News

G71.01 is, literally, the code for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.  Q93.51 stands for Angelman syndrome, and G40.419 covers generalized and treatment-resistant epilepsies, which groups like Orphanet and the American Epilepsy Society define as including Dravet syndrome. All three designations are among some 70,000 diseases listed in the latest…

A combination of belimumab plus standard maintenance treatment is no better than standard of care alone at delaying relapse in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients in remission, a Phase 3 clinical trial shows. However, a subgroup of patients who receive Rituxan (rituximab) as an induction treatment may benefit from belimumab maintenance, the…

In light of upcoming Phase 3 data, ChemoCentryx and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma have decided not to pursue the conditional approval of avacopan in Europe for patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis. Instead, the companies plan to submit a full (unconditional) marketing approval application for the therapy in 2020 with…

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA) testing is useful for the early diagnosis of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) in patients with central nervous system symptoms, allowing for timely treatment and a better prognosis, but a positive ANCA test could also mean several things besides vasculitis, a review study reports. About 5-15 percent of…

An analysis of the gene expression and gene pathways in different tissues affected by ANCA vasculitis has provided new information about the mechanisms involved in disease progression, a study says. The study, “Gene Expression Pathways across Multiple Tissues in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitis Reveal Core Pathways…

Impaired renal function, the presence of ANCA antibodies against the MPO protein, and a score of 2 or higher in the five-factor score — which measures prognosis at diagnosis in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) — are all potential predictors of poor renal outcomes in children with AAV, a study has found.

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…