Serum granzyme B is associated with otorhinolaryngological; pulmonary; and renal involvement of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis

Abstract

We investigated whether serum granzyme B (GrB) can reflect the inflammatory burden such as cross-sectional disease activity and organ-specific involvement in immunosuppressive drug-naïve patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). Seventy-eight immunosuppressive drug-naïve patients with AAV were included in this study. At the time of the first classification; whole blood was obtained from each patient and sera was immediately isolated and stored at - 80℃. On the day of the blood sampling; we performed routine laboratory tests including antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody tests and collected both clinical and laboratory data. AAV-specific indices included Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) and Five-Factor Score (FFS). The median age of patients with AAV was 62 years and 26 patients were men. Serum GrB was not associated with the cross-sectional BVAS; however; patients with serum GrB positivity exhibited higher frequencies of otorhinolaryngological manifestation than those without (p=0.037). When serum GrB levels were compared after dividing the patients into two groups based on the presence of organ-specific involvement; patients with pulmonary involvement exhibited a significantly higher serum GrB than those without (p=0.042). On the other hand; patients with renal involvement showed a significantly lower serum GrB than those without (p=0.023). In addition; serum GrB was inversely correlated with the cross-sectional FFS (r=-0.249; p=0.028). Even though serum GrB could not reflect the inflammatory burden of AAV; serum GrB was associated with otorhinolaryngological; pulmonary; and renal involvement in immunosuppressive drug-naïve patients with AAV.