Abstract
News in the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitides ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) are relatively rare but potentially life-threatening diseases. Treatment of AAV can be divided into the induction phase with the aim to induce remission, and the maintenance phase aiming to maintain remission.
The AAV treatment is still based on combined conventional immunosuppressive therapy consisting of corticosteroids and another immunosuppressive drug (e.g. cyclophosphamide, azathioprine or methotrexate). Newer alternatives may include mycophenolate- -mofetil or gusperimus.
In severe vasculitis, plasma exchange is commonly used. In recent years, the importance of biological treatment has increased, particularly of rituximab that may be successfully used in both induction and maintenance therapy,