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    Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis. 2006;64(1-2):60-6.

    Treatment of ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis.

    Belmont HM.

    NYU-Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York University School of Medicine, 301 East17th Street, New York, New York 10003, USA.

    The antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated small vessel vasculitides include Wegener's granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and the renal limited form of MPA, also known as pauci-immune or idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis. ANCA are probably necessary but not sufficient for disease pathogenicity. Classical induction and maintenance therapy of these conditions with corticosteroids and long-term cyclophosphamide is associated with occasional relapse and major toxicities. Therefore, treatment regimens being investigated include induction with methotrexate or, especially for patients with more aggressive disease accompanied by renal insufficiency, therapies that include either pulses of methylprednisolone or plasma exchanges. Nontraditional options for maintenance therapy may include step-down treatment with azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil. For patients with Wegener's granulomatosis, studies have shown a reduced occurrence of flares with the use of co-trimoxazole. Finally, although a carefully randomized controlled trial with etanercept demonstrated that this tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-blocking agent was not superior to conventional maintenance therapy, a biologic agent with a different mechanism of action, rituximab, may prove a satisfactory alternative.

    PMID: 17121492 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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    Patient drug information

    • Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®, Neosar®)

      Your doctor has ordered the drug cyclophosphamide to help treat your illness. The drug can be taken by mouth in tablet form or be given by injection into a vein.

    • Methotrexate (Rheumatrex®, Trexall®)

      Methotrexate is used to treat severe psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body) that cannot be controlled by other treatments. Methotrexate is also used along with rest, physica...

    • Azathioprine (Azasan®, Imuran®)

      Azathioprine is used with other medications to prevent rejection of kidney transplants. It is also used to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain and swellin...

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