• Covid-19
• systemic vasculitis
• autoimmune diseases

We read with great interest the recent article by Gauckler et al reporting 15 patients diagnosed with antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies-associated vasculitides (AAV) during the COVID-19 pandemic between February and August 2020. During this period, the authors report an incidence shift with a COVID-19 gap of no diagnosed AAV cases during the lockdown period in March and April 2020, followed by a postlockdown phase in the subsequent 4 months and an increased incidence rate.1 Diagnosis of AAV can be delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic because non-urgent tests and visits might have been postponed due to closure of medical services during the lockdown. We here report a single-centre observation in 28 patients diagnosed AAV with kidney involvement requiring renal biopsy in 2019 and 2020 (until 16th of December).1 2

Between January and December 2020, a total number of 11 patients required renal biopsy confirming AAV with kidney involvement (figure 1A). Compared with 2019, we observed a COVID-19 gap in April to June 2020 with a postlockdown increase of incidence rates in diagnosed AAV with renal biopsy (figure 1A). Interestingly, the COVID-19 gap preferentially affected AAV patients admitted to the normal medical ward (figure 1B). In contrast, no such COVID-19 gap was observed in critically ill patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) or intermediate care unit (IMC) supportive care (figure 1C). These findings are in line with previous observations that the COVID-19 pandemic has significant impact on patients with diseases other than COVID-19, especially in cases admitted to the normal medical ward.3

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Figure 1

Timeline of incident ANCA-associates vasculitis cases confirmed by renal biopsy in 2019 and 2020. ANCA, antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies; ICU, intensive care unit; IMC, intermediate care unit.

Prompt diagnoses of AAV with renal involvement currently affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are crucial in the disease management. Although definite conclusions on long-term clinical outcomes cannot be yet drawn, our observations indicate no detrimental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on critically ill patients requiring ICU/IMC supportive care. In contrast, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in delayed renal biopsy and diagnosis of AAV in patients admitted to the normal medical ward. Recent studies in the second trimester of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic reported patients with diagnosed AAV whom renal replacement therapy was necessary in seven of nine patients. Although all patients received remission induction therapy, none returned to normal renal function and one patient died.2 According to literature, AAV is preceded by a prodromal phase characterised by constitutional symptoms, eventually more affecting patients admitted to the normal medical ward.4 Diagnostic delay at this stage is common and has been demonstrated to be associated with mortality and end-stage renal disease.5 6 During the COVID-19 lockdown, containment measures and fear may have contributed to downplay constitutional symptoms and to underestimate their need for medical attention in AAV patients. Since the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in delayed renal biopsy and diagnosis of AAV in patients admitted to the normal medical ward in our single-centre observation, the COVID-19 pandemic should be regarded as a risk factor especially in patients with diseases other than COVID-19 and presenting with constitutional symptoms.