Immune Monitoring Following B-cell Depletion in ANCA-associated Vasculitis

ANCA-associated vasculitis is a serious autoimmune disease. The standard treatment is rituximab (RTX), which depletes B-cells to control inflammation. However, identifying patients at high risk of relapse remains a challenge, often leading to unnecessarily long treatments and side effects. Recent research suggests that RTX also impacts CD8+ T-cells, which could serve as valuable markers for better disease monitoring.

The main goal of the NALVANCA cohort is to identify biomarkers within these CD8+ T-cells. Researchers aim to find biological signals that respond to treatment and can predict a relapse. By studying these markers at the start of therapy and during the immune recovery phase, the study hopes to personalize treatment duration and management for each patient.

Recruitment targets adult patients diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis. Participants must provide written informed consent for the use and storage of their blood samples in a biocollection. The protocol involves long-term monitoring with regular sampling to track changes in immune cells alongside the patient's clinical health.