Vasculitis

Abstract

The systemic vasculitides are heterogeneous in regard to clinical phenotype, prognosis, and etiology. In only a few instances is the cause of a specific form of vasculitis well established. For severe forms of disease, treatment has been frustratingly familiar, incorporating corticosteroids (CS), and, in some cases, cytotoxic therapies. It is important for the practitioner to not become prematurely jaded about these broad-based immunosuppressive/anti-inflammatory agents, as when used judiciously they reduce disease morbidity and may be life-saving. The provision of more disease-specific treatments will emerge as our understanding of pathogenesis improves. This, in fact, is being addressed in randomized controlled trials of biologic agents. In this chapter, we will focus primarily on new insights into the pathogenesis of certain vasculitides and how those insights are changing approaches to patient care.