title: [New strategies in diagnosis and therapy of vasculitides].
abstract: Vasculitides are a heterogeneous group of diseases, with an incidence of 38-54 cases per 1 million people. These diseases are characterized by an inflammatory infiltration of the vessel wall. The clinical diagnosis is difficult to establish because of the lack of diagnostic criteria, despite the fact, that such criteria are increasingly being developed. The established therapy of primary vasculitic syndromes is still the combination of cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids. This drug combination is highly effective but correlated with a wide range of side effects. During recent years two research paths have been followed: (1) to find a medication, which is as effective as cyclophosphamide, but potentially less toxic; (2) to investigate the use of rituximab in case of a poor response to the classic treatment or in case of unacceptable side effects.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Internistische Rheumatologie, Sankt Josef, Zentrum für Orthopädie und Rheumatologie, Wuppertal. h.stierle@sjzw.de
authors.forename: Helmut E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Stierle
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D003520:Cyclophosphamide