Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Mitochondrial DNA: a novel indicator of active inflammation in ANCA-associated vasculitides
Authors' conclusion
mtDNA, unlike nDNA, is elevated in the plasma of AAV patients and may contribute to systemic inflammation.
Study context
- Population
- Consecutive patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) (median age 64 years, 50.5% female, BVAS range 0–30) and healthy controls27 ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients with follow-up
- Participants
- 101 vs 92
- Exposure
- AAV patients vs healthy controls; active AAV vs remission
- AAVn = 101
- Healthy controls (HCs)n = 92reference
- Outcome
- Circulating mtDNA and nDNA copy numbers in platelet-free plasma (PCR)
Methodological detailsconsecutive patients, healthy controls
- Consecutive patients
- Healthy controls
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Median mtDNA copies 13-fold higher in AAV than in HCs
- nDNA concentrations did not differ between AAV and HCs
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Values | Fold difference in median mtDNA copies | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| mtDNA copies, active AAV (BVAS > 0) vs remission | 4-fold | P = 0.03 | |
| Diagnostic performance of mtDNA, active AAV (BVAS > 0) vs HCs (ROC analysis) | mtDNA quantification sensitivity 96.1% · specificity 98.9% · AUC 0.99 |
Correlation of mtDNA with BVAS
- mtDNA vs BVAS, r (P = 0.002)
- 0.30
- mtDNA, unlike nDNA, associated with AAV activity at multivariable analysis
Correlation of mtDNA changes with BVAS changes during follow-up (n = 27)
- mtDNA changes vs BVAS changes, r (P = 0.002); CRP and ANCA titres did not correlate
- 0.56
Original publication
Mitochondrial DNA: a novel indicator of active inflammation in ANCA-associated vasculitides. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 16 January 2023. doi:10.
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