Tachyarrhythmias in Microscopic Polyangitis Responding Well to Plasmapharesis Treatment

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a form of anti neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody associated necrotizing vasculitis, which may present with a variety of clinical manifestations. Cardiac involvement in vaculitis is common and the manifestations usually include cardiomyopathy, pericarditis and arrhythmias. Our patient presented with dyspnea, hemoptysis and acute kidney injury. The patient developed frequent episodes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia during the course of his stay, which subsequently resolved on treatment with plasmapheresis. Mortality rate is significantly high in patients with pulmonary hemorrhage and renal failure; plasmpheresis has proven to be beneficial in such acute case. Our case not only highlights the therapeutic effects of plasmapheresis on MPA but also stresses the importance of prompt plasmapheresis to mitigate MPA complications like SVT.