Alice Melão,  —

Some blood vessel inflammation cases stem from a group of diseases collectively known as ANCA-associated vasculitis, while others don’t. Chinese scientists have discovered a first: a non-ANCA-associated vasculitis case that turned into an ANCA-associated one. Doctors call an ANCA-associated case an ANCA-positive case, and a non-associated case an ANCA-negative case. At…

Persistent findings of blood in the urine may predict the likelihood of kidney disease returning in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, a study reports. And it underscores the role that a simple test — urinalysis — can play in predicting a patient’s risk. “The findings of this study…

A rare case of inflammatory disease affecting the protective membrane of the central nervous system was linked to anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) autoantibodies in a case report. The Japanese study, “A case of suspected MPO-ANCA-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis with atypical presentation,” was published in the Journal of Family and…

Prolonged exposure to the silica dust that construction and other industries generate contributes to the development of the small blood vessel disease known as microscopic polyangiitis, according to a Japanese case study. Microscopic polyangiitis, or MPA, is one of three types of a category of diseases known as ANCA-associated vasculitis, or…

Researchers have identified a fat molecule that contributes to kidney damage in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, or AAV. The molecule, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), works to enhance the damaging effects of MPO autoantibodies, one of the two most common disease-causing antibodies produced by AAV patients. The study, “…

Many ANCA-associated vasculitis patients who have a certain type of autoantibody develop the widened-airway condition known as bronchiectasis, a French study shows. The question of whether the respiratory tract is the place where ANCA-associated vasculitis develops remains to be seen, however, the researchers said. The hallmark of ANCA-associated vasculitis is…

A mutation of the ETS1 gene increases the risk of Japanese developing an inflamed blood vessel condition known as granulomatosis with polyangiitis, a study shows. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis is one of three versions of ANCA-associated vasculitis. The ETS1 mutation, which leads to lower levels of the ETS1 protein, is common in people with…

Combining Genentech’s Rituxan (rituximab) with glucocorticoids is an effective way for people with a flare-up of ANCA-associated vasculitis to return to remission, a Phase 3 clinical trial indicates. The RITAZAREM trial dealt with relapses of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, whose shorter name is ANCA-associated vasculitis, or AAV. Genentech presented the…

Platelets were found to take part in activating the alternative complement pathway, a known and important step in the progression of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. According to the study “Platelets are activated in ANCA-associated vasculitis via thrombin-PARs pathway and can activate the alternative complement pathway” published…

ChemoCentryx has enrolled 30 percent of the 300 ANCA-associated vasculitis patients it hopes to recruit for a Phase 3 trial assessing the effectiveness of its therapy avacopan. The company is recruiting patients at more than 185 sites. Those interested in participating (NCT02994927) can visit this website to find a site…