Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

A new statistical model that considers age, disease type, patterns of organ involvement, and lab findings may help predict long-term survival in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) better than available prognostic systems, a study suggests. The study “Development and internal validation of a model to predict long-term survival of ANCA…

Different types of disease-driving antibodies tend to associate with different symptoms of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), the rarest form of ANCA-associated vasculitis. That’s according to the study “Spectrum of ANCA-specificities in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. A retrospective multicenter study,” published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology.

Women carrying a genetic mutation dubbed rs9274619 have a significantly higher risk of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) associated with antibodies against myeloperoxidase (MPO) than men, a new study shows. Among MPO-AAV patients, this mutation was linked to a greater likelihood of eye involvement and a lower risk of lung involvement.

Physicians in the U.S. are excited about the potential of Tavneos (avacopan), an approved treatment for people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), to reduce the use of corticosteroids, a type of steroid medication, in this patient population. That enthusiasm is due to the safety concerns associated with the long-term…

Many people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) have profound fatigue that’s severe enough to fulfill the diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, even when the disease isn’t active, a study shows. “We emphasize that physicians should be aware of this when assessing treatment and management strategies for improving quality…

Immune T-cells positive for the GPR56 receptor protein — a marker for cell-killing immune cells — may contribute to local tissue damage in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients whose disease is associated with antibodies against the proteinase 3 (PR3) protein, a study showed. Notably, these cells were more likely to…

Cardiovascular events like a heart attack are more likely in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) who also have diabetes, a study reported. Other identified risk factors for AAV patients, a group known to be at cardiovascular disease risk, included older age and a prior history of cardiovascular problems. “Treatment…

Preventive, or prophylactic treatment with certain antibiotics can reduce the risk of severe infections for people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) who are receiving immunosuppressive treatment, a new analysis shows. Specifically, good results were found in a clinical trial with a combination of antibiotics known as TMP/SMX. “This … is…

Measuring the number of immune T-cells in urine could be used to help identify kidney damage in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a new study suggests. These urinary T-cells also may aid in predicting treatment responses and the risk of future disease relapse. “Their promising potential as noninvasive…

Higher blood levels of the molecule pro-calcitonin (PCT) are a marker of lung infection among ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients with lung disease, a new study reports. Combining PCT with other blood markers can further increase the accuracy of identifying infection, and may be useful for distinguishing between AAV-related lung…