On the pathogenesis and clinical outcome of ANCA-associated vasculitis

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated\n vasculitis (AAV), including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s)\n (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), is a small-to-medium vessel\n vasculitis that affect multiple organs and is life-threatening when\n untreated. In this thesis, several aspects of ANCA-associated vasculitis\n concerning genetics, clinical and histopathological classification, treatment\n and long-term outcome were investigated.