Author Archives: Inês Martins PhD

A common blood pressure medication called hydralazine may cause ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), with a severe impact on both lungs and kidneys in rare instances, a case report shows. The medication has been widely associated with AAV, but reports of severe lung and kidney injury are uncommon. In such…

A rare case of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) causing thickening of the dura mater — a protective membrane of the central nervous system (CNS) — was found in a person previously treated for ANCA-associated interstitial lung disease. The case report was detailed in the study, “A…

To better understand the concerns and behaviors of people with autoimmune conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) and its digital patient community, CreakyJoints, have launched a longitudinal study for those with vasculitis, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease…

The multiple sclerosis treatment Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) can cause severe ANCA-associated vasculitis in rare cases, adding to the growing number of autoimmune complications caused by this therapy, a case report shows. The study, “ANCA-associated life-threatening systemic vasculitis after alemtuzumab treatment for multiple sclerosis,” was…

High doses of corticosteroids as initial treatment and kidney problems evident at diagnosis significantly increase the likelihood of early and severe infections in elderly people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), research shows. These infections are associated with a higher risk of death. The study, “Initial high-dose …

Among ANCA-associated vasculitis patients in remission — particularly those with manifestations in their kidneys — the reappearance of MPO-ANCA antibodies may be a sign of disease relapse, a study suggests. The study, “Association Between Reappearance of Myeloperoxidase-Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody and Relapse in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis,” was…

A combination of belimumab plus standard maintenance treatment is no better than standard of care alone at delaying relapse in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients in remission, a Phase 3 clinical trial shows. However, a subgroup of patients who receive Rituxan (rituximab) as an induction treatment may benefit from belimumab maintenance, the…

The immunosuppressant agent mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is similar to standard cyclophosphamide at inducing remission in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients, but it seems to be associated with a higher relapse rate, a clinical trial shows. The findings suggest that MMF is a potential alternative to cyclophosphamide, particularly in patients…

Disease status at three and six months seems to predict long-term survival and kidney failure in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a study shows. These findings suggest that early disease control could be used as a surrogate endpoint, or objective, for AAV clinical trials, potentially shortening their duration. The study, “…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a label update for Rituxan (rituximab) to include information for patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) who have achieved disease control after induction treatment. A combination of Genentech‘s Rituxan and glucocorticoids, Rituxan has been approved since…