Posts by: Alejandra Viviescas, PhD.

Alejandra Viviescas, PhD.

Alejandra has a PhD in Genetics from São Paulo State University (UNESP) and is currently working as a scientific writer, editor, and translator. As a writer for BioNews, she is fulfilling her passion for making scientific data easily available and understandable to the general public. Aside from her work with BioNews, she also works as a language editor for non-English speaking authors and is an author of science books for kids.

October 17, 2019October 25, 2019

AAV Linked to Bleeding and Iron Deposits in Lungs in Case Study

News

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) can cause recurrent bleeding in the lungs, which manifest as hemosiderosis — an excessive accumulation of iron deposits in tissues — and lung nodules, a case report ... Read more

October 7, 2019October 7, 2019

No Benefit in Add-on Pulse Methylprednisolone for AAV Patients Needing Dialysis, Study Finds

News

Adding methylprednisolone pulse therapy to standard induction therapy does not appear to have any particular benefit for people with severe ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) who need dialysis, a study suggests. The ... Read more

September 12, 2019September 30, 2019

AAV and Lupus in Woman with Unusual Kidney Damage Described in Case Report

News

Different autoimmune pathways — which determine how autoantibodies affect the body — might be involved in cases of lupus nephritis that are positive for ANCAs, leading to unusual kidney symptoms, ... Read more

September 5, 2019

Isolated Acute Sinusitis Might Indicate GPA, Case Report Suggests

News

Doctors should suspect granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in cases of isolated, acute sinusitis that does not improve with treatment, especially in young patients, a case report suggests. The study, “Very ... Read more

September 3, 2019

New Index Calculates AAV Severity at Diagnosis and Predicts Mortality, Study Says

News

Researchers have developed a specific index for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) that uses laboratory results at the time of diagnosis to help assess disease activity and predict death by any cause. ... Read more

August 27, 2019

Cocaine Use Can Trigger ANCA Production, AAV-like Kidney Symptoms, Case Reports Show

News

Cocaine and levamisole, a chemical substance commonly used to cut the drug, can trigger ANCA production and mimic the symptoms of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), researchers said. Most cases affect the ... Read more

August 12, 2019September 10, 2019

AAV Involving Kidneys May Not Always Start in Glomeruli, Case Report Suggests

News

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) can cause kidney damage without affecting the glomeruli, the filtering unit of the kidneys, a case report suggests. Doctors should consider this possibility to avoid a late ... Read more

August 5, 2019

Treating ANCA Vasculitis in Cancer Patients Best Approach, Case Study Suggests

News

When autoimmune diseases such as ANCA-associated vasculitis are found at the same time as cancer, properly diagnosing and treating them alongside the cancer is crucial to ensuring best outcomes for the ... Read more

July 9, 2019

AIMP1 Blood Levels Might Indicate Disease Severity in AAV Patients, Study Reveals

News

People with ANCA-associated vasculitis who have high levels of a protein called aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-interacting multifunctional protein-1 (AIMP1) in their blood serum might be at higher risk of developing a severe ... Read more

July 2, 2019

Rituxan May Help Treat Aorta Inflammation in AAV, Case Report Suggests

News

In the rare event that ANCA-associated vasculitis affects a large blood vessel like the aorta, treatment with Rituxan (rituximab) appears to improve symptoms and reduce inflammation, a case report shows. The ... Read more