Table 1 Characteristics of 71 patients with EGPA

Age at study admission (years), mean ± 1 SD

59.9 ± 14.1

56.4 ± 16.3

NS

Sex (M/F)

16/27

9/19

NS

Age at asthma onset (years), mean ± SD

41.3 ± 20.0

34.4 ± 17.9

NS

Age at EGPA onset (years), mean ± SD

50.4 ± 18.4

49.4 ± 15.2

NS

Period of time from EGPA onset to study admission (years), mean ± SD

8.4 ± 8.7

6.0 ± 5.4

NS

Laboratory data at diagnosis

 WBC count (/μL), mean ± 1 SD

16 220.9 ± 8103.7

15 508.2 ± 9173.2

NS

 Blood eosinophils (/μL), mean ± 1 SD

7877.2 ± 7018.9

7515.8 ± 7461.6

NS

 MPO-ANCA yes/no (%)

10/33 (23.3%)

6/22 (21.4%)

NS

 PR3-ANCA yes/no (%)

3/40 (7.0%)

4/24 (14.3%)

NS

 IC > 1.5 mg/mL yes/no (%)

6/26 (25.7%)

6/15 (28.6%)

NS

 RF > 15 IU/mL yes/no (%)

14/22 (38.9%)

14/11 (56.0%)

NS

 BNP > 18.7 pg/mL yes/no (%)

19/18 (51.4%)

11/10 (52.4%)

NS

 IgE IU/mL, median (range)

432 (56–3176)

542 (11.4–25,112)

NS

 IgG IU/mL, mean ± SD yes/no (%)

1562.4 ± 609.5

1441.7 ± 503.6

NS

Clinical manifestations at diagnosis, yes/no (%)

 Asthma

43/0 (100.0%)

27/1 (96.4%)

NS

 Paranasal sinusitis

41/2 (95.3%)

25/3 (89.3%)

NS

 Eosinophilic otitis media

12/30 (28.6%)

4/23 (14.8%)

NS

 Multiple polyneuropathy

42/1 (97.7%)

28/0 (100%)

NS

 Minimum MMT score

3.6 ± 0.9

3.3 ± 1.1

NS

 Pulmonary involvement

21/18 (53.8%)

14/14 (50.0%)

NS

 Myocardial involvement

33/9 (78.6%)

12/14 (46.2%)

p < 0.01

 Gastrointestinal tract involvement

37/2 (94.9%)

23/3 (88.5%)

NS

 Liver, gallbladder, pancreas

8/31 (20.5%)

8/18 (30.8%)

NS

 Renal involvement

14/27 (34.1%)

7/21 (25.0%)

NS

 Skin involvement

27/14 (65.9%)

15/13 (53.6%)

NS

 Arthralgia

23/19 (54.8%)

11/17 (39.3%)

NS

 Myalgia

8/33 (19.5%)

3/24 (11.1%)

NS

 Central nervous system involvement

12/31 (27.9%)

9/19 (32.1%)

NS

BVAS

 At diagnosis

31.0 ± 7.3

28.3 ± 11.0

NS

 Before treatment-group allocation

15.4 ± 5.2

7.3 ± 6.4

 < 0.01

Relapses before treatment-group allocation

 Frequency (times/year), mean ± 1 SD

1.0 ± 0.9

0.4 ± 0.6

 < 0.01

Initial treatment

 PSL (mg) (mean ± SD)

42.9 ± 11.7

46.4 ± 11.1

NS

 mPSL pulse yes/no (%)

29/14 (67.4%)

22/6 (78.6%)

NS

 Immunosuppressant yes/no (%)

37/6 (86.0%)

22/6 (78.6%)

NS

 CYC/AZA/CsA/MTX/RTX

25/3/6/3/0

10/3/7/2/0

NS

Maintenance treatment before group allocation

 Immunosuppressant yes/no (%)

33/10 (76.7%)

21/7 (75.0%)

NS

 CYC/AZA/CSA/MTX/RTX

7/6/5/13/2

6/4/7/4/0

NS

 PSL (mg) (mean ± SD)

12.3 ± 5.6

8.8 ± 5.0

 < 0.05

 IVIG yes/no (%)

35/8 (81.4%)

16/12 (57.1%)

 < 0.05