title: Current treatment strategies in ANCA-positive renal vasculitis-lessons from European randomized trials.
abstract: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive renal vasculitis is the most common cause of rapidly progressive (crescentic) glomerulonephritis. Its life-threatening natural course may be modified substantially by current treatment modalities. The European Vasculitis Study Group (EUVAS) developed a subclassification of ANCA-positive vasculitides based on the disease severity at presentation, and have organized (so far) two waves of clinical trials. The first wave of randomized clinical trials had the aim of optimizing the existing therapeutic regimens; the second wave concentrated on testing some newer therapeutic approaches. Here, the design and available results of the first wave and the design of some second wave trials are reviewed briefly. The potential of the new targeted approaches (e.g. anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy) is also briefly mentioned.
authors.affiliation: First Medical Department, First Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. tesar@beba.cesnet.cz
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tesar
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ríhová
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jancová
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rysavá
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merta
mesh_terms: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000032:analysis*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents