In quite startling news, the US FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) are reviewing the approval of Avacopan for the treatment of GPA and MPA. The CDER has reported that patient outcomes in the ADVOCATE trial were re-adjudicated after unblinding and that the original…
Read MoreA brief respite over the Easter break means I had some time to reflect on recent developments and future directions in the vasculitis space. Read on below! Biennial international vasculitis workshop Took place in Melbourne on late February, organised by ANZVASC. It exceeded all of our expectations in terms of attendees…
Read MoreSELECT-GCA Period 2 (52-104 weeks) trial outcomes: Compared a strategy of continuing or stopping Upadacitinib in GCA patients in remission at 52 weeks. Patients were more likely to maintain remission and less likely to flare if they continued on Upadacitinib 15 mg daily (flare rate 16%) than if they swapped to…
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Last week our team published a new finding in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), the demonstration of large vasculitis on PET/CT scan. EGPA is typically thought to involve small vessels only and this new finding may help to explain why some patients with EGPA experience blockages and clots in their large…
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The rheumatology and nuclear medicine units at Prince of Wales Hospital work closely together to diagnose and monitor patients with large vessel vasculitis. We use PET scans as our first line investigation for new and relapsed giant cell arteritis (GCA). In some cases the PET scan not only excludes GCA…
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I’m excited to share that the Australian and New Zealand Vasculitis Society (ANZVASC) is hosting its annual symposium for clinicians and researchers at Prince of Wales Hospital on Saturday 14th October. It promises to be an excellent meeting with speakers addressing topics on ANCA and large vessel vasculitis. I’m especially looking…
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