Smoking in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis: from disease susceptibility to long-term prognosis

the effect of smoking on AAV susceptibility remains unclear. Assessing the magnitude of smoking exposure as a susceptibility or prognostic factor can be challenging due to various reasons, including long latency periods, several confounding variables, dosage, and duration of exposure. Given the systemic nature of AAVs, this challenge is particularly hard to address. To further unravel the intricate relationship between smoking and AAV, there is a growing need for more translational studies that delve into the molecular effects of smoking on the body. Understanding the molecular mechanisms at play can provide crucial insights into the development and progression of such conditions, ultimately paving the way for better designed epidemiologic studies, targeted therapies, and preventive measures.