Biotherapies in large vessel vasculitis

G Pazzola; F Muratore; N Pipitone; C Salvarani

doi:10.1016/j.revmed.2015.08.012

Biotherapies in large vessel vasculitis

Rev Med Interne. 2016 Apr;37(4):274-8. doi: 10.1016/j.revmed.2015.08.012. Epub 2015 Sep 14.

Authors

G Pazzola¹, F Muratore¹, N Pipitone¹, C Salvarani²

Affiliations

¹ Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Viale Risorgimento, 80, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
² Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Viale Risorgimento, 80, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 26383765
DOI: 10.1016/j.revmed.2015.08.012

Abstract

The mainstay of therapy of large vessel vasculitides (LVV) remains glucocorticoids (GC). Although most patients initially achieve disease remission, relapses and GC dependence are seen in more than two-thirds of cases. Conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) showed little or no steroid sparing effects, while biological agents represent a valid therapeutic option in patients with severe and/or relapsing LVV.

Keywords: Biological therapies; Biotherapies; Giant cell arteritis; Large vessel vasculitis; Takayasu arteritis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
Biological Therapy / methods*
Giant Cell Arteritis / therapy*
Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
Humans
Takayasu Arteritis / therapy*

Substances

Antirheumatic Agents
Glucocorticoids