| Age (years) | 51 (19–77) |
| Sex (male/female) | 29/16 |
| Disease duration (years) | 5.7 (0.8–28.1) |
| Acute relapses | 13/45 (28.9%) |
| Persistent disease activity in 6 months before enrolment | 32/45 (71.1%) |
| No of failed therapies | 3 (1–10) |
| Patients with previous cyclophosphamide exposure | 43 (95.6%) |
| Cumulative cyclophosphamide dose (g) | 30.5 (2.5–360) |
| ANCA positive at entry | 40/45 (88.9%) |
| C-ANCA/PR3-ANCA | 36 |
| MPO-ANCA | 4 |
| Histological confirmation at diagnosis | 40 (88.9%) |
| Renal involvement (at study entry) | 15 (33.3%) |
| CRP (mg/dl) | 9.5 (0–128) |
| ESR (mm/h) | 22 (4–103) |
| BVAS at entry | 12 (3–25) |
| VDI at entry | 4 (0–14) |
Numerical values are expressed as median and range. ANCA, antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody; BVAS, Birmingham vasculitis activity score; C-ANCA, cytoplasmic staining antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody; CRP, C-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; MPO-ANCA, antimyeloperoxidase antibody; PR3-ANCA, antiproteinase 3 antibody; VDI, vasculitis damage index.