Article: Management of systemic vasculitis

B. TERRIER, L. GUILLEVIN, L. MOUTHON*
* Service de Médecine Interne, Centre de Référence pour les Maladies Autoimmunes et Systémiques Rares,
Hôpital Cochin, 27 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques, 75014 Paris.

Abstract

In the last decades a higher understanding of Systemic Vasculitis has been completed, leading to a better classification of the disease and allowing its patho physiological knowledge to be extended. Many placebo-controlled or prospective trials enabled new molecules to be finalised with specific targets towards either cells or related cytokines. The choice of treatment appears to be founded on diagnosis of vasculitis, as well as underlying patho physiological mechanisms, the severity of lesions and patients’ traits, particularly age and comorbidities. The main objective must be to obtain the best relationship between risks and benefits.