Vol.22 No.3

Review Article

The role of biologics in treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis

Authors

Chethana Dharmapalaiah1 , Richard A. Watts1,2

  • Department of Rheumatology, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Heath Road, Ipswich, IP4 5PD, UK
  • Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Received:

29 July 2011

Accepted:

4 October 2011

Published online:

29 October 2011

Full Text

PDF　(member's only)

Abstract

The vast majority of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) who receive conventional treatment with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide experience frequent relapses and treatment-related side-effects. Increasing knowledge of the pathogenesis of AAV has permitted the development of targeted therapies against tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and T and B lymphocytes. Therapy with TNF-α blocking drugs has so far proved disappointing, and this approach is not recommended. B cell depletion using rituximab is effective for remission induction, especially in refractory patients. The long-term side-effects and the best method of using rituximab to maintain remission are still to be determined.

Key words

Vasculitis - Rituximab - Infliximab - Etanercept - Treatment