Venous thrombotic events in ANCA-associated vasculitis: Incidence and risk factors

Background: The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is increased in ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV). We assessed the frequency of VTE observed among patients with AAV evaluated at our center and identified risk factors. Methods: Patients from the Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center cohort who were evaluated between 1998 and 2018 and had a diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) were eligible for analysis. Baseline demographics, clinical and serologic data were extracted. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with VTE in AAV. Results: One hundred and sixty two patients with AAV were identified, 105 (65%) with GPA; 22 (14%) of these patients had a recorded VTE with a median time to VTE of 1 month. The mean (SD) age in the VTE versus non-VTE groups was 54 ± 20 versus 55 ± 17 years (p=0.99), 64% versus 60% female (p=0.93), 82% versus 49% PR3-ANCA positive (p=0.01), with a total mean BMI of 33.3 ± 5.7 versus 28.3 ± 6.1 kg/m2, (p