Blood Levels of Proteins Identify Active AAV in Long-term Study

Blood levels of several proteins — CXCL13, interleukins IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) — were validated as effective at identifying active ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) in a long-term study. The study, “Serum Biomarkers of Disease Activity in Longitudinal Assessment…

Here come the signs: A dry tickle in the throat. A heavy chest. Excessive Kleenex use. Extreme fatigue. By the time, I wake up with a fever the next day, there’s no longer any question — I am definitely sick. My mind…

Outcomes of kidney transplants for children with kidney failure related to ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) are comparable to outcomes of transplants for children with other causes of kidney disease, highlighting that the procedure is generally safe and effective for children with AAV. That’s according to the study “…

People with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in the months immediately following AAV diagnosis, a population-based analysis found. “Our study demonstrates a key ‘high-risk window’ that should prompt careful monitoring for CV [cardiovascular] disease and aggressive risk factor reduction,” the scientists said. The…

I can handle November all right. The air is chilly and the sky is gray, but I stay busy and content going through the motions at a manageable pace. December is different. It sweeps in right after Thanksgiving in a manic holiday frenzy, ready or not. Between busy schedules and…

People over the age of 65 with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) have worse mortality outcomes than younger patients, but kidney failure is not greater in this group, according to a recent study. These worse outcomes were associated with lower levels of hemoglobin — the protein responsible for carrying oxygen in…

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…

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…