ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients with renal involvement have higher blood levels of certain small vesicles than either patients without kidney symptoms or people without this disease, a study found. These microparticles, which are positive for the myeloperoxidase (MPO) protein and carry the complement proteins C3a and C5a — central…
Different autoimmune pathways — which determine how autoantibodies affect the body — might be involved in cases of lupus nephritis that are positive for ANCAs, leading to unusual kidney symptoms, a case report suggests. The study “Clinico-pathological considerations in a 48-years-old female with acute kidney injury: is…
A new mouse model of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) shows glomerulonephritis, lung vasculitis, and MPO-ANCA autoantibodies, among other alterations seen in patients with the disease. These mice may help determine genetic factors in AAV, the researchers said. The study, “Vasculitis and Glomerulonephritis in a Newly Established…
Variants in immune-related genes may make certain people more or less susceptible to anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), a new study suggests. The study, “Risk HLA class II alleles and amino acid residues in myeloperoxidase–ANCA-associated vasculitis,” was published in the journal Kidney International. The fact…
Doctors should suspect granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in cases of isolated, acute sinusitis that does not improve with treatment, especially in young patients, a case report suggests. The study, “Very painful acute frontal sinusitis revealing granulomatosis with polyangiitis,” was published in the journal European Annals…
Researchers have developed a specific index for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) that uses laboratory results at the time of diagnosis to help assess disease activity and predict death by any cause. The index could supplement currently-used indexes such as the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) to guide treatment course…
Rare diseases deeply affect not only the children who experience them, but also their healthy brothers and sisters, as their parents can attest. Two entries in November’s “Disorder: The Rare Disease Film Festival” will focus on what siblings go through, according to the San Francisco festival’s co-founder,…
After examining 12 established methods for detecting antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs), researchers in China identified those likely best for diagnosing patients there suspected of having granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Their study, “Evaluation of 12 different assays for detecting ANCA in…
Developing gene therapies for rare diseases is one thing. Creating gene-edited “designer babies” is quite another. German legal expert Timo Minssen outlined the potentially explosive ethical landmines surrounding such issues during a recent talk at the New York Genome Center. Minssen directs the Center for Advanced Studies in…
Cocaine and levamisole, a chemical substance commonly used to cut the drug, can trigger ANCA production and mimic the symptoms of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), researchers said. Most cases affect the skin and the nose, but they also can involve internal organs like the kidneys, a study including…
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