Vasculitis & Glomerulonephritis Center

Personalized and Multidisciplinary Care for Vasculitis and Glomerulonephritis

The Vasculitis and Glomerulonephritis Center at Massachusetts General Hospital combines the expertise of specialists from the Divisions of Rheumatology and Nephrology to provide individualized, high-quality care to patients with vasculitis, glomerulonephritis and more than 30 related conditions. Our team of experts is dedicated to excellence in patient care through early diagnosis, personalized treatment and leading-edge research in vasculitis, glomerulonephritis and related conditions.

An individual's diagnosis—in particular, the severity of the disease and the extent that organs are affected—will determine the prognosis and treatment plan. With early diagnosis and expert management, many patients can expect to maintain long-term remission of vasculitis and glomerulonephritis. In order to maximize the effectiveness of treatment and to minimize medication side effects, our approach relies on developing a personalized treatment plan for each patient.

Our center provides patients with one access point to a core group of specialists who have extensive experience in treating patients with vasculitis and glomerulonephritis. As necessary, we will coordinate care with our team of subspecialty experts, including:

• Cardiologists
• Dermatologists
• Ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists
• Gastroenterologists
• Infectious disease specialists
• Neurologists
• Ophthalmologists
• Pathologists
• Pulmonologists
• Rheumatologists
• Surgeons

What to Expect

The diagnosis and treatment of vasculitis and glomerulonephritis requires a careful review of a patient’s symptoms and previous testing. During a patient’s first appointment at the Mass General Vasculitis and Glomerulonephritis Center, we will review their medical history, perform a physical examination and decide what additional tests are necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. We will also conduct a careful review of the patient’s medical records, therefore we ask all patients to bring their medical notes, as well as related test results and biopsy samples.

Our Research

Browse open clinical trials

The Vasculitis and Glomerulonephritis Center at Massachusetts General Hospital is dedicated to improving the treatment of vasculitis and glomerulonephritis through leading-edge research. Our physicians are engaged in research studies ranging from understanding the biology of vasculitis through laboratory-based research to testing new treatments in clinical trials.

We are actively enrolling patients in the following research studies:

Ustekinumab for Patients with Giant Cell Arteritis

More alternatives to control Giant Cell Arteritis and decrease the usual prolonged exposure to prednisone are needed. This trial examines whether 12 months of ustekinumab, in combination with only 6 months of prednisone, is effective in keeping Giant Cell Arteritis in remission. Shorted prednisone tapers will likely result in less prednisone-related side effects.

Maintenance Therapy with Rituximab in ANCA-associated Vasculitis (MAINTANCAVAS)

Recent studies have demonstrated that rituximab therapy may be effective in some patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis, however the optimal duration of treatment remains unknown. This study is currently enrolling patients who have received rituximab for 18 months or longer to determine the most effective strategy for reducing the rituximab dose while keeping vasculitis under good control.

Avacopan in Patients with ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

This is a phase III, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the use of the investigational drug Avacopan in patients with newly diagnosed or relapsing ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). This trial will determine if Avacopan can induce and sustain remission in patients with AAV, when used in combination with Rituximab, or Cyclophosphamide and Azathioprine.

Avacopan in Patients with C3 Glomerulopathy

There is currently no standardized treatment for C3 Glomerulopathy. This trial examines the safety and efficacy of the investigational drug Avacopan in patients with C3 Glomerulopathy. This is a phase II, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

CCR2 antagonist in patients with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)

In previous trials, treatment with the investigational drug CCX140-B has been shown to reduce proteinuria in patients with diabetic nephropathy. This study aims to determine if CCX140-B can also be effective in reducing proteinuria in patients with primary FSGS. This is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose ranging study.