Association of alleles with risk of relapse in ANCA-associated vasculitis in the Japanese population

Vasculitis is a group of conditions that results in inflammation of the blood vessels. Symptoms include rash, shortness of breath, vision loss, and kidney failure depending on the location of the inflamed vessels. A rare type of vasculitis, ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), is associated with the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA); these antibodies are directed against components in the cytoplasm of neutrophils.