Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Vol 13, Issue 8 2074-2076, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
M Haubitz, K Koch and R Brunkhorst
Background. In patients with ANCA-associated
vasculitis the frequent development of relapses after successful initial
treatment remains a major therapeutic problem. Thus a long-term
prophylactic therapy with low side-effect potential is needed. As recent
data suggest an involvement of T cells in the pathogenesis of
ANCA-associated vasculitis, the prophylactic value of therapy with low-dose
cyclosporin was investigated in seven patients (three with Wegener's
granulomatosis, four with microscopic polyangiitis, all with renal
involvement) who had developed at least one relapse during cyclophosphamide
(CP) treatment or in the first 4 months after the end of CP therapy.
Methods. After remission had been achieved for 6
months using CP and prednisolone, the CP dose was reduced (3 months 75%, 3
months 50%) and cyclosporin was added concomitantly (dose adjusted to whole
blood levels 60-90 ng/ml). Cyclosporin therapy was continued for 1 year
after the end of CP treatment. Results. During a mean
follow-up of 24 months no patient developed a relapse. Two patients
developed a herpes zoster infection. No severe bacterial infection
occurred. Conclusions. These preliminary results
indicate that cyclosporin can be successfully used to sustain remission in
patients with a relapsing course of ANCA-associated vasculitis and renal
involvement. Keywords: ANCA-associated vasculitis;
cyclosporin; relapse
PRELIMINARY REPORTS
Cyclosporin for the prevention of disease reactivation in relapsing ANCA-associated vasculitis
Department of Nephrology, Medizinische Hochschule, D-30623 Hannover, Germany; Corresponding author
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  M. P. Collins, M. I. Periquet, J. R. Mendell, Z. Sahenk, H. N. Nagaraja, and J. T. Kissel Nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy: Insights from a clinical cohort Neurology, September 9, 2003; 61(5): 623 - 630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Jayne, N. Rasmussen, K. Andrassy, P. Bacon, J. W. C. Tervaert, J. Dadoniene, A. Ekstrand, G. Gaskin, G. Gregorini, K. de Groot, et al. A Randomized Trial of Maintenance Therapy for Vasculitis Associated with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibodies N. Engl. J. Med., July 3, 2003; 349(1): 36 - 44. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Levy New aspects in the management of ANCA-positive vasculitis Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., July 1, 2001; 16(7): 1314 - 1317. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Jayne Evidence-based treatment of systemic vasculitis Rheumatology, June 1, 2000; 39(6): 585 - 595. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|