Treatment

The individual treatment of GPA and MPA is based on a number of factors including disease severity and organs involved. 

In general, the purpose of treatment is to reduce the active disease (flare) with medication that dampens the body's immune response. Once the disease is controlled, the aim is to maintain disease remission. In some cases GPA and MPA may remain in remission without medication, and in other cases, low doses of medication may be required to maintain remission.

The cornerstone treatment used in GPA and MPA is corticosteroids, in combination with other medications that suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation.

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Vasculitis (GPA) causes ongoing inflammation, and the disease can worsen rapidly.

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If left untreated, GPA can cause potentially life-threatening organ damage or organ failure.

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Medications are available that can effectively treat GPA and reduce complications.

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Treatment depends on many factors including the affected organs and disease severity.

References

 

1. American College of Rheumatology:
https://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Diseases_And_Conditions/Granulomatosis_with_Polyangiitis_(Wegener_s)/

2. Calabrese LH, Molloy ES, Duna Gf. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis. In Kelley’s Textbook of Rheumatology, 2009; Edited by GS Firestein, RC Budd, SE Gabriel, et al. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier.

3. Pagnoux C. Updates in ANCA-associated vasculitis. Eur J Rheumatol 2016; 3:122-133.

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