Early initiation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor in patients with scleroderma renal crisis: a nationwide inpatient database study

Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of early initiation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) in patients with scleroderma renal crisis (SRC). Methods This was a retrospective cohort study using a nationwide inpatient database in Japan from July 2010 to March 2020. All hospitalized patients with SRC were divided into those who received ACEi within 2 days of admission (early ACEi group) and those who did not (control group). Propensity-score overlap weighting analysis was performed to adjust for confounding factors. The primary outcome was the composite of in-hospital mortality or haemodialysis dependence at discharge. Results Of the 475 eligible patients, 248 (52.2%) were in the early ACEi group and 227 (47.8%) were in the control group. After overlap weighting, the primary outcome was significantly lower in the early ACEi group than in the control group (40.1% vs 49.0%; odds ratio, 0.69; 95% CI: 0.48, 1.00; P = 0.049). Conclusions The present study showed that early initiation of ACEi was associated with lower composite outcome of in-hospital mortality or haemodialysis dependence at discharge in patients with SRC. Further prospective studies are warranted to verify the present findings.

Automated summary

This retrospective cohort study evaluated the effectiveness of early initiation of ACE inhibitor in patients with SRC. The results showed that early ACEi treatment was associated with a lower composite outcome of in-hospital mortality or haemodialysis dependence at discharge. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.