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The prognosis of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis has improved over the past decades, but overall survival rates are still unsatisfactory. Recent research has focused on complications of immunosuppressive measures and comorbidities of ANCA-associated vasculitis. This review focuses on thromboembolic and cardiovascular events. A considerably increased risk of thromboembolic events has been reported, which is associated with active disease and impaired coagulation factors. There is mounting evidence that a hypercoagulable state is present even in patients in remission, and studies investigating the impact of tailored anticoagulation are needed to reduce the burden of thromboembolism. Cardiovascular mortality is one of the leading causes of death and accelerated atherosclerosis is frequently observed in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis. A high frequency of patients develops hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia, either as a consequence of immunosuppression or associated with the underlying disease. The current control of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors is insufficient and thorough reviews should be performed periodically. Treatment of these risk factors should be adopted according to current recommendations related to individual cardiovascular risk prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discuss a report on the description of clinical features and disease course of orbital masses in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Topics discussed include factors predicting the onset of orbital masses in the context of AAV, a diagnostic pathway to minimize diagnostic delay and improve the management of subset of patients, and comparison of first-line treatment of a cyclophosphamide- to a rituximab-based regimen.

Objective. To assess potential associations for the development of venous thromboembolic events in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV). Methods. Four hundred and seventeen patients enrolled to participate in randomized controlled trials conducted by the European Vasculitis Society were identified. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to validate previously proposed and identify novel risks associated with venous thromboembol-ism (VTE) in AAV. Results. VTE occurred in 41 of 417 (9.8%) patients. Uncorrected univariate analysis identified BVAS (odds ratio, OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.10; P = 0.013), subsequent development of malignancy (OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.19, 5.71; P = 0.017), mucous membrane or eye involvement (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.10, 4.11; P = 0.024) and baseline creatinine (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.99, 1.18; P = 0.037) as being associated with the development of VTE. Multivariate analysis highlighted CRP (per 10mg/l increase, OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.09; P = 0.025), cutaneous involvement (OR = 4.83, 95% CI: 1.63, 14.38; P = 0.005) and gastrointestinal involvement (OR = 6.27, 95% CI: 1.34, 29.37; P = 0.02) among the BVAS items as well as baseline creatinine (per 100 mmol/l increase, OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.35; P = 0.029) as being associated with VTEs. Conclusion. Our results highlight a role of CRP, baseline creatinine, and cutaneous and gastrointestinal involvement in the risk stratification as being associated with thromboembolic events. Moreover, there might be an association between VTEs and subsequent development of malignancy and disease activity in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]