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SUMMARY:Redefining the Churg-Strauss syndrome through genetics - Dr James 
 Peters\, BHF Clinical Research Fellow
DTSTART:20170322T130000Z
DTEND:20170322T140000Z
UID:TALK71741@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:48007
DESCRIPTION:Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA: formerly 
 Churg-Strauss syndrome) is a rare but potentially life-threatening inflamm
 atory disease\, characterised by adult-onset asthma\, eosinophilia\, and i
 nflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis). Around 40% of patients have aut
 o-antibodies to the enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO). Here we report findings 
 from the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of EGPA\, performed th
 rough the European Vasculitis Genetics Consortium. We identified 11 geneti
 c loci associated with susceptibility to EGPA. Many of these were also ris
 k loci for asthma or other eosinophilic or immune-mediated diseases and\, 
 strikingly\, nine were associated with blood eosinophil count in the gener
 al population. One genetic association (HLA-DQ) was specific to patients w
 ith anti-MPO autoantibodies\, and two were specific to the antibody-negati
 ve subgroup. The presence of autoantibodies correlated with distinct clini
 cal features. This GWAS demonstrates that a primary tendency to eosinophil
 ia may underlie susceptibility to EGPA\, and shows that EGPA comprises two
  genetically and clinically distinct syndromes. Five of the candidate gene
 s identified in this study are linked to pathways which are targets of the
 rapies in development for other conditions\, supporting their further expl
 oration in EGPA\n\nThis talk will be chaired by Dr Dirk Paul\, University 
 Lecturer\, Department of Public Health and Primary Care
LOCATION:Seminar Room\, Strangeways Research Laboratory\, Worts Causeway\,
  CB18RN
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