To the Editor:
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, including Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) and microscopic polyangiitis, is a multisystem autoimmune disorder characterized by vasculitis predominantly affecting microscopic vessels and circulating autoantibodies to neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens. Treatment of this vasculitis has 2 main components, induction of remission and maintenance immunosuppressive therapy to prevent relapse. Recently, new treatments have been used, such as rituximab1,2,3, although the combination of cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids is the preferred regimen as initial immunosuppressive therapy. Once remission is induced with cyclophosphamide, patients are switched to maintenance treatment with less toxic immunosuppressive drugs, usually methotrexate or azathioprine. …
Address correspondence to Dr. Fernández-Fernández; E-mail: fjf-fernandez{at}terra.es