Vasculitis Treatment and Management

Proven ways to reduce vessel swelling and protect organs.

Vasculitis Treatment and Management

Proven ways to reduce vessel swelling and protect organs.

Clinical Immunology focuses on the immune system’s health. Learn about the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, autoimmune diseases, and immunodeficiencies.

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Vasculitis: Treatment and Care

Treating vasculitis means calming the overactive immune system to stop inflammation, while also trying to limit medication side effects. Treatment usually has two phases: induction, which uses strong medicines to quickly control the disease, and maintenance, which uses milder drugs to keep it from returning. At Liv Hospital, treatment is tailored to each patient’s needs and the organs affected.

Induction Therapy

Corticosteroids

Glucocorticoids, such as prednisone or methylprednisolone, are the first line of defense.

Mechanism: They rapidly reduce inflammation by suppressing multiple parts of the immune system.
Administration: High doses are often given initially, sometimes intravenously (pulse therapy) for organ-threatening disease, followed by high-dose oral pills.
Tapering: Once the disease is controlled, the dose is gradually reduced (tapered) over months to minimize long-term side effects like bone loss, weight gain, and diabetes.

Cyclophosphamide and Rituximab

For severe, life-threatening vasculitides (like kidney or lung involvement in ANCA vasculitis), stronger immunosuppressants are needed alongside steroids.

Cyclophosphamide: A potent chemotherapy drug that suppresses the immune system. It is very effective but carries risks of bladder toxicity and infertility.
Rituximab: A biological therapy that targets B cells, the immune cells responsible for making antibodies. It has become a preferred alternative to cyclophosphamide for many types of vasculitides due to a better safety profile regarding fertility.

Maintenance Therapy

Once remission is achieved, typically after 3 to 6 months, the treatment switches to maintenance to prevent relapse.

Azathioprine: A commonly used oral immunosuppressant for maintenance.
Methotrexate: Used for less severe disease or maintenance, particularly in Giant Cell Arteritis or GPA.
Mycophenolate Mofetil: Often used for kidney maintenance.
Duration: Maintenance therapy usually lasts for 18 to 24 months, sometimes longer, depending on the risk of relapse.

Biological Therapies

Newer targeted therapies are transforming vasculitis care.

Tocilizumab: An IL-6 inhibitor approved for the treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis. It allows for faster steroid tapering.
Mepolizumab: An IL-5 inhibitor used specifically for Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA) to control asthma and eosinophilia.
TNF Inhibitors: Drugs like infliximab or adalimumab are used for Takayasu arteritis and Behcet’s disease.

Plasma Exchange (Plasmapheresis)

In critical cases, such as rapidly progressing kidney failure or pulmonary hemorrhage, plasma exchange may be used.

Procedure: The patient’s blood is passed through a machine that removes the plasma, which contains the harmful antibodies and immune complexes, and replaces it with healthy plasma or albumin.
Goal: To temporarily remove the drivers of inflammation while medication takes effect

Surgical and Interventional Treatment

Vascular Bypass: In large vessel vasculitides like Takayasu arteritis, if a vessel becomes permanently blocked, bypass surgery may be needed to restore blood flow to a limb or organ.
Stenting: Angioplasty and stenting can be performed to open narrowed arteries, typically done when the disease is in a “quiet” or non-inflammatory phase to prevent failure.
Sinus Surgery: Patients with GPA may require surgery to open blocked sinuses or repair a saddle nose deformity.

Managing Comorbidities and Side Effects

Treatment involves more than just fighting the vasculitis; it involves protecting the body from the treatment itself.
- Infection Prevention: Patients on heavy immunosuppression are prescribed antibiotics (like co-trimoxazole) to prevent specific infections like Pneumocystis pneumonia. Vaccinations (non-live) are crucial.
- Bone Health: Long-term steroid use weakens bones. Calcium, Vitamin D, and bisphosphonates are prescribed to prevent osteoporosis.
- Gastric Protection: Proton pump inhibitors are used to prevent stomach ulcers caused by steroids.
- Cardiovascular Risk: Aggressive management of blood pressure and cholesterol is essential, as inflammation increases heart disease risk.

Lifestyle Adjustments

- Diet: A heart-healthy diet low in salt is important, especially to control fluid retention and blood pressure while on steroids.
- Smoking Cessation: Essential for all patients, but absolutely critical for those with Buerger’s disease, where quitting smoking is the only way to stop the disease progression.
- Exercise: Regular, low-impact exercise helps maintain muscle mass and bone density.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the main drug for vasculitis?

Corticosteroids (like prednisone) are the most common initial treatment to quickly stop inflammation.

How long will I be on medication?

Most patients require treatment for at least 1 to 2 years, but some forms of vasculitis require lifelong therapy to prevent relapse.

What is Rituximab?

Rituximab is a biologic medication that depletes B cells. It is increasingly used as a primary treatment for ANCA-associated vasculitis

What are the side effects of steroids?

Long-term side effects include weight gain, a round face, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and thin skin.

Can vasculitis be cured?

Many types can be put into remission where there are no symptoms, but “cure” is a difficult term. Relapse is possible, so long-term monitoring is needed.

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