Iqra Mumal, MSc,  —

People with ANCA-associated vasculitis have about seven times the risk of developing an infection compared with individuals in the general population, a study found. The study, “Characterizing infection in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis: results from a longitudinal, matched-cohort data linkage study,” was published in the journal Rheumatology.

ANCA-associated vasculitis does not increase healthcare resource utilization or in-hospital mortality rates in patients with Goodpasture’s syndrome, a study reports. The study, “Impact of ANCA-Associated Vasculitis on Outcomes of Hospitalizations for Goodpasture’s Syndrome in the United States: Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2003–2014,” was published in the journal Medicina.

A low-dose glucocorticoid regimen, in which intravenous methylprednisolone (a type of steroid) is not routinely used, can be used to effectively treat ANCA-associated vasculitis in elderly patients, a new study shows. The study, “Long-term outcomes in elderly patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis,” was published in the journal Rheumatology.

Patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) treated with immunosuppressive agents have a higher risk of developing infectious complications, including pneumonia, sepsis, and fungal infection, a new study shows. The study, “Relationship Between Immunosuppressive Therapy and the Development of Infectious Complications Among Patients with Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitis: A Single-center,…

Lesions in the lungs caused by ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) are variable among patients, but lung ultrasound appears to be as good as computed tomography (CT) scans at detecting them, a study found. The study, “Utility of lung ultrasound in ANCA-associated vasculitis with lung involvement,” was published…

The complement system, an important part of immunity, is activated in ANCA-associated vasculitis patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibodies as well as those with proteinase 3 (PR3) ANCA antibodies, but its activation profile appears to differ by severity of disease and possibly by ANCA subtype, a new study shows. The…

Treatment with Rituxan (rituximab) had some efficacy in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis patients, leading to a reduction in glucocorticoid requirement, but asthma and ear, nose and throat (ENT) relapse rates remained high despite continued treatment, a study found. The study, “Efficacy and safety of rituximab in the…

Treatment using plasma exchange can help ANCA-associated vasculitis patients with severe renal damage become independent of dialysis in just a few weeks, according to a study. The study, “Plasma exchange is highly effective for ANCA-associated vasculitis patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis who have advanced to dialysis…

The presence of blood in the urine is associated with a four times higher risk of kidney disease relapse within 44 months after achieving remission in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis, a study has found. The study, “Prognostic Value of Microscopic Hematuria after Induction of Remission in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic…

Levels of Gremlin — a protein that is overexpressed during kidney damage — in the urine may serve as a specific biomarker for ANCA-associated renal vasculitis, a study shows. The study, “Gremlin, A Potential Urinary Biomarker of Anca-Associated Crescentic Glomerulonephritis,” was published in the journal Scientific Reports.