BAFF Protein Levels May Help Predict Remission After Rituximab

Measuring the blood levels of a protein called BAFF could help predict the chances of remission after induction treatment with rituximab in people with ANCA vasculitis (AAV), according to a new study. Determining the BAFF levels in the blood also could guide further care for AAV patients, the researchers…

Nonprofits, scientists, governmental organizations, and the rare disease drug development industry have long cited 7,000 as the average number of rare diseases in the world. But a new analysis shows there are as many as 10,867 rare diseases globally. And that…

Summer is a fun time of year. Spirits are high, the pool is open, and the social calendars are full. Without the burden of driving in inclement weather, it’s simpler to go about our daily routine. In the Midwest, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who prefers the…

Increased insulin resistance — measured by the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index — may predict which people diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) are at a greater risk of developing heart problems, a study found. Its predictive power may come from its association with metabolic disease at AAV diagnosis, data showed.

Levels of the immune signaling molecule interleukin-21 (IL-21) and the cells that produce the protein were elevated in the blood of people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) with myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibodies, a study found. IL-21 levels also were linked to higher MPO levels and disease activity, suggesting its direct involvement in…

If you know me well, you know I’m a whiskey aficionado. Strong, smooth, spicy, sweet — I enjoy it all. When traveling, a bottle from a local distillery is usually the souvenir I choose to take home. There’s never been a time in my adult life when I didn’t drink.

Despite being in clinical remission based on physician evaluation, many people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) report experiencing ongoing disease symptoms, a study has found. Symptoms of pain and fatigue were the biggest indicators of active disease for patients in the study. These findings highlight the importance of considering…

I began this column for ANCA Vasculitis News one year ago this month. It’s been such a joy interacting with other patients who read and connect with my words. At first, the concept of writing once weekly seemed intimidating. How would I come up with a new topic every…

Limited exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and related drops in vitamin D levels — particularly over the winter months — may be linked to a greater risk of relapses among people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) in Ireland and the U.K., a data study found. But vitamin D status and…

People with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) may, in rare cases, develop dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes the heart’s chambers to enlarge and become thinner, making it harder for it to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body, a recent case report shows. This case highlights the…