Systemic vasculitis treatment and monitoring update, 2008.

Vasculitic syndromes are among the most complicated diseases for primary care physicians and rheumatologists to diagnose and treat. There are a myriad of symptoms that can be mimicked by other conditions, and choice of medications can be complex. Some agents are toxic and determining which to prescribe and for how long can be a multifaceted, complex decision process. Developing new treatments and new ways of using already available therapies, while minimizing potential side effects, are of paramount importance. This review will focus on recently published data that could have an impact on the way we treat systemic vasculitis patients.