ANCA-associated vasculitis
A type of blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) in which the immune system attacks healthy blood vessels, making them swollen and narrow.1 One form, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, mainly affects the ears, nose, sinuses, lungs and kidneys.2 Steroids with rituximab or another medicine that calms the immune system are used to bring it under control. Later, lower doses or a different medicine aim to stop it coming back.2 It mainly affects middle-aged or older people, and it can be fatal if it is not treated.1
Read more about ANCA-associated vasculitisTrial-stage treatments and research studies you can join
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Where treatment stands
Treatment can bring the condition under control and keep it under control, but symptoms can come back.
Where research stands now
On 11 November 2026, 104 trials and studies of ANCA-associated vasculitis were open. On that day, 93 treatments were being tested in people: 15 in phase 3, the last large trials before approval, and 40 in phase 2. Articles published from 5 November 2025 to 11 November 2026 reported 7 studies of treatments in people, 6 in animals and 1 in the lab. On 11 November 2026, 4 medicines had a US approval and 3 had an EU approval for this disease.
Machine-written from the registry counts and the regulators' lists · 2026-11-11
We found 9 medicines approved for ANCA-associated vasculitis in the EU, the US, Switzerland or France.
Approved: 9
Officially approved for this disease in the EU, the US, Switzerland or France.
The EU medicines agency (EMA) and its list of medicines in the EU, US prescribing labels (DailyMed, openFDA), the Swiss medicines register (Swissmedic), the French medicines database (ANSM) and the Health Canada drug database, checked on 11 November 2026. Every medicine links to its own official text.
A computer made this list from the official texts: it kept only medicines whose own approval text names the disease, wrote "Who it is for" from that text and checked it against the text a second time. People have not reviewed it yet.
Not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before you change any treatment.
Treatments approved outside the EU
Medicines for ANCA-associated vasculitis approved in the US or Japan that are not approved in the EU.
Checked on 11 Nov 2026 in the official lists of the US (FDA), Japan (PMDA, approvals since April 2004) and the EU (EMA). 2 uncertain matches are left out.
Your health insurer may pay part of the cost, sometimes all of it. This depends on your insurer, your plan and the country, so always ask your insurer before you go. For planned care in the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, ask about form S2.
Support organisations
Patient organisations and helplines in United States, for you and your family.
ANCA-associated vasculitis organisations in United States
- Vasculitis Foundation
US-based nonprofit that supports, educates and empowers people with vasculitis, including ANCA-associated vasculitis, and funds research.
- National Organization for Rare Disorders
US national rare disease alliance of patient organizations: education, patient assistance programs, rare disease database and policy advocacy.
General support in United States
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
US national 24/7 free and confidential lifeline for anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, reachable by calling or texting 988 or by chat.
- MedlinePlus
Free, easy-to-read health information service of the US National Library of Medicine (NIH) on diseases, conditions, drugs and wellness.
International
General support
- European Patients' Forum (EPF)
Umbrella of European patient organisations and national patient coalitions.
- International Alliance of Patients' Organizations
Global alliance of patient organisations of all diseases, promoting patient-centred healthcare.
Offer tissue or data
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“Cures” others already fact-checked
- Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) & ANCA-associated vasculitisChecked 11 Nov 2026
- Curcumin (turmeric) & ANCA-associated vasculitisChecked 11 Nov 2026
- Stem cell treatment & ANCA-associated vasculitisChecked 11 Nov 2026
- CBD (cannabidiol) & ANCA-associated vasculitisChecked 11 Nov 2026
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About ANCA-associated vasculitis
What is it?
Vasculitis means inflammation of the blood vessels: the immune system attacks healthy blood vessels, which become swollen and narrow.1,3 ANCA are antibodies that can be found in the blood. About 9 in 10 people with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) have them.4,2 The forms include GPA, which mainly affects the ears, nose, sinuses, lungs and kidneys; microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), which often affects the lungs, kidneys and nerves; and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), which can cause asthma.2,1
GPA is rare: it affects about 3 in 100,000 people in the United States.4,2 GPA mainly affects middle-aged or older people; MPA most often develops in middle-aged people; EGPA mainly affects adults around 38 to 54.1 Most people with GPA have no family history of it; genes and things in the environment probably act together.4
The first signs
The signs can come on slowly over months or suddenly.2 Early, general signs can be mild:2
- fever, night sweats, tiredness and weakness;2
- joint pain, loss of appetite and weight loss;2
- a blocked or runny nose with bloody crusts, nosebleeds or sinus pain;2
- ear infections or hearing loss, or eye problems such as conjunctivitis, swollen eyelids or blurred vision;2
- a cough that does not go away, coughing up blood, or shortness of breath.2
The kidneys can be affected, which may cause high blood pressure, swollen legs or kidney failure.2
How doctors find out
There is no single test, and it can be hard to diagnose.2 Your family doctor asks about your symptoms and may examine you. If they think you could have GPA, they send you to a specialist.2 A blood test looks for an antibody called ANCA, which may be a sign of GPA.2 A small piece of tissue from an affected area may be tested (a biopsy).2 You may have an X-ray, CT scan or MRI scan of the affected body parts, and a urine test if you have kidney symptoms.2
Current treatment
Steroids with methotrexate (milder disease), rituximab (severe disease) or cyclophosphamide bring it under control, followed by lower doses or another medicine to prevent relapse.Source: NHS
Will it get worse?
Without treatment it is serious: it can lead to organ failure and can be fatal.1 Treatment aims to bring it under control. If your symptoms come back (a relapse), your treatment may be changed or restarted.2
Medicines: what helps, and what to watch for
A specialist leads treatment, which depends on how severe it is and which parts of the body are affected.2 It has two stages.2 First, the inflammation is brought under control: steroids, sometimes with methotrexate for milder disease, or with the biological medicine rituximab for severe disease; cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapy-type medicine, may also be used.2 Then, lower doses or a different medicine help stop it coming back.2
Good to know:
- if it comes back, your treatment may be changed or started again;2