Patricia Inacio, PhD, science writer —

Determining the levels of interleukins in the blood, specifically IL-10 and IL-33, may help identify people with early systemic ANCA-associated vasculitis, and those at risk of kidney damage, a study suggests. The study, “Cytokine profiling in anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a cross-sectional cohort study,” was published…

Cardiac tamponade, the buildup of fluid in the space surrounding the heart, revealed a case of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) that was successfully treated with prednisolone and a procedure for removing the fluid, a case report states. The study, “Anti-proteinase 3-positive Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Revealed by…

People with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) experience much worse fatigue than the general population, and although this eases in many with treatment, a small subgroup can continue to have high fatigue levels, according to a study in 150 newly diagnosed patients who took part in clinical trials. Those in this…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Priority Review to Rituxan (rituximab) in combination with glucocorticoids for the treatment of children, 2 or older, with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). If Genentech‘s Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Rituxan is approved, this…

ANCA-associated vasculitis patients in Korea have a high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, with the condition affecting mainly those who are older, have ANCA antibodies, or renal involvement at diagnosis, a study has found. The study, “Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody−associated Vasculitis: A Monocentric Retrospective Study,”…

InflaRx will soon launch a Phase 2 clinical trial in Europe to assess the safety and effectiveness of IFX-1 — an investigational inhibitor of the complement system — in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Now that European authorities have approved it, the randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial is expected to recruit approximately…

Elevated levels of the CD64 protein on the surface of neutrophils – a type of immune cell – accurately distinguishes bacterial infection from disease flares in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a study has found. The study, “Utility of neutrophil…

The occurrence of a severe infection during the first month of care is a strong predictor of one-year mortality among patients 65 and older with ANCA-associated renal vasculitis — a form of kidney inflammation caused by ANCA antibodies — a retrospective study reports. The study, “Early predictors of one-year…

Standard therapies used to ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), like cyclophosphamide or Rituxan (rituximab), appear to be of benefit in patients who are pregnant, a literature review suggests. The study, “Successful treatment outcomes in pregnant patients with ANCA‐associated vasculitides: A systematic review of literature,” was published in the International Journal…

The frequency of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) appears to increase with exposure to carbon monoxide and colder climates, with patients more often diagnosed in winter months, a Chinese study reports. The disease also seems to be more common among people in Northern China and in certain ethnic minorities, like the Dong, Zhuang, and…