D-penicillamine-induced ANA (+) ANCA (+) vasculitis in pediatric patients with Wilson's disease

Clin Nephrol. 2016 May;85(5):296-300. doi: 10.5414/CN108763.

Abstract

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are associated with systemic vasculitis. The pathophysiology of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) has not been clearly proven, and drug-induced ANCA-associated vasculitis has been reported. Wilson's disease is an inborn error of copper metabolism caused by a mutation in the copper transporting gene ATP7B, and traditional treatment is based on copper chelation with agents such as D-penicillamine. There have been rare reports that prolonged D-penicillamine therapy might cause adverse renal events such as membranous nephropathy and minimal change disease, but it is questionable if D-penicillamine induces ANCA-associated vasculitis. We describe 2 patients with Wilson's disease treated with D-penicillamine who presented with ANCA (+) vasculitis and renal involvement. The 2 patients also showed positive results for antinuclear antibody (ANA). Their kidney biopsy findings were compatible with crescentic/necrotizing glomerulonephritis, pauci-immune type. After diagnosis of AAV, D-penicillamine was stopped. Patients were then treated with plasmapheresis and immunosuppressants, including methylprednisolone pulse therapy and intravenous cyclophosphamide. One patient progressed to end-stage renal disease and the other showed persistent proteinuria. These cases suggest that D-penicillamine may induce ANA (+) ANCA (+) vasculitis with severe renal involvement in pediatric patients, and plasmapheresis combined with immunosuppressant should be considered.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis / chemically induced*
  • Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis / drug therapy
  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / blood
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / blood
  • Chelating Agents / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Glomerulonephritis / chemically induced*
  • Glomerulonephritis / drug therapy
  • Hepatolenticular Degeneration / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Penicillamine / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • Chelating Agents
  • Penicillamine