Circulating autoreactive proteinase 3+ B cells and tolerance checkpoints in ANCA-associated vasculitis.

BACKGROUNDLittle is known about the autoreactive B cells in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated (ANCA-associated) vasculitis (AAV). We aimed to investigate tolerance checkpoints of circulating antigen-specific proteinase 3-reactive (PR3+) B cells.METHODSMulticolor flow cytometry in combination with bioinformatics and functional in vitro studies were performed on baseline samples of PBMCs from 154 well-characterized participants of the RAVE trial (NCT00104299) with severely active PR3-AAV and myeloperoxidase-AAV (MPO-AAV) and 27 healthy controls (HCs).

Fc receptor-like 5 and anti-CD20 treatment response in granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis.

BACKGROUNDBaseline expression of FCRL5, a marker of naive and memory B cells, was shown to predict response to rituximab (RTX) in rheumatoid arthritis. This study investigated baseline expression of FCRL5 as a potential biomarker of clinical response to RTX in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA).METHODSA previously validated quantitative PCR-based (qPCR-based) platform was used to assess FCRL5 expression in patients with GPA/MPA (RAVE trial, NCT00104299).

The BVAS is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular disease-related mortality in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis: A study of 504 cases in a single Chinese center.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the major causes of death in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) during long-term follow-up. This study investigated risk factors for cardiovascular events (CVE) and CVD-related mortality in Chinese AAV patients.

Methods: Five hundred and four AAV patients in our center were retrospectively included.

The effect of three years of TNFα blocking therapy on markers of bone turnover and their predictive value for treatment discontinuation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a prospective longitudinal observational cohort study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of three years of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blocking therapy on bone turnover as well as to analyze the predictive value of early changes in bone turnover markers (BTM) for treatment discontinuation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of 111 consecutive AS outpatients who started TNF-α blocking therapy. Clinical assessments and BTM were assessed at baseline, three and six months, as well as at one, two, and three years.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated small-vessel vasculitis.

Purpose Of Review: This review focuses on recent advances in the diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated small-vessel vasculitis.

Recent Findings: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies are closely associated with Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis. Within the Churg-Strauss syndrome, antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies, mostly directed towards myeloperoxidase, characterize patients with glomerulonephritis and small-vessel vasculitis.