| CASE
REPORT Rheumatoid
arthritis complicated with myeloperoxidase antineutrophil
cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)-associated vasculitis:
a case report
Akiko Goto1, Masaya Mukai1,
Atsushi Notoya1 and Michifumi Kohno1
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Text (PDF)
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Division of Clinical Immunology
and Hematology, Department of Medicine, Sapporo
City General Hospital, Kita 11-jo, Nishi 13-chome,
Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8604, Japan |
Received: 28 July
2004 Accepted: 15 November 2004
Abstract This article describes
a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with crescentic
glomerulonephritis (CrGN) associated with myeloperoxidase
antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (MPO-ANCA), who
responded well to methotrexate (MTX). A 48-year-old woman
with a 4-year history of RA was admitted with fever and
elevated C-reactive protein. On laboratory evaluation,
her level of MPO-ANCA was 422 EU, and urinalysis revealed
proteinuria and hematuria. Because she was also suffering
from episcleritis, vasculitis was considered. A renal
biopsy was performed, which revealed necrotizing CrGN.
We diagnosed RA complicated with MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis.
We considered treatment with high-dose oral prednisolone
for vasculitis, but the patient refused this treatment.
We started MTX at a dose of 8 mg/week for RA from the
time of admission, and the patient responded immediately.
Biochemical parameters, including C-reactive protein,
erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor, and
MPO-ANCA, improved. Seven months later, MPO-ANCA had decreased
to 46 EU. In clinical studies, few patients have been
reported with RA complicated with ANCA-associated CrGN.
This case differs from previous cases in the treatment
given. No high-dose steroid with intensive immunosuppression
or plasma exchange was required.
Key
words Crescentic glomerulonephritis (CrGN)
- Methotrexate (MTX) - Myeloperoxidase antineutrophil
cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) - Rheumatoid arthritis
(RA) |