Burden of coronary artery calcification in ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Screening and primary cardiovascular prevention may improve outcomes.

Methods: We identified patients in the 2002-2019 Mass General Brigham AAV cohort with thoracic CT scans obtained for other clinical purposes.

Defining cause of death in a contemporary cohort with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV): A comparison of electronic health record and death certificate data.

Objectives: Patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) face excess mortality compared with the general population. Mortality in clinical epidemiology research is often examined using death certificate diagnosis codes; however, the sensitivity of such codes in AAV is unknown.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Mass General Brigham AAV Cohort, including patients with AAV who died between 2002 and 2019.

The effects of plasma exchange and glucocorticoids on early kidney function among patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis in the PEXIVAS trial.

Therapeutic plasma exchange (PLEX) is an adjunctive treatment for patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis and kidney involvement. Little is known about the effect of PLEX on early changes in kidney function. This post-hoc analysis of the PEXIVAS trial investigated the effects of PLEX on changes in kidney function within 12 months.

Cross-neutralization of distant coronaviruses correlates with Spike S2-specific antibodies from immunocompetent and immunocompromised vaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected patients.

As of May 2023, the public health emergency of COVID-19 was lifted across the globe. However, SARS-CoV-2 infections continue to be recorded worldwide. This situation has been attributed to the ability of the virus to evade host immune responses including neutralizing antibody-derived Immunity.

Mechanisms and Screening for Atherosclerosis in Adults With Vasculitis.

Vascular inflammation is a hallmark of both primary systemic vasculitis and atherosclerosis. As such, cardiovascular events are common in patients with vasculitis and likely due to both direct vascular inflammation and accelerated atherosclerosis. Direct cardiac involvement is possible in all vasculitides, though more commonly described in Takayasu arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.