Longitudinal monitoring of circulating immune cell phenotypes in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a necrotizing multiorgan autoimmune dis-ease that affects small-to medium-sized blood vessels. Despite the improvements in treatments, half of the pa-tients with AAV still experience disease relapses. In this review, we focus on peripheral leukocyte properties and phenotypes in patients with AAV. In particular, we explore longitudinal changes in circulating immune cell phenotypes during the active phase of the disease and treatment. The numbers and phenotypes of leukocytes in peripheral blood were differs between AAV and healthy controls, AAV in active versus inactive phase, AAV in treatment responders versus non-responders, and AAV with and without severe infection. Therefore, biomarkers detected in peripheral blood immune cells may be useful for longitudinal monitoring of disease activity in AAV.

Automated summary

In this review, we investigate the characteristics and phenotypes of peripheral leukocytes in patients with AAV and examine the changes in circulating immune cell phenotypes during disease activity and treatment. The results show differences in the numbers and phenotypes of leukocytes in peripheral blood between AAV patients and healthy controls, as well as between active and inactive phases, treatment responders and non-responders, and AAV patients with and without severe infection. Therefore, biomarkers detected in peripheral blood immune cells may be valuable for longitudinal monitoring of disease activity in AAV.