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The effects of plasma exchange in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada lastwalsh1975@gmail.com. Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences / McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Department of Pharmacy/Evidence-based Pharmacy Centre, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London, UK. Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia. University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Department of Nephrology, Copenhagen, Denmark. Institute for Advancement of Clinical and Translational Science, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan. Clinical and Translational Research Center, University Hospital, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 2022;376:e064604
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PICO Summary

Population

Patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (9 studies, n= 1,060).

Intervention

Plasma exchange.

Comparison

No plasma exchange.

Outcome

There were no important effects of plasma exchange on all-cause mortality (relative risk 0.90, moderate certainty). Data from seven trials (n= 999) reporting end stage kidney disease (ESKD) demonstrated that plasma exchange reduced the risk of ESKD at 12 months (relative risk 0.62, moderate certainty) with no evidence of subgroup effects. Data from four trials (n= 908) showed that plasma exchange increased the risk of serious infections at 12 months (relative risk 1.27, moderate certainty). The effects of plasma exchange on other outcomes were uncertain or considered unimportant to patients.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of plasma exchange on important outcomes in anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials investigating effects of plasma exchange in patients with AAV or pauci-immune rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and at least 12 months' follow-up. INFORMATION SOURCES Prior systematic reviews, updated by searching Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL to July 2020. RISK OF BIAS Reviewers independently identified studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. SYNTHESIS OF RESULTS Meta-analyses were conducted using random effects models to calculate risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Quality of evidence was summarised in accordance with GRADE methods. Outcomes were assessed after at least12 months of follow-up and included all-cause mortality, end stage kidney disease (ESKD), serious infections, disease relapse, serious adverse events, and quality of life. RESULTS Nine trials including 1060 participants met eligibility criteria. There were no important effects of plasma exchange on all-cause mortality (relative risk 0.90 (95% CI 0.64 to 1.27), moderate certainty). Data from seven trials including 999 participants that reported ESKD demonstrated that plasma exchange reduced the risk of ESKD at 12 months (relative risk 0.62 (0.39 to 0.98), moderate certainty) with no evidence of subgroup effects. Data from four trials including 908 participants showed that plasma exchange increased the risk of serious infections at 12 months (relative risk 1.27 (1.08 to 1.49), moderate certainty). The effects of plasma exchange on other outcomes were uncertain or considered unimportant to patients. LIMITATIONS OF EVIDENCE There is a relative sparsity of events, and treatment effect estimates are therefore imprecise. Subgroup effects at the participant level could not be evaluated. INTERPRETATION For the treatment of AAV, plasma exchange has no important effect on mortality, reduces the 12 month risk of ESKD, but increases the risk of serious infections. FUNDING No funding was received. REGISTRATION This is an update of a previously unregistered systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2014.
Study details
Study Design : Systematic Review
Language : eng
Credits : Bibliographic data from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine