title: Treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis: new therapies and a look at old entities.
abstract: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a small-vessel vasculitis that primarily comprises 2 clinical syndromes: granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis. Cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids have traditionally been used for induction of remission. However, more recent studies have shown that rituximab is as effective as cyclophosphamide for induction therapy in patients with newly diagnosed severe AAV and superior for patients with relapsing AAV. There is also accumulating evidence indicating a potential role of rituximab for maintenance therapy in AAV. In this article, we will review the evidence supporting the various treatment choices for patients with AAV.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Ladan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zand
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Specks
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sethi
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address: Fervenza.fernando@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Fernando C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Fervenza
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056648:Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis / Q000628:therapy*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000379:methods*; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid
keywords: ANCA-associated vasculitis; Cyclophosphamide; Rituximab