11 June 2025
Marking an update to our 2014 guideline for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), today we have published a set of recommendations for its holistic management in people of all ages, with a coordinated approach across renal, respiratory, rheumatology and ear, nose and throat specialities.
Guideline working group (GWG) chair, Professor of Nephrology, Lorraine Harper, said:
“These recommendations represent a truly unique guide to managing AAV. They were developed by experts across multiple specialties and professional groups, and we took a really holistic approach. The publication presents not only clinical recommendations but also service specifications and, vitally, recommendations for patient education and support, all specific to a UK setting. The coordinated approach will help to ensure that every person with AAV will receive consistent and joined up care, no matter which healthcare professional they are being supported by.”
The guideline was developed by a multi-professional GWG of 31 members from across the UK. We are delighted that the following organisations have chosen to endorse the recommendations:
- The UK Kidney Association
- The British Thoracic Society
- The British Laryngological Association
- Vasculitis UK
Georgina Ducker, vasculitis specialist nurse and GWG member, said,
“It was important to the GWG from the outset that these recommendations would cover different aspects of disease management, including the design and delivery of vasculitis services which includes the provision of patient education and specialist nurse support. We hope that this approach will really help to improve the care of people with AAV in the UK.”
Audit and implementation
Accurate data collection is essential to drive improvements in care for people living with vasculitis. The new guidelines propose five key service audit metrics—alongside the clinical recommendations—to help services track progress and deliver better outcomes for people living with AAV. However, AAV care doesn’t always follow a single specialty pathway—rheumatology and nephrology services both play key roles, and this cross-specialty nature can make it challenging to effectively measure care delivery.
Within Rheumatology, the National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA) collects important data on the patient journey, such as how long symptoms were present before seeking help, how quickly GPs referred patients, and how soon patients were seen by specialists. It also captures demographic information, helping to identify where delays or disparities in care may exist.
Rosemary Hollick, consultant rheumatologist and GWG member, said,
“We’re working with NEIAA to enhance the audit by adding more detailed data specific to vasculitis, particularly around treatment, and service-specific quality standards.”
By using these metrics, individual NHS Trusts can access detailed, local data to benchmark themselves against the new AAV management recommendations, identify areas for improvement, and compare their performance with peers at local, regional, and national levels.
Access the guideline
All BSR guidelines are published in Rheumatology under an ‘open access’ licence and available for free via the BSR guidelines page.
Education
To complement the launch of the new AAV management recommendations we are pleased to be delivering an insightful three-part webinar series to support you with putting the guidance into practice. Find out more and register here.