[Immunomodulating therapy of collagen diseases].
The treatment of connective tissue disorders still proves problematic. Most forms of therapy are based on empirical data because of a lack of specified therapy regimes. The time period, during which controlled studies have been performed, was brief. Furthermore, the spectrum of diseases and drugs investigated has been inadequate. The uncertainty regarding the therapeutics, however, is confronted by a number of powerful and high-risk drugs. As a result of a better understanding of the immunoregulatory mechanisms and advances in the development of drugs, the original concept of nonselective immunosuppression has been replaced by attempting the influence of specific parameters. Cortisone is still considered to be of basic importance for the treatment of most of these diseases. Other available drugs are immunosuppressives such as azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, and D-penicillamine. New developments include the use of cyclosporine A, high-dose immunoglobulins, plasmapheresis, antithymocyte globulins, levamisole, inosiplex, and radiation of lymph nodes. A causal specific therapy, other than for rheumatic fever, is not in sight. In order to find a form of therapy which is disease-specific, low-risk and with a high success rate, long-term controlled studies on large groups of patients need to be performed.
Helmke
K
K
Becker
H
H
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003524:Cyclosporins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D001379:Azathioprine; D008727:Methotrexate
Immunmodulierende Therapie der Kollagenosen.