Medscape reports on a link between age of diagnosis and various clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

The findings, presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2022 Annual Meeting, may have implications for research and treatment, especially in children.

Robert F. Spiera, MD, rheumatologist and Director of the Vasculitis and Scleroderma Program at HSS noted the work highlights interesting information about the fact that disease features are skewed differently in children — “in particular the higher likelihood of upper airway (subglottic) disease, and potentially severe lower airway disease (alveolar hemorrhage).” However, from a practical standpoint, Dr. Spiera said, “I am not sure that this will change our clinical approach to different patients, but the differences in disease features and even the sex differences in terms of who are afflicted with GPA (more often children and more likely to be female) may offer insights into disease pathogenesis.”

Read the full article at medscape.com/.