Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia Prophylaxis in Patients with ANCA Vasculitis on Rituximab Maintenance Therapy

Abstract

Introduction: Although an increased risk of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) has been reported in adults receiving rituximab for induction therapy, current evidence is lacking on the utility of PJP prophylaxis in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients on maintenance rituximab therapy. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of PJP pneumonia and the outcomes of AAV patients with and without PJP prophylaxis. Methods: We performed an observational, single-center, retrospective study examining patients with AAV in clinical remission and on rituximab maintenance therapy. We divided the patients into two groups: those with and without PJP prophylaxis. We explored factors associated with PJP prophylaxis use. We additionally looked at several outcomes, including PJP infections, infections requiring hospitalizations, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and death. Data were analyzed using T test, Fisher’s exact test, univariate, and multivariate logistic regression as appropriate. Results: A total of 129 patients with mean follow-up time of 7.2 (5.4) years were included: 44% received PJP prophylaxis and 56% of patients did not. There were no PJP infections in the entire cohort. Lung involvement was associated with increased odds of prescribing PJP prophylaxis (OR: 4.09 [95% CI: 1.8–9.82]). PJP prophylaxis did not decrease infection rates requiring hospitalizations, ESKD, or death. Glucocorticoid use, however, was associated with increased rates of infections requiring hospitalizations (OR: 5.54 [95% CI: 2.01–15.4]) and death (OR: 4.67 [95% CI: 1.36–15.71]) even after adjustment for age, gender, and use of PJP prophylaxis. Conclusion: Regardless of the use of PJP prophylaxis during the maintenance phase of AAV management, PJP pneumonia was not observed. AAV patients with lung involvement were more likely to be on PJP prophylaxis.

Keywords

• anca vasculitis
• rituximab
• pneumocystis jirovecii
• prophylaxis
• treatment