News

A deficiency in leptin — the hormone that signals the brain when a person has eaten enough — may lead to the development of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), according to a new case study from India. The report, “ANCA-associated Vasculitis in a Case of Congenital Leptin Deficiency,” was published…

Excessive activation of a defense mechanism of neutrophils — key immune cells in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) — is a potential biomarker for active disease, according to researchers. Their study, “Excessive neutrophil extracellular trap formation in ANCA-associated vasculitis is independent of ANCA,” was published in the journal Kidney…

Treatment with a common antibiotic reduces the risk of life-threatening infections in ANCA-associated vasculitis patients being given Rituxan (rituximab) for their condition, a study conducted in the U.K. and Austria reports. This finding supports the use of the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in routine clinical practice for these patients.

InflaRx will soon begin a Phase 2 clinical trial assessing the safety and effectiveness of IFX-1 — an inhibitor of the complement system — in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). This follows the the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the company’s investigational new drug application (IND). The Phase…

Children with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) have specific disease symptoms that differ from those seen in adults with the disease, a French study shows. Pediatricians should be aware of these differences and the various disease symptoms for a correct and timely diagnosis of EGPA in children, researchers said. The…

Patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis whose autoantibodies are against the myeloperoxidase protein (MPO) have increased disease activity at diagnosis but milder kidney manifestations than other vasculitis patients. Based on findings from a retrospective analysis, a research team in China proposes that these patients should be considered a unique subtype of…

Tracheobronchial stenosis, a lung complication characterized by the narrowing of the trachea and bronchi, is common in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and is often the first disease symptom, researchers have found. However, despite its frequent occurrence, there are no standardized treatment protocols for this serious complication. More prospective…

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) patients often experience eye involvement, suggesting an ophthalmologist is necessary for proper disease management and better outcomes, according to Egyptian researchers. Their study, “Relationship of ocular presentation in granulomatosis with polyangiitis to autoantibodies and disease activity,” was published in the journal Zeitschrift für…

Interstitial pneumonia may trigger the production of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and lead to a kind of vasculitis called microscopic polyangiitis, a case report shows. The finding suggests that interstitial pulmonary fibrosis may be a cause, rather than a consequence, of ANCA-associated vasculitis. The study, “Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia…

Treatment with immunosuppressants does not improve kidney function, but is associated with reduced risk of vasculitis relapse in a rare subset of patients with ANCA vasculitis (AAV), a new study reports. The research, “Patient Outcomes in Renal-Limited Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Vasculitis With Inactive Histology,” was published…