The function of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) is impaired in people with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) — a type of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) — who are in disease remission, according to a recent study. Impairments in ECFCs’ ability to repair damaged blood vessels — their normal role — even…
Blood levels of molecules called soluble immune checkpoints (sICPs) may serve as biomarkers of relapse risk in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a study found. Patients with lower levels of these molecules were more likely to relapse after being in remission following treatment with rituximab, but were less likely…
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…
Similar to neutrophils, circulating immune macrophage cells contribute to lung bleeding and damage caused by ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a study showed. These circulating macrophages were found to have an abnormally activated DNA sensing system — typically used to detect foreign DNA and fight infections — that promotes inflammation. Deleting these macrophages…
A 16-year-old girl developed granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), a type of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), after being infected with SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a recent case report. Hers is the fourth known case of pediatric-onset AAV following COVID-19 infection, suggesting the virus could…
Tavneos (avacopan) will soon be available as an add-on treatment for adults in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland with severe, active granulomatosis polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), the two main types of ANCA vasculitis (AAV), following a decision by regulatory authorities. The National Institute for Health and…
Men with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) have a 1.54 times higher risk of dying within one year than female patients, a new study finds. According to authors, “this [finding] may provide a reliable predictor for clinicians to judge the prognosis and select active treatment for patients with AAV.” The report,…
The number of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) cases in Spain more than doubled between 2019 and 2021 following mass-scale vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, a new study found, suggesting the vaccine as a possible trigger. Researchers suspect the development of ANCA antibodies and AAV could be among…
After approximately $3.7 billion in acquisitions, Amgen will own the rights to Tavneos (avacopan), an approved oral therapy developed by ChemoCentryx to treat ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Amgen is acquiring ChemoCentryx in a cash deal, expected to be completed by year’s end, the companies announced. “The acquisition of ChemoCentryx represents a…
An increase in ANCA antibodies may predict a relapse within six to 12 months in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), according to a new study. The link between an antibody rise and AAV relapse was found to be significant in patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCAs, or antibodies against…
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