Treatments

Vasculitis Treatments

The type of treatment you get depends on many factors, including:

  • Type of vasculitis you have
  • Severity
  • Your symptoms
  • Other organs affected

It is important to work with your care team to develop a care plan to address your symptoms. The care plan should aim to achieve remission and prevent the vasculitis from coming back.

Treatment focuses on managing inflammation. For vasculitis that needs medical care, there are two main types of treatments:


Prescription Medication

This is the most common medical treatment for vasculitis. It may include:

  • Corticosteroids: Prednisone and prednisolone can reduce inflammation.
  • Immunosuppressive medications: These medications may be needed if the condition cannot be resolved with corticosteroids alone. Examples include:
    • Methotrexate
    • Azathioprine
    • Mycophenolate mofetil
    • Cyclophosphamide
    • Tocilizumab
    • Rituximab

Surgery

If vasculitis gets worse and blood vessels get too inflamed, it may cause an aneurysm (bulge in the vessel wall) or stenosis (narrowing of the vessel). If this happens, you may need surgery to treat the abnormality.


Getting a Second Opinion

It is important to be comfortable with your care plan and confident in your care team. A second opinion from another specialist can help. The Northwestern Medicine Vasculitis Center has a team of experts who can assess your symptoms and help determine your treatment options.