Vasculitis and Giant Cell Arteritis News

WASHINGTON — Rituximab remained superior to azathioprine for maintenance of remission for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis at 60 months and was associated with greater survival, according to data presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.

WASHINGTON — Researchers found a higher adverse event rate than what was previously reported for patients who took pembrolizumab and noted a case of large-vessel vasculitis, according to an abstract presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.

WASHINGTON — At the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, Leonard H. Calabrese, DO, rheumatologist at the Cleveland Clinic and Chief Medical Editor of Healio Rheumatology, reviewed a tocilizumab trial conducted by John H. Stone, MD, as well as other advancements made in the field of vasculitis.

WASHINGTON — Tocilizumab plus a prednisone taper was associated with improved sustained remission rates compared with prednisone alone in a cohort of patients with giant cell arteritis, according to findings presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.

Compared with the general population, patients who underwent glucocorticoid treatment for systemic vasculitis had an increased risk for new-onset diabetes during initial treatment, according to results of a Danish study.

The FDA has awarded 21 clinical research grants for orphan drugs, encompassing more than $23 million during the course of the next 4 years, to develop products for patients with rare diseases, according to a press release.

The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to Actemra for the treatment of giant cell arteritis, for which no therapies have been approved in more than 50 years, according to a Genentech press release.

Recently published results showed an activated and altered phenotype, as well as deficient overall natural cytotoxicity, among patients who have active granulomatosis with polyangiitis with reduced numbers of CD56dim natural killer cells.

Fatigue in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis was associated with heightened perception of exertion, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance but normal muscle and cardiorespiratory function, according to results from international investigators.

Rheumatologists and ophthalmologists’ preferences regarding treatment options for ocular Behçet disease are impacted by concerns about cost and prior authorization, according to a study.