Association of Cigarette Smoking With Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody–Associated Vasculitis

Importance

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a systemic small vessel vasculitis characterized by circulating ANCAs targeting proteinase 3 (PR3) or myeloperoxidase (MPO) and associated with excess morbidity and mortality. Myeloperoxidase-ANCA–positive AAV and PR3-ANCA–positive AAV are increasingly recognized to have differences in genetic risk, pathogenesis, and response to treatment. Risk factors...