Inflammatory disease may strike more people than previously thought, a new
study suggests.Scientists first reported the discovery of a disease they
dubbed VEXAS syndrome. At the time, they only identified 25 men in the
United States with the condition — and no women. All had similar mutations
in a gene called UBA1. In fresh study published on January 24, suggests
that VEXAS, while still rare, is much more common than scientists initially
believed, impacting roughly 1 in 13,600 people. The researchers also found
that VEXAS is even more common in older individuals and affects both men
and women: Among those 50 and older, researchers estimate a VEXAS
prevalence of about 1 in 4,300 men and 1 in 26,200 women. VEXAS most often
occurs in people diagnosed with other autoimmune conditions including
lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and blood cancers.The findings of this study
are remarkable, says an expert rheumatologist “Many academic and referral
centers were wondering: Is VEXAS really more common than we think, with
patients hiding in plain sight? And the answer is yes.”
study suggests.Scientists first reported the discovery of a disease they
dubbed VEXAS syndrome. At the time, they only identified 25 men in the
United States with the condition — and no women. All had similar mutations
in a gene called UBA1. In fresh study published on January 24, suggests
that VEXAS, while still rare, is much more common than scientists initially
believed, impacting roughly 1 in 13,600 people. The researchers also found
that VEXAS is even more common in older individuals and affects both men
and women: Among those 50 and older, researchers estimate a VEXAS
prevalence of about 1 in 4,300 men and 1 in 26,200 women. VEXAS most often
occurs in people diagnosed with other autoimmune conditions including
lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and blood cancers.The findings of this study
are remarkable, says an expert rheumatologist “Many academic and referral
centers were wondering: Is VEXAS really more common than we think, with
patients hiding in plain sight? And the answer is yes.”
