Treatment of refractory and/or severe ANCA-associated systemic necrotizing vasculitides

Treatment of vasculitides has progressed markedly over the past few decades. Recent therapeutic strategies in severe and refractory anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic anti bodies-associated vasculitides include immunomodulating methods (e.g., plasma exchanges), products (such as intravenous immunoglobulins) and, more recently, new agents called biotherapies. Some of them (e.g., anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies) have achieved promising results and are now often used to treat severe cases.