• Mathieu Lacou, Maxime Leroy, Nowenn Le Lan, Claire Toquet, Alexandra Espitia-Thibault, Julie Graveleau, Agathe Masseau, Christian Agard, Christelle Volteau, Jean-Marie Mussini, Mohamed Hamidou, and Antoine Néel.
• Internal Medicine Unit, Service de Médecine Interne, CHU de Nantes, 44093 Nantes France.
• Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Feb 1; 60 (2): 699-707.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the sensitivity of muscle biopsy (MB) in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), identify factors predicting MB positivity and assess the prognostic value of a positive MB.MethodsWe conducted a single-centre retrospective study of AAV with an MB performed at diagnosis. AAV classification [granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA)] followed the European Medicines Agency algorithm. A logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with MB positivity. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method.ResultsAmong 276 AAV patients (1995-2018), 101 had an MB. Seventy-eight patients were included: 33 with GPA, 25 with MPA and 20 with EGPA. MB samples were positive in 45 cases (58%): 17 GPA, 16 MPA and 12 EGPA. Univariate analysis focussed on GPA and MPA, revealed that the MB yield was higher in females [22/31 (71%) vs 11/27 (41%); P = 0.02] and in anti-MPO patients [25/37 (68%) vs 6/19 (32%) for anti-PR3; P = 0.01]. By multivariate analysis, three factors predicted MB positivity: anti-MPO ANCA [odds ratio (OR) 10.67 (CI 2.09, 81.68)], female sex [OR 5.3 (CI 1.16, 32.35)] and neutrophil count [OR 1.33 (CI 1.07, 1.8)]. MB positivity had no impact on relapse, death or end-stage renal disease-free survival.ConclusionsMB is a safe and efficient diagnostic tool for AAV. Predictors of MB yield include ANCA type, sex and neutrophil count. MB cannot substitute for kidney biopsy when indicated, but should be considered in other cases.© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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