Usefulness of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 as a predictor of sustained remission in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

We herein demonstrated that TIMP-1 is more useful as a predictive biomarker of sustained remission than as a predictor of relapse in maintenance therapy for AAV. TIMP-1 levels < 150 ng/mL are important for the long-term maintenance of remission and may be an indicator for the tapering or cessation of treatment.