News

Blood levels of progranulin — a protein involved in cell development, cell growth, and wound healing — may predict the severity of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a new observational study suggests. According to researchers, serum progranulin, or the protein’s levels in the bloodstream, “could be used as a predictive marker…

Plasma exchange and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ECMO — the use of an artificial lung — are two interventions that may benefit patients with severe ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) linked with pulmonary hemorrhage, a potentially life-threatening condition in which blood starts to build up in the lungs, a case…

Over 230 national organizations signed a letter urging all 50 U.S. state governors to “maintain and expand” flexibility with licensure requirements for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic to ease access to care. During the pandemic, governors used emergency authority to waive certain state licensure requirements, giving healthcare providers…

A committee of the European Medicines Agency has recommended approving Tavneos (avacopan) as an add-on therapy for adults with severe, active microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) or granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), the two most common types of ANCA-associated vasculitis. This recommendation from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use…

A new classification system, based on the underlying cause of disease, may be necessary to better understand ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and other disorders characterized by inflammation in the blood vessels. That’s according to a team led by scientists at Aarhus University, in Denmark, who published their idea for the…

After an initial biopsy shows signs of active ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) affecting the kidneys, repeat biopsies are better at determining active disease than standard measures of kidney function, a new observational study reports. Such repeat kidney biopsies may help determine treatment response and personalize care plans for people with…

Kidney disease is less common among people with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), but some patients may experience severe kidney damage and require management by specialists, a case report shows. The study, “Renal Involvement in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis,” was published in the journal Kidney International Reports.

A retrospective study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that healthcare costs for those with rare diseases have been underestimated, possibly being three to five times higher than for those without rare diseases. This study provides evidence of the potential effect rare diseases may have on public health…

A woman of childbearing years developed ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) after taking the thyroid medication methimazole to treat her Graves’ disease, a case report shows. The patient experienced signs of respiratory and kidney failure secondary to AAV, but her symptoms improved after discontinuing the medication and starting immunosuppressive medications. Four…

In their continued efforts to improve health equity for people with rare diseases, Global Genes and RARE-X have joined forces to help advocacy groups collect patient data and make the most of that information. “Patient data is perhaps the most valuable asset rare disease communities can leverage to…