Low antibody levels common after rituximab for AAV, study shows

Living with ANCA-associated vasculitis forces us to redefine a lot of things, including our energy, our expectations, and our sense of normal. But one of the most important and sometimes overlooked things we have to redefine is what we consider “good enough.” Because when it comes to our health…

The ANCA-associated vasculitis Patient-Reported Outcome (AAV-PRO) questionnaire captures physical, social, emotional, and symptom-related burdens that are closely linked to difficulties in daily life but are not always reflected in physician assessments. That’s according to a study in Germany that used the German-language version of the AAV-PRO questionnaire, which had…

Measuring urine levels of two proteins in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and kidney involvement independently predicted their risk of progression to kidney failure, according to a new study from China. The researchers found that noninvasive testing of trehalase and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), two highly sensitive urinary biomarkers,…

At a recent medical conference, a concept came up that’s worth unpacking for anyone navigating ANCA-associated vasculitis: minimal symptom expression, or MSE. It was presented as a way clinicians assess whether a disease is controlled or in remission. On the surface, it sounds promising — who wouldn’t want…

Certain T-cells may show excessive activity in a signaling pathway called STAT3-PIM1 in people with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) who test positive for antibodies against proteinase 3 (PR3-GPA), according to a new study. Researchers aimed to identify unique activity patterns in T-cells containing the CD4 protein marker (CD4+ T-cells),…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with, or observations of, several medications. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I have eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), a type of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) that is not indicated…

Long-term treatment with Nucala (mepolizumab) was linked to systemic disease remission in more than 90% of people with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) in a real-world study in Italy, but sinonasal disease often persisted. Sinonasal manifestations affect the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses, the air-filled spaces within…

Older adults with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) may achieve more favorable outcomes when induction therapy — an often intensive treatment approach aimed at quickly bringing active disease under control — is tailored to frailty and disease severity, a study suggests. Among adults ages 75 and older with severe active AAV…

If you’ve been living with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), irrespective of the type, you’ve probably felt both sides of hope: the side that feels good, and the frustrating side when treatments don’t quite get you where you want to be. Today, I want to focus on the hope of new…