Abstract
The type of vasculitis and the extent of organ involvement guide treatment. The intensity of initial immunosuppression depends on the severity of organ involvement and the size of the vessels involved (Table 4.1). Therefore, an important part of treatment planning involves the assessment of organ involvement and its severity. Treatment may be divided into remission induction, maintenance, and long-term follow-up. Guidelines on the management of the vasculitides have been recently published. In this chapter, we will cover the general principles of treatment and the agents used.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lapraik C, Watts RA, Scott DG. BSR and BHPR guidelines for the management of adults with ANCA associated vasculitis. Rheumatology. 2007;46:1615-1616.
Mukhtyar C, Guillevin L, Cid M, et al. EULAR recommendations for the management of large vessel vasculitis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2009;68:318-323.
Mukhtyar C, Guillevin L, Cid M, et al. EULAR recommendations for the management of primary small and medium vasculitis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2009;68:310-317.
Jayne D, Rasmussen N, Andrassy K, et al. A randomised trial of maintenance therapy for vasculitis associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic auto antibodies. N Engl J Med. 2003;349:36-44.
Pagnoux C et al. Azathioprine or methotrexate maintenance for ANCA-associated vasculitis. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:2790-2803.
Koukoulaki M, Jayne DRW. Mycophenolate mofetil in anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies-associated systemic vasculitis. Nephron Clin Pract. 2006;102:c100-c110.
Metzler C et al. Elevated relapse rate under oral methotrexate versus leflunomide for maintenance of remission in Wegener’s granulomatosis. Rheumatology. 2007;46:1087-1091.
Falk RJ, Jennette JC. Rituximab in ANCA-associated disease. New Engl J Med. 2010;363:285-286.
The Wegener’s Granulomatosis Etanercept Trial (WGET) Research Group. Etanercept plus standard therapy for Wegener’s granulomatosis. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:351-361.
de Groot K, Harper L, Jayne DR, et al. Pulse versus oral cyclophosphamide for induction of remission in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis: a randomised trial. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150:670-680.
de Groot K, Rasmussen N, Bacon P, et al. Randomised trial of cyclophosphamide versus methotrexate for induction of remission in early systemic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:2462-2468.
Jayne DR, Gaskin G, Rasmussen N, et al. Randomised trial of plasma exchange and high-dosage methylprednisolone as adjunctive therapy for severe renal vasculitis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007;18:2180-2188.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer-Verlag London Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Watts, R.A., Scott, D.G.I. (2010). General Principles of Treatment. In: Watts, R., Scott, D. (eds) Vasculitis in Clinical Practice. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-247-6_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-247-6_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-84996-246-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-84996-247-6
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)