News

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…

Infections are a leading cause of early death in adults with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), being most common in the first year after a diagnosis when treatment with immunosuppressive medications is most intense, a single-center study in Australia suggests. Hospitalizations due to infections tended to decrease after a dedicated vasculitis…

Adults with active eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), a rare type of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), report improvements in health-related quality of life as early as one week after starting treatment with Nucala (mepolizumab). These are the findings of a multicenter European study that evaluated the effects of Nucala…

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…

Blood levels of CCL23, an immune molecule that may be involved in blood vessel formation and repair, are significantly increased in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) relative to healthy people, a study finds. High blood CCL23 levels accurately differentiate people with active AAV from those in remission and increase…

Older age and higher glucocorticoid exposure are significantly associated with a higher risk of death due to infections among people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a study showed. Patients older than 65 were more likely to die from complications of life-threatening infections, which can result from using immunosuppressive therapies to…

Personal stories, community connections, and encouraging videos will be among the highlights as patients, doctors, researchers, and advocates recognize International Vasculitis Day on May 15 and the rest of Vasculitis Awareness Month. Vasculitis is a group of rare autoimmune diseases characterized by inflammation and damage to blood vessels. Most…

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) patients with high blood levels of the inflammatory protein interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) at the onset of their disease are significantly more likely to have relapses despite treatment, a small study in Japan shows. The findings suggest IFN-gamma may serve as a biomarker to predict relapses in MPA,…

Fasenra (benralizumab) and Nucala (mepolizumab) appear to be equally safe and effective in helping adults with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) achieve disease remission, according to a real-world study in Europe that directly compared the two approved therapies. Still, at one year, AstraZeneca’s Fasenra was associated with…

Adding Tavneos (avacopan) to standard treatment for the two main types of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) results in fewer adverse events — including a lesser number of serious side effects and infections — in adults with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, or GPA, and microscopic polyangiitis, known as MPA. That’s according…