Rheumatology 2000; 39: 229-232
© 2000 British Society for Rheumatology
Editorials |
Vasculitis—aims of therapy. An overview
1 Ipswich Hospital, Ipswich,
2 School of Health, University of East Anglia, Norwich,
3 Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, Norwich,
4 Imperial College School of Medicine, London and
5 Cambridge University School of Medicine, Cambridge, UK
The vasculitides are a heterogeneous group of uncommon conditions characterized by inflammation and necrosis of blood vessels. The clinical features are determined to a large extent by the size and distribution of the vessels involved. There have over the past few years been important advances in our understanding of the aetiology, assessment, classification and treatment of vasculitis and these should hopefully lead to the more appropriate use of specific targeted therapies in our patients.
In common with other systemic disease, the aims of therapy fall into three categories: (i) induction of remission; (ii) maintenance of remission; and (iii) prevention of relapse, all of which should be undertaken with minimal mortality and morbidity either from the disease itself or the therapy. Accurate assessment of specific organ involvement and disease severity is vital if we are going to tailor appropriate therapy to the appropriate patient.
The introduction of prednisolone and cyclophosphamide in
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