title: Biologic therapy in ANCA-negative vasculitis.
abstract: Standard therapeutic schemes for vasculitis are usually associated with numerous side effects and uneven clinical response. However, recent advances in understanding of the pathogenesis of these systemic diseases have resulted in the development of a group of biologic agents potentially useful in patients with vasculitis. Thus, anti-tumor necrosis factor-α drugs may be effective in patients with refractory Kawasaki disease but have failed to do so in giant cell arteritis, and their role in Takayasu arteritis is yet unclear. Preliminary reports on the use of the anti-IL6-receptor antibody, tocilizumab, in large-vessel vasculitis have been encouraging. Interferon alpha has showed positive results in hepatitis B virus-associated polyarteritis nodosa, and hepatitis C virus-induced cryoglobulinemia. Early experience with rituximab in several types of vasculitis has been quite promising, but must be confirmed in ongoing randomized clinical trials. The development of new biologic targeted therapies will probably open a hopeful future for patients with vasculitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, University of Cantabria, Avenida de Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loricera
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, University of Cantabria, Avenida de Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, University of Cantabria, Avenida de Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, University of Cantabria, Avenida de Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Trinitario
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pina
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, University of Cantabria, Avenida de Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: González-Vela
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IDIVAL, University of Cantabria, Avenida de Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Spain. Electronic address: miguelaggay@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: González-Gay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001691:Biological Therapy; D006801:Humans; D056647:Systemic Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
keywords: ANCA-negative vasculitis; Biologic therapy; Large-vessel vasculitis; Medium-vessel vasculitis; Small-vessel vasculitis; Systematic review