Iqra Mumal, MSc,  —

Patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis can rarely develop abdominal aortic aneurysm, a serious condition that can lead to blood vessel rupture and, in extreme circumstances, death. The case report with that finding, “Aortic Aneurysm as a Complication of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Successfully Treated with Prednisolone and Cyclophosphamide: A Case…

A kidney biopsy is valuable in establishing a diagnosis and prognosis for end-stage renal disease in older patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis who have kidney involvement, although they are not useful for predicting overall survival, a study shows. “Prognosis and Histological Classification in Elderly Patients with ANCA-Glomerulonephritis: A Registry-Based…

A deficiency in leptin — the hormone that signals the brain when a person has eaten enough — may lead to the development of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), according to a new case study from India. The report, “ANCA-associated Vasculitis in a Case of Congenital Leptin Deficiency,” was published…

Tracheobronchial stenosis, a lung complication characterized by the narrowing of the trachea and bronchi, is common in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and is often the first disease symptom, researchers have found. However, despite its frequent occurrence, there are no standardized treatment protocols for this serious complication. More prospective…

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) patients often experience eye involvement, suggesting an ophthalmologist is necessary for proper disease management and better outcomes, according to Egyptian researchers. Their study, “Relationship of ocular presentation in granulomatosis with polyangiitis to autoantibodies and disease activity,” was published in the journal Zeitschrift für…

The protein myeloperoxidase (MPO) may increase the activation of neutrophils — key immune cells in ANCA-associated vasculitis — and heighten vascular injury in patients, a new study shows. The study, “Myeloperoxidase influences the complement regulatory activity of complement factor H,” was published in the journal Rheumatology. ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV)…

Interstitial lung disease — a group of conditions characterized by scarring of the lungs — may develop in patients with all three subtypes of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a retrospective study shows. The study, “Interstitial Lung Disease in ANCA-Positive Vasculitis Patients,” will be presented at the American…

The levels of certain immune molecules called cytokines in the blood are better at identifying the types of specific autoantibodies present in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients than at determining clinical diagnosis, a recent study shows. Based on this finding, researchers suggest that AAV patients should be classified by autoantibody type…

Prolonging immunosuppressive use may help patients with severe ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis —inflammation of the kidney — who still need dialysis after a standard three-month treatment, a study suggests. The study, “Late restoration of renal function in patients with severe ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis who were dialysis-dependent at presentation,” was published…

Low levels of two immune system proteins increase the risk that a person who has just been diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis will die or have a serious kidney problem, a study shows. The findings on the complement proteins C3 and C4 applied to two forms of ANCA-associated vasculitis — granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and…