Development of myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated renal vasculitis in a patient receiving treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor-α

Abstract

We report on a 33-year-old woman who presented with positive myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) during rheumatoid arthritis treatment with infliximab. She had a history of worsening arthralgia, and urinalysis showed the new occurrence of hematuria and proteinuria. Renal biopsy showed necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis. Immunosuppressive therapy and discontinuation of the infliximab therapy alleviated her arthralgia and improved the urinalysis results. We report this rare case in which an anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) agent for ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis was studied.