News

People with ANCA-associated vasculitis with high levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibodies at diagnosis are more likely to have poor kidney function and lower 2-year renal survival, a study says. The study, “High anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody titers are associated with the requirement of permanent dialysis in patients with myeloperoxidase-ANCA-associated…

ANCA-associated vasculitis patients in Korea have a high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, with the condition affecting mainly those who are older, have ANCA antibodies, or renal involvement at diagnosis, a study has found. The study, “Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody−associated Vasculitis: A Monocentric Retrospective Study,”…

Treatment using plasma exchange can help ANCA-associated vasculitis patients with severe renal damage become independent of dialysis in just a few weeks, according to a study. The study, “Plasma exchange is highly effective for ANCA-associated vasculitis patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis who have advanced to dialysis…

RaDaR, the catchy new name for the U.S. government-run Rare Diseases Registry Program, aims to help patient advocacy groups with limited resources build their own disease registries. The site was developed by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), a division of the National Institutes of…

With 250 rare diseases newly identified every year, scientists can barely keep up — even as the healthcare system fails millions of Americans whose rare diseases have already been diagnosed. That’s the warning from Christopher P. Austin, MD, director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Studies (NCATS) at…