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Nephrology
Systemic diseases: ANCA vasculitis and SLE
Damage to the kidneys can occur not only in the context of kidney diseases, as the kidneys often reflect systemic diseases. In particular, chronic inflammatory rheumatic systemic diseases such as lupus erythematosus, ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and systemic sclerosis often damage multiple organ systems (e.g. kidneys, lungs, heart, central nervous system) in severe cases.
About 75% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develop kidney involvement, known as lupus nephritis. The spectrum of disease severity is very wide, ranging from almost asymptomatic disease that only becomes apparent with special tests (e.g. urine microscopy, kidney biopsy) to organ failure requiring intensive care. However, early recognition and timely initiation of treatment for lupus nephritis determines the prognosis for all SLE patients.
ANCA: vasculitis with serious consequences
ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) affects the smallest blood vessels in the body, and this inflammation can cause damage to various organs, including the kidneys, lungs, ENT (ear, nose and throat), skin and nervous system. It is therefore a systemic disease that is usually chronic, often with florid relapses, but also with periods of low intensity. Patients often report general, non-specific changes such as fatigue, loss of appetite, but also a bloody cold or cough. If left untreated, the disease can lead to serious, often irreversible organ damage, especially if the kidneys and lungs are affected. There are three different forms of AAV: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA).
Specialist rheumatology consultation
There is close interdisciplinary coordination to ensure that patients affected by such systemic diseases, with their high requirements profile, receive optimal care in terms of diagnosis and treatment. The special rheumatology consultation (ASV Rheumatology), which will be established in February 2020, provides a highly qualified team of experts for this purpose.
Highly specialised outpatient infusion therapy unit
The treatment of these diseases usually requires drugs that suppress the immune system. This can be done with tablets, injections or infusions. For the latter in particular, the multidisciplinary Interdisciplinary Centre for Tumour Drug Therapy is a highly specialised unit where patients are optimally cared for and monitored during outpatient infusion therapies.
