UIP were mainly seen in those with MPO-ANCA. These findings may have important implications for the investigation, management, and pathogenesis of AAV.
Footnotes
Supported by research grants from Governmental Funding of Clinical Research within the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University (ALF-medel), The Swedish Society of Medicine (Svenska Läkarsällskapet), and the UK National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.
- Accepted for publication May 17, 2017.