Reagan Scott Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic, relapsing autoimmune condition affecting approximately 2% of the global population, causing nonscarring hair loss with significant psychosocial impact.1 Despite its prevalence, the immunological mechanisms underlying AA remained poorly defined for decades, and no FDA-approved systemic therapies existed until 2022. AA is…

Reed Rivera Background: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a rare small and medium-vessel autoimmune vasculitis driven by ANCA. ANCAs activate primed neutrophils, promoting degranulation, reactive oxygen species production, and neutrophil extracellular traps, resulting in endothelial cell injury and allowing feed-forward inflammation.1,2 Clinically, AAV commonly affects the lungs, kidneys, and…

Jessalyn Hawkins Background: Connective tissue disease associated Interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases, particularly in systemic lupus erythematous, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic sclerosis1. ILD is chronic inflammation and progressive fibrosis of the lung tissue, often resulting in dyspnea,…