Vasculitis

I have a soft spot in my heart for our cover story, which explores the interprofessional intersection of neurology and rheumatology. As I reflect over my career, it was the exploration of central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis that was the first topic/area/disease to capture my imagination — even before HIV — and it’s been teasing me ever since.

For all the multitudes of diseases and diversity of organ systems rheumatologists are adept at managing and analyzing, the brain, spinal cord and related neurological conditions are often not among them.

SAN DIEGO — In patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis, avacopan and rituximab may offer an alternative to glucocorticoids-based management, according to a presenter at the Congress of Clinical Rheumatology West.

Pediatric patients with IgA vasculitis nephritis and nephrotic-range proteinuria achieved remission after 12 months of mycophenolate mofetil-based immunosuppression treatment, according to data published in Kidney Medicine.

Although the phrase “diagnosis of exclusion” may conjure images of Sherlock Holmes solving mysteries through deductive reasoning, the practice of arriving at a diagnosis by excluding others should be avoided, a group of experts wrote.

Low levels of ambient ultraviolet B radiation coinciding with reduced vitamin D synthesis in winter may result in an increased risk for ANCA-associated vasculitis relapses, according to data published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

The long disease duration, high symptom burden and great need for therapy associated with urticarial vasculitis negatively impacted patient quality of life, according to study results.

Patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis who have a history of autoimmune disease prior to diagnosis may have fewer relapses following remission, according to data published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology.

Rheumatologists should assess for PR3- and MPO-ANCA using a “high-quality antigen-specific assay” as the primary testing method for patients suspected of ANCA-associated vasculitis, according to updated EULAR recommendations.

Patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic disorders who show evidence of illness-related uncertainty also tend to experience depression, anxiety and increased sickness impact, according to data published in the Journal of Rheumatology.