Cochrane · systematic review · CD003232

Interventions for renal vasculitis in adults

Walters, GD, Willis, NS, Cooper, TE, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2020 · Cochrane Library

Kidney and Transplant2 versionsAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
61
current version
GRADE rated
45
No studies
16
Included studies
NR
No studies 16 · 26.2%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 0 · 0%Low 33 · 54.1%Moderate 12 · 19.7%High 0 · 0%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

Questions and results

Show all 2 versions

Plasma exchange as adjunctive therapy for renal vasculitis

Population: adults with renal vasculitis
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Death at one year
RR 1.04 [0.57, 1.92]5 studies · 267 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Serum creatinine at 1 year
no estimate extracted4 studies · 156 participantsLow
Dialysis at one year
RR 0.45 [0.29, 0.72]6 studies · 235 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Sustained remission
RR 1.021 study · 704 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Relapse
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Total number of adverse events
RR 1.01 [0.91, 1.12]5 studies · 956 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Serious infections
RR 1.26 [1.03, 1.54]5 studies · 956 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision

Pulse cyclophosphamide versus continuous cyclophosphamide for remission induction

Population: adults with renal vasculitis
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Death at final
Pulse cyclophosphamide vs continuous cyclophosphamide
RR 0.77 [0.44, 1.32]4 studies · 278 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Serum creatinine at 12 months
Pulse cyclophosphamide vs continuous cyclophosphamide
no estimate extracted2 studies · 52 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Dialysis at end of study
Pulse cyclophosphamide vs continuous cyclophosphamide
RR 1.9 [0.92, 3.91]4 studies · 245 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Remission at 6 months
Pulse cyclophosphamide vs continuous cyclophosphamide
RR 1.03 [0.93, 1.13]2 studies · 176 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Relapse at the end of
Pulse cyclophosphamide vs continuous cyclophosphamide
RR 1.79 [1.11, 2.87]4 studies · 235 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Adverse events ‐ treatment failure
Pulse cyclophosphamide vs continuous cyclophosphamide
RR 1.36 [0.115, 12.56]2 studies · 82 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Serious infections
Pulse cyclophosphamide vs continuous cyclophosphamide
RR 0.71 [0.38, 1.33]4 studies · 278 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias

Rituximab versus cyclophosphamide for renal vasculitis for remission induction

Population: adults with renal vasculitis
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Death at 6 months
Rituximab vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1 [0.21, 4.7]2 studies · 241 participantsModerate
Kidney function
Rituximab vs cyclophosphamide
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Dialysis
Rituximab vs cyclophosphamide
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Remission at 6 months
Rituximab vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.02 [0.79, 1.32]2 studies · 236 participantsModerate
Relapse at 12 months
Rituximab vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.43 [0.18, 11.31]1 study · 38 participantsLow
Serious adverse events
Rituximab vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.11 [0.72, 1.71]2 studies · 241 participantsModerate
Serious Infections
Rituximab vs cyclophosphamide
RR 0.89 [0.62, 1.92]2 studies · 241 participantsModerate

Mycophenolate mofetil versus cyclophosphamide for remission induction

Population: adults with renal vasculitis
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Death at 6 months
Mycophenolate mofetil vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.25 [0.35, 4.46]1 study · 140 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Kidney function
Mycophenolate mofetil vs cyclophosphamide
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Dialysis
Mycophenolate mofetil vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1 [0.14, 6.9]1 study · 140 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Relapse at any time point
Mycophenolate mofetil vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.8 [1, 3.22]1 study · 127 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Remission at 6 months
Mycophenolate mofetil vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.17 [1.01, 1.35]3 studies · 216 participantsModerate
Downgraded: inconsistency
Serious adverse events
Mycophenolate mofetil vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.251 study · 140 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Infection
Mycophenolate mofetil vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.27 [0.75, 2.16]3 studies · 216 participantsModerate
Downgraded: inconsistency

Intravenous immunoglobulin versus placebo for renal vasculitis in adults

Population: adults with renal vasculitis
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Death
Intravenous immunoglobulin vs placebo
RR 0.2 [0.01, 3.88]1 study · 34 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Kidney function
Intravenous immunoglobulin vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Dialysis
Intravenous immunoglobulin vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Response at 3 months
Intravenous immunoglobulin vs placebo
RR 2.33 [1.18, 4.61]1 study · 34 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Relapse at 3 months
Intravenous immunoglobulin vs placebo
RR 1.17 [0.39, 3.56]1 study · 34 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Adverse events
Intravenous immunoglobulin vs placebo
RR 31 study · 34 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Serious infection
Intravenous immunoglobulin vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies

Azathioprine versus cyclophosphamide for maintenance therapy

Population: adults with renal vasculitis for maintenance therapy
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Death (median
Azathioprine vs cyclophosphamide
RR 0.77 [0.35, 1.72]1 study · 144 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Kidney function
Azathioprine vs cyclophosphamide
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Dialysis (median
Azathioprine vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.65 [0.57, 4.79]1 study · 144 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Relapse at 18 months
Azathioprine vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.13 [0.51, 2.5]1 study · 144 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Relapse (median
Azathioprine vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.46 [1, 2.14]1 study · 144 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Serious adverse events
Azathioprine vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.18 [0.45, 3.07]1 study · 144 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Infections
Azathioprine vs cyclophosphamide
RR 1.03 [0.51, 2.06]1 study · 144 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision

Azathioprine versus methotrexate for maintenance therapy

Population: adults with renal vasculitis for maintenance therapy
6 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Death
Azathioprine vs methotrexate
RR 0.331 study · 126 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Kidney function
Azathioprine vs methotrexate
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Dialysis
Azathioprine vs methotrexate
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Relapse
Azathioprine vs methotrexate
RR 1.1 [0.68, 1.77]1 study · 126 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Adverse events causing death or study drug discontinuation
Azathioprine vs methotrexate
RR 0.58 [0.25, 1.38]1 study · 126 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Severe adverse events
Azathioprine vs methotrexate
RR 0.581 study · 126 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision

Antibiotics versus placebo for maintenance therapy

Population: adults with renal vasculitis for maintenance therapy
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Death at 6 months
Antibiotics vs placebo
RR 0.33 [0.01, 7.76]1 study · 81 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias
Kidney function
Antibiotics vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Dialysis
Antibiotics vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Remission at one year
Antibiotics vs placebo
RR 1.14 [0.98, 1.33]2 studies · 111 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Relapse
Antibiotics vs placebo
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Adverse events causing study drug discontinuation
Antibiotics vs placebo
RR 3.9 [0.88, 17.26]1 study · 81 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias
Infection (urinary tract infection)
Antibiotics vs placebo
RR 0.331 study · 81 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias

Leflunomide versus methotrexate for maintenance therapy

Population: adults with renal vasculitis for maintenance therapy
6 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Death
Leflunomide vs methotrexate
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Kidney function
Leflunomide vs methotrexate
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Dialysis
Leflunomide vs methotrexate
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Relapse
Leflunomide vs methotrexate
RR 0.5 [0.22, 1.11]1 study · 54 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias
Serious adverse events*
Leflunomide vs methotrexate
RR 11.81 [0.69, 203.68]1 study · 54 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias
Infection
Leflunomide vs methotrexate
RR 1.17 [0.27, 106.88]1 study · 54 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias