Kidney involvement augurs worse ANCA-associated vasculitis outcome

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) that required dialysis or a kidney transplant was associated with an elevated risk of death among people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), compared to patients who didn’t develop the complication, research indicates. A kidney transplant was associated with better prognosis compared to dialysis. On kidney biopsies,…

We all know the children’s book by Dr. Seuss called “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” After 17 years with ANCA vasculitis, I could write one titled “Oh, the Doctors You’ll See!” Before my journey with ANCA vasculitis, I had two doctors — my primary care physician (PCP)…

Most people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) experience acute or chronic kidney injury, according to a five-year national study in the U.S. More severe kidney damage is observed in people with the AAV disease type microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) than in those with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and less severe symptoms are…

Long-term treatment with benralizumab — sold as Fasenra for a rare type of asthma — safely leads to clinical remission in up to two-thirds of people with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), a real-world study shows. “Across a [two]-year period of treatment, we have observed extremely positive outcomes with benralizumab…

Tavneos (avacopan) improved kidney function and reduced the need for the glucocorticoid prednisone in four older patients who had signs of kidney failure due to ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), researchers in Canada report. While Tavneos may help patients enter into remission without the harmful side effects of glucocorticoids, “more…

A 64-year-old man with severe granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) saw his condition improve with the use of a triple combination of standard cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids along with the experimental therapy telitacicept, according to a case report from China. RemeGen’s telitacicept is approved in China under the brand name…

Treatment with Nucala (mepolizumab) for three or more years is safe, and was effective at easing symptoms and reducing the risk of relapse in people with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), the most rare type of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a real-world study in Japan shows. Further, the need…

About half of people with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) have impairment of a valve in the heart, a study from Poland indicates. This heart valve dysfunction doesn’t cause notable problems for most patients, but a handful may have more severe complications that can require…

A worse physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at diagnosis was associated with a higher mortality risk among a group of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients in Korea, according to a new report. This risk was particularly noted in people with the AAV types microscopic polyangiitis, or MPA, and granulomatosis…

First in a two-part series. Before I was diagnosed with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), a type of ANCA-associated vasculitis, I had lived overseas, in France, Sweden, and the U.K. I’d also spent several weeks in Haiti doing research and providing training in schools following that country’s devastating…