Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Cyclophosphamide vs rituximab induction therapy for ANCA-associated vasculitis. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 12-month mortality
Pooled result · Overall mortalityResult — go to the resultDifference 4.8% 95% CI 0.5–9.0Authors' conclusion
Overall, there was a statistically significant difference favouring rituximab in 12-month mortality rates after cyclophosphamide or rituximab induction treatment for AAV. Subgroup sensitivity analysis considering study populations consistently supported this result although only treatment for GPA and baseline BVAS <17 reached statistical significance.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) receiving induction therapy48 studies
- Comparison
- Cyclophosphamide vs rituximab induction therapy for AAV
- Outcome
- Mortality
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological detailsrandom effects model, I2 heterogeneity assessment, sensitivity analysis
- Random effects model
- I2 heterogeneity assessment
- Sensitivity analysis
Pooled result
Overall mortality
Difference
4.8%
95% CI 0.5–9.0
P < 0.001
By group
Cyclophosphamidevs Rituximab
difference 4.8% (95% CI 0.5–9.0); P < 0.001
As reported in the abstract
Further pooled results
| Outcome | Difference (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortality in 5 studies directly comparing treatments · 12 months | 1.34% (−6.5-3.7) | P = 0.59 | |
| −10−505Difference (linear scale) |
- Mortality in 5 studies directly comparing treatments: small non-statistically significant reduction in mortality for cyclophosphamide
Subgroup sensitivity analyses (year of treatment, sex, age) · 12 months
- Reduced but not statistically significant mortality with rituximab
Original publication
Cyclophosphamide vs rituximab induction therapy for ANCA-associated vasculitis. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 12-month mortality. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 14 September 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →