Vasculitis

Findings from two studies published in Rheumatology suggest that angiotensin receptor blocker use may be associated with an increased risk for developing giant cell arteritis, and that interferon-γ may warrant further investigation as a risk biomarker.

The IL-6 receptor inhibitor tocilizumab may significantly reduce disease activity and the amount of prednisone needed in people with glucocorticoid-dependent active polymyalgia rheumatica, suggest results from a phase 3 trial published in JAMA.

Results from a retrospective analysis suggest that cytomegalovirus seropositivity at ANCA-associated vasculitis diagnosis is an independent risk factor for developing venous thromboembolism.

Sequential treatment with rituximab followed by mepolizumab may be a promising strategy to treat the systemic and respiratory manifestations of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, suggest findings from an observational study.

Recurrent venous thromboembolism is more common in people with granulomatosis with polyangiitis than among individuals in the general population who had an unprovoked first event, US researchers report in Rheumatology Advances in Practice.

Phase 3 SAPHYR study findings suggest that the IL-6 receptor inhibitor sarilumab with glucocorticoid taper is an efficacious treatment option for patients with steroid-resistant polymyalgia rheumatica.

Women with polymyalgia rheumatica may have a small increase in the risk for mortality relative to the general population, but not during the first 20 years after diagnosis, according to research presented at the EULAR 2022 Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Research from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance has identified a number of factors, including diagnosis and vaccine type, that are associated with flare risk following vaccination among people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

Findings from a phase 2b trial suggest that treatment with the anti-CD52 antibody alemtuzumab may be beneficial for some patients with primary systemic vasculitis and an inadequate response to conventional therapies.

Adding infliximab to standard therapy with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin plus high-dose aspirin may decrease fever duration and prevent coronary artery lesions in children with Kawasaki disease, study findings indicate.

Measuring erythrocyte sedimentation rate, angiopoietin-2/-1 ratio, and matrix metalloprotease-3 levels may help discriminate patients with isolated polymyalgia rheumatica from those with concomitant giant cell arteritis, research suggests.

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Findings from a proof-of-concept trial provide preliminary evidence to suggest that the JAK inhibitor baricitinib is well tolerated and may have efficacy for the treatment of relapsing giant cell arteritis.

Clinical practice guidelines have been developed to advise on the role of plasma exchange and the optimal dose of glucocorticoids in people with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.