Fig. 8

NK cells in relationship to therapeutic agents. Measurements in AAV from vasculitis center 1. a NK cell parameters depending on the period of time after induction therapy. b NK cell percentages and counts were separated according to drug intake. AZA, azathioprine (n = 110 measurements); MMF, mycophenolate mofetil (n = 37); MTX, methotrexate (n = 62); RTX, rituximab (n = 27); CYC, cyclophosphamide (n = 21, including three patients with concomitant RTX therapy); other (n = 46), including not determined (n = 19), no immunosuppressive therapy (n = 5), treatment naïve (n = 10) and prednisone monotherapy (n = 9, from 2.5 to 10 mg, mean 5 mg daily). Kruskal Wallis tests confirmed significance (p < 0.0001), the stars indicate significant Dunn’s post tests with azathioprine as reference. c Measurements under azathioprine therapy separated according to dosages of 100 mg or > 100 mg daily (n = 32 and n = 76, respectively). In two patients the dosage was not determinable. Note the logarithmic scale on the y axes. d Comparison of azathioprine or other drug intake depending on AAV entity. AZA, n = 19, 20, 68; other drugs, n = 133, 42, 79 for GPA, MPA and EGPA, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed in (c) and (d) using Mann Whitney test. ns, not significant