News

Preventive Antibiotics in AAV May Reduce Risk of Severe Infections

Preventive, or prophylactic treatment with certain antibiotics can reduce the risk of severe infections for people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) who are receiving immunosuppressive treatment, a new analysis shows. Specifically, good results were found in a clinical trial with a combination of antibiotics known as TMP/SMX. “This … is…

Triple Therapy Effective in AAV Relapse After Kidney Transplant

A combination of rituximab, prednisone, and tacrolimus effectively treated a recurrence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) after a kidney transplant, a case study reported. The case highlights the importance of closely monitoring AAV patients on immunosuppressive therapy with belatacept, particularly when a kidney injury follows a kidney…

Immune Cells in Urine Could Help to Assess AAV Kidney Damage

Measuring the number of immune T-cells in urine could be used to help identify kidney damage in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a new study suggests. These urinary T-cells also may aid in predicting treatment responses and the risk of future disease relapse. “Their promising potential as noninvasive…

Blood Markers May Help Distinguish Lung Infection From AAV Flares

Higher blood levels of the molecule pro-calcitonin (PCT) are a marker of lung infection among ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients with lung disease, a new study reports. Combining PCT with other blood markers can further increase the accuracy of identifying infection, and may be useful for distinguishing between AAV-related lung…

Mortality Risk Is Higher for AAV Patients, Long-term Study Reveals

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,…

AAV Patients Vary on Preference for Plasma Exchange

Nearly one-third of adults with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) would choose plasma exchange regardless of varying risks of kidney failure and severe infection, according to an international study. One-fifth of patients would make that choice only in high-risk scenarios and one-sixth would reject that treatment in all scenarios, however.

Protein Levels in Blood May Mark AAV Years Before Symptoms Do

The blood levels of several immune-related proteins are significantly altered in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) up to five years before they develop symptoms when compared with matched healthy people, a study showed. Changes in these protein levels were found to be involved in inflammatory and metabolic pathways, and…

Rituximab Found Better for GPA Remission Than Cyclophosphamide

Rituximab is superior to cyclophosphamide at inducing disease remission after six months in people with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) — a type of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) — according to a study in France. Similar findings were found for subgroups of GPA patients, such as those newly diagnosed with the disease…