News

A protein known as NGAL — fully, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin — appears to be a marker of disease activity and kidney damage severity in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) who have kidney inflammation, according to new research by scientists in China. The team found that “in active AAV, [blood]…

Most people who test positive for ANCAs — the self-reactive antibodies that drive most ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) cases — have pauci-immune glomerulonephritis (GN), a type of inflammation of the kidneys’ filtering units, a study found. A high number of blood-clotting-inducing platelets, high blood levels of the inflammatory marker…

Although uncommon, inflammation of the salivary and tear glands can occur in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) — most often among those with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), one of the most common AAV types — according to a new study from researchers in France. The parotid gland, the…

Similar rates of remission and sustained remission were found for people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) given induction treatment with cyclophosphamide and Tavneos (avacopan) in a clinical trial compared with those receiving cyclophosphamide plus the glucocorticoid prednisone. Still, the Tavneos-based treatment regimen appeared to be associated with a lower…

CD11b, a protein found on the surface of neutrophils — immune cells that are first responders in fighting infections in the body — may be a biomarker of kidney disease in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), according to a new study from researchers in China. Levels of activated CD11b on…

People with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) are at a higher risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), the most common form of skin cancer, but not other types of cancer, according to a long-term follow-up study in Europe. The use of the immunosuppressive therapy azathioprine, longer azathioprine treatment, and being…

Tavneos (avacopan) can control ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) just about as well as standard glucocorticoids but causes fewer side effects — and as such, use of the approved therapy may help people with AAV enjoy a better quality of life. Those are the findings of a review study by…

Having pulmonary renal syndrome (PRS), a potentially life-threatening condition marked by lung and kidney problems, is associated with a higher risk of severe complications in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a new study reports. After accounting for starting differences in kidney function, AAV patients with PRS had a six…

In severe ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), rituximab may be superior to cyclophosphamide at helping people survive beyond 10 years and achieve remission, while reducing the need for standard corticosteroids. These are the findings of a Japanese real-world study that also found rituximab was not associated with any infection-related deaths,…

Being male, being 55 or older, having evidence of kidney damage, and having nervous system involvement are independently associated with a higher risk of relapse and death in people with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), according to a study in Iran. “Awareness of this information can lead to better understanding…