Published 01/02/2022

ANCA Vasculitis

Although rare, vasculitis involving the kidneys is an important cause of AKI which if not diagnosed promptly, leads to irreversible damage to the kidneys and end stage renal failure. It has an incidence of around 20 cases per million population per year occurring in all ages with a peak age of onset of 55-70 years. It is an autoimmune condition leading to inflammation and damage to the filtering unit of the kidney, the glomeruli. It is a Rapidly Progressive GlomeruloNephritis (RPGN). The most common causes of RPGN are ANCA vasculitis or anti-glomerular basement membrane disease (Anti-GBM). The key feature in this case is a urine dip that is positive for blood which suggests active inflammation within the glomeruli and blood leaking through the damaged basement membrane. Blood tests for ANCA and Anti-GBM should be sent early as possible, as delays in treatment can lead to irreversible end stage renal failure.