Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center

“Vasculitis” is a general term for a group of diseases that involve inflammation in blood vessels. Blood vessels of all sizes may be affected, from the largest vessel in the body (the aorta) to the smallest blood vessels in the skin (capillaries). The size of blood vessel affected varies according to the specific type of vasculitis.

This Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center website was established in June of 1998. The purpose of this Website is to provide information about vasculitis, to inform readers about the Vasculitis Center, and to let patients know where to find more information. This Website is written primarily for patients. The physicians and research coordinators of the Vasculitis Center update the Website regularly. Please visit our Website periodically to learn what's new. Remember to press the “Reload” or “Refresh” button frequently to obtain our most recent updates.

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Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

RAVE Brochure for physicians and patients

(brochure requires Adobe Reader available by clicking here)

New Clinical Trial for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

Patients with active Wegener's Granulomatosis or Microscopic Polyangiitis are sought for an international clinical trial designed to assess whether a new antibody therapy can induce remission of disease. The antibody, known as “rituximab," targets specialized immune cells called B cells. The treatment has shown promising results in preliminary studies, including a recent publication in Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Eligible patients must be 15 years of age or older with active Wegener's Granulomatosis or Microscopic Polyangiitis. Participants will be randomized to receive either rituximab (the investigational drug) or cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) therapy, in addition to standard maintenance therapies. Participation will continue for 18 months following initial treatment, with several study visits required. Crossover to the other treatment arm is possible for patients who fare poorly with their initial treatment assignment. Compensation is available for participating patients.

If you believe you are eligible for this study and may wish to participate, ask your healthcare provider to contact study investigators for more information. To learn more about this trial, please e-mail the Vasculitis Center at jhvc@jhmi.edu, or check out the webpage of the trial sponsor, the National Institutes of Health's Immune Tolerance Network: www.immunetolerance.org/RAVE .

All information contained within the Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center website is intended for educational purposes only. Visitors are encouraged to consult other sources and confirm the information contained within this site. Consumers should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something they may have read on this website.