Clinical trials in vasculitis

Abstract

Systemic vasculitis is characterised by inflammation and necrosis of blood vessel walls, leading to occlusion of the vessel lumen, tissue damage and eventually to organ failure. Vasculitis may be primary in origin or secondary to another autoimmune process such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, infections, neoplasia or drugs. Vasculitides are usually classified according to the predominant size of the blood vessels involved. Research into primary vasculitides has been difficult due to lack of biomarkers except for a sub-group called antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV). AAV is classified under the small vessel vasculitis sub-group of vasculitides in the latest Chapel Hill Consensus classification system1. This article will review the treatment options in AAV in light of past, current and future clinical trials.