Patricia Inacio, PhD,  science writer—

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Rituxan (rituximab), in combination with glucocorticoids, for the treatment of children ages two or older with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). GPA and MPA are the two subtypes of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), an…

In granulomatosis with polyangiits (GPA) patients, the levels of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCAs) — the autoantibodies associated with the condition — appear to correlate with worse disease activity, a study has found. However, ANCAs remain high in many patients who enter clinical remission, suggesting that disease management cannot…

Almost half of patients diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) showed neurological symptoms in a single-site, retrospective study from India. But while nervous system involvement appears to be more common than thought, it does not affect long-term survival, its researchers said. The study, “Neurological Manifestations Do not Affect Cumulative Survival…

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients with renal involvement have higher blood levels of certain small vesicles than either patients without kidney symptoms or people without this disease, a study found. These microparticles, which are positive for the myeloperoxidase (MPO) protein and carry the complement proteins C3a and C5a — central…

Researchers say an important clinical assessment is determining whether ANCA-associated vasculitis patients who need dialysis at disease onset, due to severe kidney damage, can become dialysis independent. A study has now found that people with AAV are more likely to achieve that independence if their kidney manifestations are…

Levels of rheumatoid factor — an antibody against healthy tissue found in some autoimmune diseases — appear to separate eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) patients into two subtypes with different disease mechanisms, a study suggests. “Subtypes in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis classified according to rheumatoid…

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…