Active clinical trials for "Systemic Vasculitis"

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis are rare diseases characterized by inflammation of blood vessels. Among the numerous cell types that play a role in vasculitis, one of the key actors is the neutrophil. Neutrophils are equipped with very powerful molecules that they use to destroy the invading microbes. Therefore, the mechanisms controlling neutrophil activation should be tightly controlled. If that is not the case, neutrophils may destroy the tissues of the host. This is what happens during chronic inflammation in vasculitis. Autoantibodies directed against neutrophils, ANCA, produced thus demonstrating that neutrophils are also targets of the immune system in these diseases. In addition, molecular studies provided evidence that genes normally silenced in mature neutrophils under normal conditions can be re-expressed in neutrophils from patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis thus strongly suggesting a profound deregulation of neutrophil functions in these conditions. Notably, the investigators have preliminary data showing that neutrophils from patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA, formerly Wegener's granulomatosis), an ANCA-associated vasculitis, interfere with the normal phase of resolution of inflammation. The objective of the investigators' study is to understand the mechanisms underlying this increased activation state and determine if neutrophils could be used to define prognostic markers by clinicians to optimize patients' care. Therefore, the investigators plan to study the expression of proteins implicated in GPA pathophysiology at the membrane of neutrophils when they undergo apoptosis. The investigators will also study the deregulation of protein expression in neutrophils. This point will be the molecular translation of neutrophil deregulation. This technique is powerful and well adapted to identify by mass spectrometry the proteins that will be differentially expressed between the control and the disease state. After identification of proteins differentially expressed in patients with GPA, the investigators will further investigate whether their expression is modulated during the disease course and/or modified by the treatment. The investigators believe that understanding these neutrophil perturbations can lead to better monitoring of disease activity. Ultimately, the investigators may propose more targeted anti-inflammatory therapies which would be better tolerated by patients. the investigators also can identify new markers for disease activity which allow clinicians to define a better therapeutic strategy.

The prognosis of rheumatic diseases has improved considerably with development of therapy. However, infections are considered the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. One of the ways to prevent such complications is vaccination. In 2009, a new pandemic strain of influenza virus (A/H1N1/2009) has emerged raising major concerns for public health. Patients under immunosuppressive therapy have indication for immunization against influenza virus H1N1. There are, however, concerns about possibility of reactivation of autoimmune diseases, determine adverse events and insufficient immunogenicity in these patients. The lack of studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of the vaccine against influenza A(H1N1)/2009 in these rheumatic patients led to the development of this research. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the humoral response and safety of the vaccine virus A(H1N1)/2009 in immunosuppressed patients with rheumatic diseases compared to healthy controls. We have recruited 400 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 350 with spondyloarthritis, 1000 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 150 with dermatomyositis (DM), 100 with mixed connective tissue disease, 150 with systemic vasculitis, 250 with systemic sclerosis (SSc) , 100 with Sjögren's syndrome, 100 with antiphospholipid syndrome, 100 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 80 with juvenile SLE, and 80 with juvenile DM, followed at our Rheumatology Outpatient Division and Unit Pediatric Rheumatology Children's Institute, HC-FMUSP. The control group was recruited were 200 healthy employees of ICHC-FMUSP. Informed consent was obtained from all participants and the study was approved by the Local Ethical Committee. All subjects were vaccinated against influenza virus A/(H1N1)/2009 (vaccine approved and supplied by Instituto Butantan-São Paulo). Blood samples was collected to measure levels of antibodies inhibiting hemagglutination by influenza virus A (H1N1)/2009 immediately prior to vaccination and 21 to 28 days after vaccination., Participants fulfilled a questionnaire on the immediate side effects of the vaccine. All patients with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, SLE, DM, systemic vasculitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile SLE, and DM were assessed before and 21 days after vaccination for clinical, laboratory parameters of disease activity as well as treatment. Continuous variables will be compared by t-test to evaluate differences between patients with rheumatic diseases versus healthy controls. Differences between categorical variables will be evaluated using the chi-square or Fisher exact test. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

This prospective observational study will evaluate the long-term safety of MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab) in participants with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) or microscopic polyangiitis. Data will be collected for a maximum of 4 years from participants initiated on MabThera/Rituxan therapy by their physician according to prescribing information.

This study will address the following hypothesis: Rituximab therapy leads to an acquired immune deficiency, as demonstrated by impaired vaccine responses, in AAV patients. Aims: To investigate whether rituximab leads to immune deficiency in patients with AAV when compared to both disease and healthy controls. To investigate whether the degree of immune deficiency is associated with the degree of B cell depletion. To investigate whether T-independent vaccine responses are more severely affected than T-dependent vaccine responses after rituximab and whether a conjugated vaccine will overcome this postulated deficit in T independent vaccine responses.

EGPA (Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis, previously Churg-Strauss syndrome) is a rare vasculitis, characterised by asthma, rhinosinusitis and eosinophilia. There has previously been confusion around diagnostic criteria, with multiple sets of classification criteria being used inappropriately for diagnosis. The ERS formed a taskforce to produce specific diagnostic criteria, and these divided the Churg-Strauss Syndrome cohort into two groups - vasculitic EGPA and tissular Hypereosinophilic Asthma with Systemic Manifestations (HASM). It is not known if the groups separated by the diagnostic criteria are also separated in clinical symptomatology, or if their disease course varies, and this could have significant impact on management and further research.

The aim of this project is to develop a disease specific patient reported outcome measure (PROM) for patients with AAV (the AAV-PRO). Investigators are developing and validating a questionnaire to assess quality of life in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Patients with AAV have inflammation in the small blood vessels leading to involvement of a range of organs and can suffer from ongoing disease activity or treatment side effects. Quality of life can be measured by patient reported outcome measures (PROMs).

The ultimate goal of this prospective natural history study is to define the natural history of the obstructive airway manifestations of Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Additionally this proposal seeks to develop biomarkers of disease activity and define their correlation with clinical outcomes in an effort to transform clinical care and shape future drug development for this devastating rare disease.

A cross-sectional study design and online questionnaire was used to assess the informational needs of patients with several different types of systemic vasculitis. Patients were recruited from within the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium (VCRC) online Patient Contact Registry1. Survey responses from participants in the VCRC Patient Contact Registry were compared to responses from a similar survey recently administered to patients within a United Kingdom (UK) based vasculitis support group (Vasculitis UK).

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) are two rare immune system disorders that cause the inflammation of blood vessels, or vasculitis. In order to properly treat these diseases, it is critical that the level of disease activity can be determined over the course of the disease. The purpose of this study is to determine new biological markers, or biomarkers, that may be used to assess the severity of disease in people with GPA or MPA.

The purpose of this study is to learn about the impact of vasculitis on employment and income in patients with different systemic vasculitides. All patients enrolled in the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium (VCRC) Patient Contact Registry, living in USA or Canada, and followed for more than 1 year since the vasculitis diagnosis will be invited via email to participate in this study, based on an online survey.