The doctor-patient relationship is unique. A doctor sees you intimately and is privy to your vulnerabilities, both physical and psychological. I’m thankful to have had many vasculitis specialists in the past decade, some of whom have also evolved into trustworthy friends. For those with vasculitis, your doctor may become one…
What to Look for in a Vasculitis Specialist
People with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) adopt a range of strategies that help them to better cope with the condition on their own, but several areas of self-management could be addressed more immediately through conversations with their physicians, a study found. The study, “Addressing the transition to a chronic…
The case of a man in Saudi Arabia with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), a form of ANCA-associated vasculitis, highlights the difficulties that can occur in diagnosing this disease, a case study reports. The report is one of the few documented instances of GPA in Saudi Arabia. The study, “…
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…
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The Emotional Toll of Illness
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…
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