Therapy of systemic vasculitis.
The systemic vasculitides represent a highly heterogeneous and complex set of disorders primarily mediated via immunologic mechanisms. Standard therapy of these diseases includes the use of glucocorticoids without the use of additional cytotoxic agents. Recent long term follow-up investigations of patients treated with combined therapy has revealed an alarming incidence of treatment-related toxicity. Currently recommended therapeutic regimens are designed to minimize such toxicity while maintaining disease control. New therapeutic agents with greater disease specificity and lower toxicity are now being examined.
Calabrese
L H
LH
Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Disease, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000628:therapy*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous