Margarida Maia, PhD,  science writer—

Treatments for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) have improved over time, but many patients still develop permanent organ damage, even though the extent of it has been less severe in recent years, a study in Turkey suggests. Mortality rates have remained largely similar over the years, with death more likely among…

People diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) at age 75 or older may show more inflammation, higher rates of kidney involvement, or higher mortality than younger-onset patients based on their AAV type, a study in Japan finds. But immunosuppressive treatment plus standard corticosteroids appears to be more effective than corticosteroids…

An imaging test that can make detailed pictures of the heart can detect scar tissue buildup in the heart muscle of adults with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), even if they’re not having disease symptoms, a review study shows. “Incorporating cMRI [cardiac MRI] into routine evaluations could improve the detection and…

Infections are a leading cause of early death in adults with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), being most common in the first year after a diagnosis when treatment with immunosuppressive medications is most intense, a single-center study in Australia suggests. Hospitalizations due to infections tended to decrease after a dedicated vasculitis…

Adults with active eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), a rare type of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), report improvements in health-related quality of life as early as one week after starting treatment with Nucala (mepolizumab). These are the findings of a multicenter European study that evaluated the effects of Nucala…

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) patients with high blood levels of the inflammatory protein interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) at the onset of their disease are significantly more likely to have relapses despite treatment, a small study in Japan shows. The findings suggest IFN-gamma may serve as a biomarker to predict relapses in MPA,…

Fasenra (benralizumab) and Nucala (mepolizumab) appear to be equally safe and effective in helping adults with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) achieve disease remission, according to a real-world study in Europe that directly compared the two approved therapies. Still, at one year, AstraZeneca’s Fasenra was associated with…

Adding Tavneos (avacopan) to standard treatment for the two main types of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) results in fewer adverse events — including a lesser number of serious side effects and infections — in adults with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, or GPA, and microscopic polyangiitis, known as MPA. That’s according…

Elevated levels in the blood of ferritin, a protein that binds to iron and stores it for use by the body, are linked to more severe damage in people with active ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), and to a poorer outlook for the kidneys, according to a new study from China.

Testing for the presence of specific self-reactive antibodies linked to ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) may help doctors more easily tell microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) from granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), the two most common types of AAV, a study showed. Classifying patients as MPA or GPA based on the different types…