News

The addition of azathioprine, an immunosuppressant, to a glucocorticoid treatment regimen does not improve remission rates for patients with non-severe systemic necrotizing vasculitides (SNVs), a new study shows. The study, “Adding Azathioprine to Remission-Induction Glucocorticoids for Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss), Microscopic Polyangiitis, or Polyarteritis Nodosa Without…

Patients are more likely to develop anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) that affects their kidneys in the winter months, likely due to environmental factors that promote disease-triggering infections, a study reports. The study, “Seasonal variations in the onset of positive and negative renal ANCA-associated vasculitis in…

While the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis has taken strides away from highly toxic immunosuppressants to include an array of approaches based on biological drugs, there is plenty of room for treatment improvement. Research at the Mayo Clinic is focusing on approaches to prevent relapses of inflammatory disease activity. In a…

Tailoring infusions of Rituxan (rituximab) according to ANCA status and/or levels of CD19-positive lymphocytes has no significant impact on the number of relapses experienced by ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients compared to those given systematic infusions, according to a Phase 3 trial. These findings were announced at the recent American…

A mutation of the ETS1 gene increases the risk of Japanese developing an inflamed blood vessel condition known as granulomatosis with polyangiitis, a study shows. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis is one of three versions of ANCA-associated vasculitis. The ETS1 mutation, which leads to lower levels of the ETS1 protein, is common in people with…

Combining Genentech’s Rituxan (rituximab) with glucocorticoids is an effective way for people with a flare-up of ANCA-associated vasculitis to return to remission, a Phase 3 clinical trial indicates. The RITAZAREM trial dealt with relapses of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, whose shorter name is ANCA-associated vasculitis, or AAV. Genentech presented the…

The thyroid medication propylthiouracil (PTU) can sometimes cause antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), but a new study shows the condition has a milder course and excellent remission rates after ending PTU treatment. The study, titled “Clinical characteristics and outcomes of propylthiouracil-induced antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis…

Platelets were found to take part in activating the alternative complement pathway, a known and important step in the progression of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. According to the study “Platelets are activated in ANCA-associated vasculitis via thrombin-PARs pathway and can activate the alternative complement pathway” published…

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) says it’s “disappointed and dismayed” after the House of Representatives voted 227-205 last week to repeal the Orphan Drug Tax Credit as part of a U.S. tax reform package. A similar package before the Senate Finance Committee does not repeal the credit…

Rituxan (rituximab) is a safe and effective treatment for patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) and should be considered in patients that are resistant to standard therapy, a new study shows. The study, “Relapsing granulomatosis with polyangiitis with severe lung and upper respiratory tract involvement successfully…