Anti-Cytokine Therapy for Vasculitis
Anti-Cytokine Therapy for Vasculitis
The purpose of this study is to determine whether Infliximab (monoclonal anti-tumour necrosis
 factor alpha antibodies) are safe and effective in the treatment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasm
 antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis.
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis is a life-threatening
 systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Current treatment regimes using corticosteroids and
 cyclophosphamide have improved patient survival but are associated with treatment associated
 morbidity and mortality. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF) is a proinflammatory cytokine
 which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ANCA vasculitis. Anti-TNF therapies have
 been used successfully in the management of other inflammatory autoimmune diseases. This
 phase II cohort study has been designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of anti-TNF
 monoclonal antibody (Infliximab) therapy for patients with ANCA associated vasculitis when
 used in addition to standard immunosuppressive therapy.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Either newly diagnosed or relapsed ANCA associated vasculitis (Wegener's
 granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis, renal limited vasculitis)

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Active infection

 -  Malignancy

 -  Pregnancy

 -  Diagnosis of Churg-Strauss syndrome or anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody
 disease