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HHS Secretary Alex Azar Touts White House Efforts to Cure Rare Diseases

Despite skyrocketing healthcare costs, President Trump is committed to protecting the 30 million or so Americans with rare diseases and ensuring timely, affordable access to lifesaving treatments, the nation’s highest-ranking health official said. “We have to think about how our financing system can protect those with serious and rare illnesses.

Smoking Raises Person’s Risk of AAV, Large US Study Suggests

Being a former or current cigarette smoker significantly increases the risk of developing ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), data from a large U.S. study show. This association was particularly  strong in patients with antibodies against myeloperoxidase (MPO). The abstract with the findings, titled “Cigarette Smoking Is a…

ANCA-Associated Vasculitis can Result in Appendicitis Without Other Systemic Symptoms, Case Report Shows

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis can result in inflammation of the appendix — commonly known as appendicitis — without any additional systemic symptoms, researchers report for the first time. The finding highlights the diverse effects of this autoimmune disorder and the importance of careful patient evaluation for adequate diagnosis…