News

The immunosuppressant agent mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is similar to standard cyclophosphamide at inducing remission in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients, but it seems to be associated with a higher relapse rate, a clinical trial shows. The findings suggest that MMF is a potential alternative to cyclophosphamide, particularly in patients…

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a kidney function marker, and the presence of atrophy in the kidney’s tubules predict renal survival in ANCA vasculitis patients with the sclerotic class of glomerulonephritis…

Blood vessel inflammation caused by ANCA antibodies should be considered in the differential diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever with hyperthyroidism, a case study shows. The study, “Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive familial Mediterranean fever and hyperthyroidism: A case report,” was published in the journal Medicine. Familial Mediterranean…

Researchers reported for the first time the case of a patient with ANCA-associated vasculitis whose condition caused bleeding in the brain and spinal cord, most likely because of a ruptured aneurysm. The study, “Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated central nervous system vasculitis with brain and spinal cord subarachnoid…

Omalizumab, an injectable medication approved for allergic asthma, might reduce asthma symptoms and steroid dosages in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), according to a retrospective study. The study, “Omalizumab in the treatment of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) single-center experience in 18 cases,” was published in …

Early identification of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) overlap is critical for prognosis, long-term treatment, and management of these two distinct diseases, a case report shows. Although few instances of this rare event have been reported, clinicians should be aware of this possibility…

Patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) carrying specific variants of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene NR3C1 have a greater risk of death and of developing end-stage renal disease, according to a large study. Also, patients with a variant of the gene coding for an enzyme that regulates glucocorticoids —…

InflaRx will soon launch a Phase 2 clinical trial in Europe to assess the safety and effectiveness of IFX-1 — an investigational inhibitor of the complement system — in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Now that European authorities have approved it, the randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial is expected to recruit approximately…

Azathioprine an oral immunosuppressant used as a maintenance therapy for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients — may in rare cases cause a hypersensitive reaction of tender, red bumps on the skin, called Sweet’s syndrome, a case report shows. The report, “Sweet syndrome: a rare feature of ANCA-associated vasculitis or unusual…

Cash-strapped governments across the 28-member European Union are struggling to control runaway healthcare expenditures — at exactly the same time as the promise of new but expensive therapies to treat rare diseases has never been greater. That’s the paradox faced by pharmaceutical companies as well as patient advocacy groups in…