Fig. 3

a ROC curves and AUC scores showing ability of markers to distinguish highly active antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) from remission. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) titers of markers were measured in paired serum samples (before and at 6 months after the start of treatment) from the 62 patients with AAV. The 62 patients with highly active AAV had total Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score version 3 (BVAS) score of 15 (range 12–21). b ROC curves and AUC scores showing ability of markers to distinguish highly active AAV from healthy control subjects. The ELISA titers of markers were compared between highly active AAV (n = 169, before treatment) and healthy control subjects (n = 30). The 169 patients before treatment had total BVAS score of 16 (range 12-21). c Comparison of marker levels between the remission group (n = 62) and the nonremission group (n = 17) at 6 months after the start of treatment. The 17 nonremission patients (9 microscopic polyangiitis [MPA], 5 granulomatosis with polyangiitis [GPA], and 3 eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis [EGPA]) had very mildly active AAV (total BVAS 5, range 3–6). Each dot represents one patient. Box plots show median and IQR. Whiskers indicate most extreme points within 1.5 times the IQR of the box. p Values were determined by analysis of covariance adjusted for age, sex, and four distinct AAV groups (MPA, GPA, EGPA, and unclassifiable disease). *p < 0.05 (significant difference). CRP C-reactive protein, LRG1 Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1, MMP9 Matrix metalloproteinase 9, TIMP1 Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, TKT Transketolase, TNC Tenascin C