Glucocorticoids versus glucocorticoids plus cyclophosphamide in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis with poor-prognosis factors.

Objectives: Current guidelines suggest treating poor-prognosis eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) with a combination of glucocorticoids (GCs) plus cyclophosphamide (CYC). However, there is little data to support the need for the addition of CYC. The objective of this study was to compare GCs plus CYC to GCs alone as induction therapy in poor-prognosis EGPA.

[Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antigens (ANCA)-associated vasculitis: Current therapeutics].

ANCA-associated vasculitis brings together three diseases, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. This group of diseases has benefited over the last 3 decades from major therapeutic advances both in terms of therapeutic strategies and availability of new drugs, mainly for targeted therapies. Treatments, whether conventional or not, include an induction phase followed by a maintenance phase.

Risk factors for hypogammaglobulinemia and association with relapse and severe infections in ANCA-associated vasculitis: A cohort study.

Objectives: B-cell depletion induced by rituximab (RTX) in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a risk factor for hypogammaglobulinemia. Aggregating data on gammaglobulin levels kinetics during RTX and its association with the risk of relapse and severe infection is of interest.

Methods: Gammaglobulin levels were collected before induction therapy and during RTX maintenance therapy.

Dysregulation of neutrophil oxidant production and interleukin-1-related cytokines in granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Objectives: Neutrophils play a key role in ANCA-associated vasculitis, both as targets of autoimmunity and as facilitators of vascular damage. In granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), the data regarding the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in neutrophils are unclear. Further, recent data suggests that ROS production could have an anti-inflammatory effect through the regulation of inflammasomes and IL-1-related cytokines.