Improvement in health-related quality of life in MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis patients treated with cyclophosphamide plus prednisolone: an analysis of 18 months of follow-up data from the JMAAV study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in association with disease activity in myeloperoxidase (MPO)-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis patients treated with cyclophosphamide plus prednisolone.
METHODS: According to the Japanese Patients with MPO-ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (JMAAV) study protocol, a total of 48 patients with newly diagnosed MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis received a standardized cyclophosphamide plus prednisolone regimen, and their clinical courses were followed for 18 months following their entry into the study. Disease activity was assessed using the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) 2003. HRQOL was assessed using MOS Short-Form 36 (SF-36) v2. BVAS new/worse, BVAS persistent, and SF-36 domain scores (norm-based) were calculated for the 32 eligible patients.
RESULTS: The mean SF-36 domain scores were significantly lower than the Japanese general population norm. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that the presence of new or worsening features of the nervous system was significantly associated with a deterioration in physical function. During the 18 months of follow-up, there were significant improvements in BVAS new/worse and all SF-36 domains except for general health and role emotional.
CONCLUSION: MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis patients experienced a considerable deterioration in HRQOL. The standardized cyclophosphamide plus prednisolone regimen of the JMAAV study induced remission in the majority of patients, and the induction of remission accompanied a recovery in HRQOL.