Steve Bryson, PhD, science writer —

Patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) have a higher risk of mortality than the general population, especially those who are older or have impaired kidney function, a long-term outcome analysis study has found. Infections were the leading cause of death, with treatment complications, such as immunosuppression and blood vessel inflammation,…

The CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine has an excellent safety profile, but generates only a moderate immune response in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a clinical trial analysis found. Although the levels of vaccine-induced antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, declined over six months, a booster shot was shown…

Intensive care stays are more likely if oxygen-carrying hemoglobin levels are low at hospital admission in adults with kidney disease caused by ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), an analysis of medical records found. Severe kidney injury was the primary reason for intensive care unit (ICU) admission in these patients and associated…

In the year before being diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), Medicare beneficiaries had significantly higher use and costs of healthcare than those without AAV, an analysis found. According to researchers, earlier identification of AAV is necessary to provide patients with appropriate care and potentially reduce costs and healthcare use.

Amgen is the new owner of Tavneos (avacopan), an approved ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) therapy, following its successful $3.7 billion cash acquisition of ChemoCentryx. “ChemoCentryx enhances Amgen’s leading inflammation and nephrology portfolio and includes Tavneos (avacopan), a first-in-class treatment for severe active anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis (ANCA-associated vasculitis), an…

Immune macrophages or cells that carry the proteins CD163 and/or CD206 play a key role in kidney inflammation in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a study reported. Researchers found that these distinct macrophages contribute to the inflammatory process in different ways. Moreover, the team determined that both CD163 and…

Tavneos (avacopan) has been approved as an add-on therapy for adults in Switzerland with severe, active microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) or granulomatosis polyangiitis (GPA), the two main types of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Following the decision by the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, Swissmedic, the launch of Tavneos is expected…

People with ANCA vasculitis (AAV) in long-term remission have increased arterial stiffness, a sign of cardiovascular disease, a study reports. The mechanisms underlying acute cardiovascular disease risk in AAV were associated with endothelin-1, a molecule that promotes blood vessel narrowing. In the placebo-controlled study, blocking endothelin-1 receptors was found…

Elevated levels of certain pro-inflammatory proteins were found in the bloodstream and urine of people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), and correlated with disease severity, a study shows. Findings suggest that two of these proteins — S100A8/A9 and S100A12 — from the S100 family of proteins, play a role in…

Symptoms affecting the eyes and ears are significantly more common in adults with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) who developed hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP), a rare condition marked by brain inflammation, a study from Japan reported. Notably, sudden vision or hearing loss was found in AAV patients with HP, suggesting that eye…