title: Update on the use of biologics in vasculitides.
abstract: Vasculitides are disease in which injury to blood vessels leads to various degrees and types of organ dysfunction. They are subdivided into different groups dependent on the size of blood vessels involved as well as other particular clinical features. Therapy is dependent upon the size of the blood vessels involved and the nature of the disease. For medium and large vessel vasculitides, glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine and methotrexate have been the mainstay for induction and maintenance of remission. Because of potential for side effects from standard therapies, various biologic agents have been evaluated in the treatment of ANCA positive vasculitis (AAV), cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, Behcet's disease and Takayasu's Arteritis (TAK). In this article, we present a review on biologic agents used in various vasculitides.
authors.forename: Sahana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vishwanath
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Relan
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Room C281, Buffalo General Hospital, 100 High Street, Buffalo 14203, USA. jambrus@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Julian L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ambrus
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D001688:Biological Products; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors