Lindsey Shapiro, PhD, science writer —

The function of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) is impaired in people with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) — a type of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) — who are in disease remission, according to a recent study. Impairments in ECFCs’ ability to repair damaged blood vessels — their normal role — even…

Blood levels of molecules called soluble immune checkpoints (sICPs) may serve as biomarkers of relapse risk in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a study found. Patients with lower levels of these molecules were more likely to relapse after being in remission following treatment with rituximab, but were less likely…

Increased insulin resistance — measured by the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index — may predict which people diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) are at a greater risk of developing heart problems, a study found. Its predictive power may come from its association with metabolic disease at AAV diagnosis, data showed.

Levels of the immune signaling molecule interleukin-21 (IL-21) and the cells that produce the protein were elevated in the blood of people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) with myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibodies, a study found. IL-21 levels also were linked to higher MPO levels and disease activity, suggesting its direct involvement in…

Despite being in clinical remission based on physician evaluation, many people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) report experiencing ongoing disease symptoms, a study has found. Symptoms of pain and fatigue were the biggest indicators of active disease for patients in the study. These findings highlight the importance of considering…

Limited exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and related drops in vitamin D levels — particularly over the winter months — may be linked to a greater risk of relapses among people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) in Ireland and the U.K., a data study found. But vitamin D status and…

Undetectable blood levels of ANCAs within six months of remission induction treatment were associated with a lower risk of relapses over the next five years in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a study showed. The presence or absence of disease-causing antibodies did not seem to impact the risk of…

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) emerged as a side effect of levamisole given for years to treat a 15-year-old boy with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, according to a case report. “By reporting this case, we want to raise awareness among clinicians regarding a rare complication of treatment with Levamisole that is often…

Tavneos (avacopan) reduced respiratory, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) involvement among people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), but did not significantly outperform prednisone in its ability to do so, according to a substudy of the larger Phase 3 ADVOCATE trial. The treatment also significantly lowered patients’ reliance on glucocorticoid…

Rituximab treatment led to rates of remission and relapse prevention in Mexican patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) that were similar to those previously observed in other patient populations, a real-world study found. It was also associated with a higher rate of infections, the study found. Overall, about 65% of…