News

Fasenra keeps EGPA in remission for up to two years: Trial data

Treatment with AstraZeneca’s Fasenra (benralizumab) helped adults with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) that’s difficult to treat maintain disease remission for up to two years, while reducing or eliminating the need for oral corticosteroids. That’s according to combined data from the ongoing open-label extension (OLE) portion and the…

AAV therapy Tavneos effective in patients with kidney involvement

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) therapy Tavneos (avacopan) is at least as effective as the glucocorticoid prednisone at inducing disease remission, reducing relapse rates, and improving kidney function and quality of life in patients with kidney involvement at treatment start. That’s according to new subgroup analyses from the Phase…

Facial palsy a risk factor for hearing loss in GPA: Study

Facial palsy, or weakness of the facial muscles, is associated with a nearly 10 times higher risk of hearing loss with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), a type of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a single-center study suggests. Older age, along with ear or eye involvement, were also significant risk factors for…

Permanent organ damage common in ANCA-associated vasculitis

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…

Immunosuppressives aid survival in late ANCA-associated vasculitis

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…

Cardiac MRI can detect ANCA-associated vasculitis heart damage

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…

AAV combo therapy allows for early glucocorticoid withdrawal

Induction therapy with cyclophosphamide and rituximab allows for early discontinuation, without compromising efficacy, of an oral-only glucocorticoid regimen in people with severe ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a study found. Patients on oral glucocorticoids for up to three months showed comparable remission and relapse rates, but tended to have fewer infections…