Blood levels of progranulin — a protein involved in cell development, cell growth, and wound healing — may predict the severity of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a new observational study suggests. According to researchers, serum progranulin, or the protein’s levels in the bloodstream, “could be used as a predictive marker…
Anxiety. Fear. Depression. Grief. Rage. Have you experienced any of these after receiving a diagnosis? Whether patient or caregiver, the emotions surrounding illness can take up an unexpectedly large chunk of one’s energy. Vasculitis primarily affects the physical body. Inflammation is a visceral symptom, causing pain and discomfort while threatening…
Plasma exchange and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ECMO — the use of an artificial lung — are two interventions that may benefit patients with severe ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) linked with pulmonary hemorrhage, a potentially life-threatening condition in which blood starts to build up in the lungs, a case…
Over 230 national organizations signed a letter urging all 50 U.S. state governors to “maintain and expand” flexibility with licensure requirements for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic to ease access to care. During the pandemic, governors used emergency authority to waive certain state licensure requirements, giving healthcare providers…
As the holiday season approaches, people will begin making travel plans, and their to-do lists can be extensive. Book a flight. Communicate with family. Check the weather forecast. Do laundry. Being sick and having a weakened immune system, however, can add even more items…
A committee of the European Medicines Agency has recommended approving Tavneos (avacopan) as an add-on therapy for adults with severe, active microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) or granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), the two most common types of ANCA-associated vasculitis. This recommendation from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use…
A new classification system, based on the underlying cause of disease, may be necessary to better understand ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and other disorders characterized by inflammation in the blood vessels. That’s according to a team led by scientists at Aarhus University, in Denmark, who published their idea for the…
When November comes, I start to think about hibernating. As soon as the temperature dips below a certain range, some kind of primitive signal goes off in my head. It’s a little voice that says, “Time to stay indoors and get comfortable.” After all, when it’s dreary…
After an initial biopsy shows signs of active ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) affecting the kidneys, repeat biopsies are better at determining active disease than standard measures of kidney function, a new observational study reports. Such repeat kidney biopsies may help determine treatment response and personalize care plans for people with…
Kidney disease is less common among people with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), but some patients may experience severe kidney damage and require management by specialists, a case report shows. The study, “Renal Involvement in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis,” was published in the journal Kidney International Reports.
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