How best to manage relapse and remission in ANCA-associated vasculitis

A two-stage therapeutic approach is now applied as standard-of-care to treat antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAVs): first, glucocorticoids (GCs) combined with cyclophosphamide (CYC) or rituximab (RTX) to induce remission, and then relapse prevention with remission-maintenance therapy. Nonetheless, a substantial risk of relapse persists.

The authors provide an overview of the current state of AAV remission-induction after relapse and maintenance therapies, and discuss new strategies recommended to prevent and treat relapses, focusing on granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA).

For remission-induction after GPA or MPA relapse with organ-threatening manifestations, reintroduction or intensification of GCs in combination with CYC or RTX cycle is recommended; we prefer RTX in light of its superior responses obtained in patients with relapsing disease. Rapid tapering of GCs has been shown not to alter AAV evolution while decreasing the risk of serious infections. In contrast, for non-severe, active MPA, we recommend GCs alone as first-line therapy. For patients whose MPA remains uncontrolled by GCs alone, immunosuppressant adjunction can be a GC-sparing option or to counter GC intolerance. Once remission is achieved, we recommend prolonged maintenance therapy with preemptive low-dose (500 mg) RTX infusion biannually.