How can patient care be improved beyond medical treatment?
The outcome of systemic necrotizing vasculitides, with treatment, has improved over the past few decades, with a 5 year survival rate that currently exceeds 80%. It is now well established that therapy has to be adapted to aetiology, pathogenesis and disease severity, but complementary measures can also be beneficial, for example systematic prophylaxis against infections and/or adjusting drug doses to biological parameters and the patient's general condition, especially for the elderly and those in intensive care units. A multifaceted and point-by-point approach to patient care is needed to further improve quality of life whenever possible.
Pagnoux
Christian
C
Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital Cochin, 27 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques, Université Paris 5, AP-HP, 75679 Paris Cedex 14, France. christian.pagnoux@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr
Guillevin
Loïc
L
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*