Clinical Features of ANCA-Associated Vasculitis in African American Patients in the United States

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical features at presentation of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) between African American (AA) and White patients. METHODS: This is a chart review of cases between January 2003 and December 2018. African American patients with AAV were identified and matched in a 1:2 ratio with White comparators based on the year of diagnosis (±4 years). Data on demographics, clinical, and laboratory features and outcomes at presentation were collected. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the characteristics between groups. RESULTS: Thirty-two of 56 AA patients with AAV had complete data and were included for analysis. When compared with 64 matched White patients with AAV, AA patients were younger (47.5 vs 61.0 years, p = 0.001). Compared with White patients, AA patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) (35 vs 55 years, p = 0.0006) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) (55.5 vs 65.0 years, p = 0.05) were younger. African American patients with GPA were more frequently female (p = 0.008), whereas AA patients with MPA were more frequently male (p = 0.03). No differences in disease manifestations, disease activity, and outcomes were observed between AA and White patients with AAV. CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center study, AA patients with AAV were diagnosed at a younger age than Whites; this was found in both the GPA and MPA disease phenotypes. No other significant differences were observed. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings and better describe differences of AAV in racial/ethnic minorities.