Advances in the use of biologic agents for the treatment of systemic vasculitis.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose of review

Due to the well known toxicities of cyclophosphamide, substantial interest exists in finding other therapies to treat primary systemic vasculitis. Biologic agents have been proposed as an alternative to cyclophosphamide for these disorders because of their recent success in treating other rheumatic diseases. This article reviews the current state-of-the-art therapy with regards to the use of biologic agents as treatments for systemic vasculitis.

Recent findings

The greatest amount of experience with these agents for the treatment of systemic vasculitis is with antitumor necrosis factor agents, pooled intravenous immunoglobulin, and anti-B-cell therapies such as rituximab. Intravenous immunoglobulin is already a standard therapy for Kawasaki's disease, but s

SUBMITTER: Chung SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2921590 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature