Treatment modalities and ANCA in Takayasu's arteritis.
As other vasculitic-syndromes Takayasu's-Arteritis needs a long-term immunosuppressive therapy in order to control disease-activity. As steroids create many problems in the long run other immunosuppressives should be considered. We report 3 cases treated with low-dose methotrexate. In all patients the arteritis was controlled, steroids reduced or stopped. In the effort to find autoantibodies 16 patients were screened for c-/p-ANCA and neutrophil granular enzymes. In no patient a positive result could be obtained.
Schwarz-Eywill
M
M
Department of Rheumatology, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany.
Breitbart
A
A
Csernok
E
E
Pezzutto
A
A
Gross
W L
WL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D008727:Methotrexate