Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of small- and medium-sized blood vessels, potentially affecting organs such as the lungs, kidneys, sinuses, and joints. Because of its complexity, patients and families often face many questions about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management.
In this VF webinar, What You Need to Know about GPA Vasculitis, is presented by Dr. Audra Hornomanski,a rheumatologist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University. In this session, Dr. Hornomanski will provide a clear and comprehensive overview of GPA
0:00
5:57 Understanding granulomatosis with polyangiitis
7:20 What causes GPA?
9:46 Signs and symptoms
16:12 Other symptoms
18:57 Diagnostic tests
24:55 Treatment for severe disease
33:12 Treatment for non-severe disease
35:26 Other important information about the treatment plan
37:33 Treatment: Sinus disease
38:33 Disease monitoring
39:36 Reproductive health
40:48 Upcoming and ongoing research
40:41 Is there information available about women in menopause taking transdermal HRT and the risk of blood clots? My understanding the risk is lower when using transdermal. Is that correct? I would love to have info to share with my doctors.
46:49 Does a persistently elevated ANCA titer without classic findings of vasculitis have clinical significance?
48:04 Why does extreme fatigue linger even after you're in long-term remission? More exercise makes it worse. What do you recommend?
50:53 As the director of the Stanford Vasculitis clinic, do you participate in any educational sessions with your ENT providers to identify symptoms quickly and minimize the diagnosis time for GPA patients?
52:04 Once you're ANCA positive, are you always ANCA positive even in remission? Can you be ANCA positive and NOT have GPA (or eGPA or MPA)? If so, what could cause this?
53:51 Is long-term use (years) of methotrexate considered safe for GPA (sinus) to keep it in remission?
54:55 What is the distinction between severe and non-severe GPA?
56:12 My nephrologist says I can stop or do 6 months or once a year. My rheumatologist says I should keep doing it every 6 months. How often should a person do rituximab after remission?
58:04 Do you ever see a delay between symptoms in patients and elevation of labs reflecting inflammation, and what is the typical timeframe between onset of symptoms and reflecting of inflammation in labs?
19
