trimethoprim--sulfamethoxazole-drug-combination and gusperimus

High-dose corticosteroids in combination with cytotoxic drugs are universally accepted as the initial approach in vasculitides that are associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. Cyclophosphamide is the most effective cytotoxic drug and is used in more severe cases. Because cyclophosphamide has more severe short- and long-term side-effects than methotrexate, methotrexate is used in less severe cases. New prospects for the treatment of vasculitis include novel immunosuppressive agents (e.g. mycophenolate, 15-deoxyspergualin, and leflunomide), sequential chemotherapy (e.g. cyclophosphamide followed by azathioprine or cyclophosphamide followed by methotrexate), intravenous immunoglobulin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha directed therapy, anti-lymphocyte directed therapy (e.g. antithymocyte globulin or anti CD52/anti CD4 antibodies), anti-adhesion molecule directed therapy (e.g. anti-CD18 or intercellular adhesion molecule-1 antisense) or immunoablation using high-dose cytotoxic medication with or without stem cell rescue.

Topics: Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; Antilymphocyte Serum; Cyclophosphamide; Guanidines; Humans; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Immunosuppressive Agents; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Isoxazoles; Kidney Diseases; Leflunomide; Methotrexate; Mycophenolic Acid; Prednisone; Remission Induction; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Vasculitis