Many cases of vasculitis do not require treatment. Some people with severe vasculitis or vasculitis that does not respond well to cortisone-type drugs will need to be treated with cytotoxic drugs. These medications kill the cells that cause inflammation in the blood vessels. They are usually used in combination with prednisone and are often effective in treating vasculitis. Experimental procedures that have been helpful in treating some cases of vasculitis include plasmapheresis, intravenous gamma globulin, and cyclosporin, a medication used to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients.
Experimental therapies change frequently.
Your physician can provide you with current information. There are various outcomes for people suffering from vasculitis. For many patients, vasculitis, especially if confined to the skin, may be annoying but never life-threatening. On the other hand, a small number of people have severe vasculitis involving major organ systems. In these cases, damage can occur so rapidly that treatment does not have time to work or the condition may be resistant to treatment.