Publications

Many of the findings from research studies and projects that Penn Vasculitis Center providers have participated in are published in a variety of important scientific journals. We are only able to do these studies because of the patients who volunteer.

Search for publications by clicking on a disease in the drop down below.

  • Vessel Wall MRI in GCA: Standardized Protocol and Scoring Approach Developed by an International Working Group

    Summary: This project developed a standardized approach to performing vessel wall MRI in cranial GCA in order to advance international research in GCA.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Rennie Rhee, Dr. Peter Merkel

    Journal: Rheumatology Oxford, 2025. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)

  • Combined Orbital and Cranial Vessel Wall MRI for the Assessment of Disease Activity in GCA

    Summary: This study found that MRI has the potential to significantly improve current management strategies in GCA by comprehensively and noninvasively assessing multiple cranial structures known to be affected by GCA, including the orbits.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Rennie Rhee, Dr. Peter Merkel, Dr. Shubhasree Banerjee, Ms. Naomi Amudala

    Journal: ACR Open Rheumatology, 2024. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)

  • Comparison of Aortitis vs Noninflammatory Aortic Aneurysms Among Patients Who Undergo Open Aortic Aneurysm Repair

    Summary: This study found that the following risk factors are associated with aortitis identified after surgery: Older age, female sex, other aortic or arterial wall thickening on imaging, and absence of a history of coronary artery disease. Patients with these characteristics may benefit from evaluation by a rheumatologist prior to surgery.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Rennie Rhee

    Journal: Arthritis & Rheumatology, 2020. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), Relapsing Polychondritis (RP), Takayasu’s Arteritis (TAK)

  • Sequence-Based Screening of Patients with Idiopathic PAN, GPA, and MPA for Deleterious Genetic Variants in ADA2

    Summary: Deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 is found in a subset of patients with idiopathic polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) but not in GPA or MPA. Identification of this genetic variant may lead to alternative therapies which are not typically used in PAN.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Peter Merkel, Dr. Antoine Sreih

    Journal: Arthritis & Rheumatology, 2020. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA), Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN)

  • Randomized, Double-Blind Trial of Abatacept for the Treatment of Takayasu Arteritis

    Summary: This was the first clinical trial ever performed in Takayasu arteritis. The study found that the addition of abatacept to prednisone did not reduce relapse.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Peter Merkel, Dr. Antoine Sreih

    Journal: Arthritis & Rheumatology, 2017. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Takayasu’s Arteritis (TAK)

  • Patient Perception of Disease-Related Symptoms and Complications in Relapsing Polychondritis

    Summary: This international online study provided unique information about RP from the patient’s perspective. Patients reported a significant burden of disease. Certain patterns of organ involvement may lead to diagnostic delay and result in disease-related complications.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Shubhasree Banerjee

    Journal: Arthritis Care and Research, 2018. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Relapsing Polychondritis (RP)

  • Effect of Treatment on Imaging, Clinical, and Serologic Assessments of Disease Activity in Large-Vessel Vasculitis

    Summary: Vascular imaging with PET scans are a useful tool for monitoring disease activity in GCA and TAK.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Shubhasree Banerjee

    Journal: Journal of Rheumatology, 2020. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), Takayasu’s Arteritis (TAK)

  • Randomized, Double-Blind Trial of Abatacept for the Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis

    Summary: Patients with GCA who received abatacept in addition to prednisone were less likely to relapse and had more months in remission.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Peter Merkel, Dr. Antoine Sreih

    Journal: Arthritis & Rheumatology, 2017. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)

  • Infections and the Risk of Incident Giant Cell Arteritis: A Population-Based, Case-Control Study

    Summary: Prior infections and herpes zoster are modestly associated with the development of GCA.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Rennie Rhee, Dr. Peter Merkel

    Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2017. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)

  • Mepolizumab or Placebo for Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

    Summary: This was the first clinical trial exclusively performed in patients with EGPA. Compared to prednisone alone, patients with EGPA receiving mepolizumab had more weeks in remission and were able to taper prednisone to lower doses.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Peter Merkel

    Journal: New England Journal of Medicine, 2017. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA)

  • Identification of Functional and Expression Polymorphisms Associated with Risk for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

    Summary: This study identified gene variants which could influence clinical presentation and partially explain why disease develops.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Peter Merkel, Dr. Antoine Sreih

    Journal: Arthritis & Rheumatology, 2017. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA)

  • Validation of the ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Patient-Reported Outcomes (AAV-PRO) Questionnaire

    Summary: This project developed a new disease-specific patient-reported outcome questionnaire for use in research.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Peter Merkel

    Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2018. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA), Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA)

  • Characterization of the Nasal Microbiota in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

    Summary: Compared to patients without GPA, those with GPA have different types of bacteria in the nasal cavity. The use of immunosuppression restores “healthy” bacteria.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Rennie Rhee, Dr. Peter Merkel, Dr. Antoine Sreih

    Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2018. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA)

  • Plasma Exchange and Glucocorticoids in Severe ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

    Summary: This was the largest international clinical trial performed in AAV (GPA and MPA). The study found that the use of plasma exchange does not improve survival or risk of end-stage renal disease. Compared to standard doses of prednisone, a more rapid taper of prednisone is just as effective and safer (fewer serious infections) than plasma exchange.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Peter Merkel

    Journal: New England Journal of Medicine, 2020. View Publication.

    Disease(s): Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA)

  • Avacopan for the Treatment of ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

    Summary: Patients who received avacopan were more likely to stay in remission versus those who were just taking prednisone.

    Participating Penn Investigator(s): Dr. Peter Merkel

    Journals: 

    Disease(s): Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA), Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA)