Central Nervous System Involvement Seen Not to Affect Survival Rates in GPA Patients, Study Finds

A retrospective study has investigated the central nervous system’s (CNS) involvement in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in a group of Greek patients. The study found that CNS involvement does not affect long-term patient outcomes. ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) refers to a group of rare diseases characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration and…

A review about the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) glomerulonephritis and vasculitis outlined the best way to characterize the different kinds of ANCA-associated disease in order to provide better treatment. The review, “ANCA Glomerulonephritis and Vasculitis,” was published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society…

Low levels of adenosine-regulating cell surface proteins on T-cells of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis may contribute to autoimmunity, a new study suggests. The study, “Changes in CD73, CD39 and CD26 expression on T-lymphocytes of ANCA-associated vasculitis patients suggest impairment in adenosine generation and turn-over,”…

Increases in the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) may work as an independent risk predictor for cardiovascular  disease (CVD)-related deaths in ANCA-associated vasculitis, a single-center study from China found. The study, “The BVAS is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular disease-related mortality in patients with…

Doctors involved in treating children with antineutrophil cytpolasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) have revealed the unmet need for evidence-based treatment guidelines that improve the management and outcomes of their patients, a new international survey revealed. The study, “Clinical practice variation and need for pediatric-specific treatment guidelines among rheumatologists…

International collaboration on research into rare diseases like antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is fundamental to improving the health and lives of patients, a new study suggests. The review, titled “The importance of international collaboration for rare diseases research: a European perspective,” was published in the journal…

In patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), Rituxan (rituximab) may lead to general decrease in antibody levels, increasing their risk for infections, finds a single-center retrospective study. The study, “Immunoglobulin levels and infection risk with rituximab induction for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis,” appeared in…

Improvements in patient care and in available therapies the past 15 years have led to an improvement of more than two years in the survival of Lithuanian patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), a new study shows. The study “Clinical characteristics and long-term…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the biologics license application  seeking approval of Truxima (CT-P10), Celltrion‘s biosimilar to Rituxan (rituximab), for the same indications as Rituxan. The FDA’s decision is expected by the first quarter of 2018. If approved, Truxima will become available for two…

Patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, or Churg-Strauss syndrome) who receive scheduled Rituxan (rituximab) therapy have lower relapse rates than those who are given Rituxan only during a relapse, a new study shows. The study titled, “Scheduled rituximab maintenance reduces relapse rate in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis,” was…