High Risk of Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Venous Thrombosis but Not of Stroke in Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Wegener's)

Abstract

The present study confirms that GPA patients have a markedly increased risk of venous thromboembolism. We did not observe an increased risk of stroke in our cohort. Thus, our observations demonstrate a differential impact of GPA and/or its treatment on the risk of various vascular events.

Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Stroke in Patients With Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Wegener's): A Population‐Based Study

“…Overall, our study did not show a statistically significant increased risk of stroke in GPA patients compared with their matched controls. This finding is similar to that in a recent study by Faurschou et al in Denmark (51).…”

Risks of treatments and long-term outcomes of systemic ANCA-associated vasculitis

“…In contrast the risk of cerebrovascular disease was not increased after a median follow-up of 7.2 years in 180 Danish GPA patients diagnosed between 1993-2011 [38]. However, the Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) was substantially increased within the first two years of diagnosis with an IRR of 25.7 (95% CI 6.9-96) for PE and 20.3 (95% CI 5.1-81) for DVT in the same cohort.…”

“…However, the Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) was substantially increased within the first two years of diagnosis with an IRR of 25.7 (95% CI 6.9-96) for PE and 20.3 (95% CI 5.1-81) for DVT in the same cohort. Seventy percent of thrombo-embolic events occurred during episodes of active vasculitis [38].…”

Postoperative Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Rheumatic Disease Patients

“…A recent cohort study comparing 180 GPA patients to matched controls demonstrated a dramatic increase in the risk of pulmonary embolism during the first 2 years of follow-up (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 25.7 (95 % CI 6.9-96)) [57]. This high rate of VTE was also demonstrated in the Wegener's Granulomatosis Etanercept Trial (WGET), in which 29/180 (16 %) of GPA patients experienced VTE a median of 2.1 months after enrollment.…”