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Microscopic Polyangiitis
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Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) | |
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Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) is a vasculitis affecting small blood vessels. Patient is treated with cyclophosphamide and a corticosteroid. Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a type of vasculitis that affects small blood vessels like capillaries, venules or arterioles. Vasculitis is a condition in which blood vessels are inflamed. They are autoimmune disorders, where the body produces antibodies against its own self. MPA usually affects adults in their 50s. Males suffer from this condition slightly more often than females. The reason why MPA affects some people is not known. It often targets the lungs and kidneys. Nerves, digestive tract and skin may also be involved. The patient may show general signs and symptoms like fever, muscle pain and weight loss. He may suffer from complications like kidney failure, bleeding in the lungs or perforation in the digestive system. Blood tests, imaging studies like x-ray and CT scan and biopsy of the affected organ are used to diagnose the condition. The blood level of a specific antibody called ANCA is high in patients with MPA. The patient is treated with drugs that suppress immunity like cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids.  MPA shares some common features with another vasculitis i.e. Wegener’s granulomatosis. Patients with MPA develop kidney disease similar to Wegener’s granulomatosis. Blood levels of ANCA are high is both conditions. However, unlike in Wegener’s granulomatosis, accumulations of cells called granulomas are not seen in MPA. MPA affects the smallest blood vessels, while Wegener’s granulomatosis usually affects the medium sized blood vessels. Wegener’s granulomatosis often affects the upper airways. Upper airway disease is usually not seen in MPA.
MPA should also be differentiated from another vasculitis called Polyarteritis Nodosa. In MPA, very small vessels like capillaries, venules or arterioles are inflamed. These vessels are usually not affected in Polyarteritis Nodosa. |
Latest Publication and Research on Microscopic Polyangiitis - Updated on 12/02/2011
A New Vasculitis Activity Score for Predicting Death in Myeloperoxidase-Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis Patients. - Published by PubMed
Rituximab Maintenance Therapy for Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis and Microscopic Polyangiitis. - Published by PubMed
Treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis with rituximab. - Published by PubMed
[A case of microscopic polyangiitis with silicosis]. - Published by PubMed
Differences in the incidence of microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's). Is there a latitudinal gradient? - Published by PubMed
A New Vasculitis Activity Score for Predicting Death in Myeloperoxidase-Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis Patients. - Published by PubMed
Rituximab Maintenance Therapy for Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis and Microscopic Polyangiitis. - Published by PubMed
Treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis with rituximab. - Published by PubMed
[A case of microscopic polyangiitis with silicosis]. - Published by PubMed
Differences in the incidence of microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's). Is there a latitudinal gradient? - Published by PubMed
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Posted by:
rosemary85
Posted on: 10/28/2011 I would like to connect with others that have this disease. What treatments have you tried, what has helped, what type of specialist do you see, etc. I have had this disease for a very long time but it has only been recently that a biopsy of my kidney was done and this disease diagnosed. I currently see a nephrologist, am on cellcept...had 4 infusions of rituxan. What symptoms do you have? Rosemary85
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Posted by:
Concernedwife(Guest)
Posted on: 11/14/2011 My husband was diagnosed [after several hospitalizations with undiagnosed symptoms..high potassium, etc.] in May 2011. His kidneys have not responded to treatments. He is on dialysis. No doctors in our area are skilled in treatment. He developed infections requiring hospitalization when trying cytoxin. He is trying to be approved for rituxan. Did it help? He is fatigued, and he is in pain in his back and legs.
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Posted by:
rosemary85
Posted on: 12/18/2011 The rituxan I had in August is helping in reducing some of the inflammation....you can see improvement over the course of a year after the treatment. I take cellcept, did the 4 treatments [infusions] of rituxan and on prednisone. I live in N. Idaho...where are you from?
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Posted by:
ennairam_23
Posted on: 02/03/2011 A very informative article! Autoimmune diseases such as this significantly affects one's life. I hope that diseases such as this one will have a cure in the near future so that suffering will be alleviated. |
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