Patient description: A 57-year-old man was admitted to the clinic because of weight loss and persistent dry cough 4 months ago. Chest computed topography showed bilateral multiple infiltrates in the upper lobes and thickened bronchial walls. There is a documented positive serum MPO-ANCA in his medical record. Transbronchial biopsy revealed necrotic granulomas with multinucleated giant cells and the Wegener's granulomatosis was diagnosed for him. He is treating with corticosteroid and cyclophosphamides since 4 months ago. His Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) is above 4 since the beginning of his disease. His last physical exam and lab study was performed yesterday and showed the results bellow: A wellbeing, well-nourished man, non-icteric, cooperative and alert Weight: 73 kg Height: 177 BP: 120/80 HR: 90/min RR: 22/min Hgb: 13 g/dl WBC: 8000 /mm3 (Neutrophil: 2700/mm3) Plt: 300000 /ml AST: 40 U/L ALT: 56 U/L Alk P: 147 U/L Bill total: 1.2 mg/dl ESR: 120 mm/hr MPO-ANCA: 153 EU

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 15.0-999.0,  Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Wegener's) Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis Wegener's Granulomatosis ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Patients must be considered as being best characterized as GPA and not microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and must have met at least 2 of the 5 modified ACR classification for GPA. These do not need to be present at the time of study entry. The modified ACR are: 1. Nasal or oral inflammation, defined as the development of painful or painless oral ulcers or purulent or bloody nasal discharge 2. Abnormal chest radiograph, defined as the presence of nodules, fixed infiltrates, or cavities 3. Active urinary sediment, defined as microscopic hematuria (>5 red blood cells per high power field) or red blood cell casts 4. Granulomatous inflammation on biopsy, defined as histologic changes showing granulomatous inflammation within the wall of an artery or in the perivascular or extravascular area (artery or arteriole) 5. Positive anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) test specific for proteinase-3 or myeloperoxidase measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay 2. Relapse of GPA within the 28 days prior to screening where the active disease features meet the following definition of non-severe disease: 1. No disease manifestations that would be scored as a major element in the BVAS/WG 2. Absence of any disease feature that poses an immediate threat to either a critical individual organ or the patient's life 3. Age 15 and older 4. Willing and able to comply with treatment and follow-up procedures 5. Both women and men must be willing to use an effective means of birth control while receiving treatment through this study. Women should continue the use of an effective means of birth control for a minimum of 14 weeks after the last dose of study drug. Effective contraception methods abstinence, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), IUD, diaphragm, Norplant, approved hormone injections, condoms, or medical sterilization. If applicable, participating sites will defer to their local authorities if they require stricter guidelines on the types of allowable contraception methods. 6. Willing and able to provide written informed consent (and written assent of minor participants if applicable.)  Presence of involvement that does not meet the for non-severe disease 2. Treatment with CYC within 3 months prior to screening 3. Treatment with methylprednisolone 1000 mg within 28 days prior to enrollment 4. Treatment with prednisone or prednisolone> 30 mg/day for > 28 days immediately prior to study entry 5. Initiation or dose increase of the maintenance immunosuppressive agent (MTX, AZA, MA) within 3 months prior to screening 6. Evidence of active infection (includes chronic infection) 7. Patients who are pregnant or who are nursing 8. Known infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C, or a positive hepatitis B surface antigen 9. Inability to comply with study guidelines 10. Cytopenia: platelet count < 100,000/mm3, white blood cell count (WBC) < 3,000/mm3 (3 x 109/L), absolute neutrophil count < 1500/mm3, hemoglobin (Hgb) < 8.5 g/dL 11. Chronic renal insufficiency defined by a creatinine clearance of less than or equal to 20 ml/min 12. AST or ALT > 3 times above the upper limit of the normal laboratory range 13. Known current use of illegal drugs 14. Other uncontrolled disease (co-morbidity) that could prevent a patient from fulfilling the study requirements or that would substantially increase the risk of study procedures 15. History of malignancy within the past five years or any evidence of persistent malignancy, except fully excised basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin, or cervical carcinoma in situ which has been treated or excised in a curative procedure 16. Receipt of an investigational agent or device within 30 days prior to enrollment or 5 half lives of the investigational drug (whichever is longer) 17. A live vaccination fewer than 3 months before enrollment 18. Current clinical, radiographic, or laboratory evidence of active tuberculosis 19. A history of active tuberculosis within the past 3 years even if treated 20. A history of active tuberculosis greater than 3 years ago unless there is documentation of prior anti-tuberculosis treatment of appropriate duration and type 21. Latent tuberculosis unless there is documentation of prior anti-tuberculosis treatment of appropriate duration and type 22. Latent tuberculosis currently being treated with isoniazid (INH) or other therapy for latent tuberculosis given according to local health authority guidelines (e.g., Center for Disease Control (CDC)) who have received such therapy for 4 weeks or less prior to randomization (Day 1). Subjects with a positive tuberculosis screening test indicative of latent tuberculosis will be eligible for the study if they have no evidence of current tuberculosis on chest xray at screening and they are actively being treated for tuberculosis with INH or other therapy for latent tuberculosis given according to local health authority guidelines (e.g., CDC) that has been given for at least 4 weeks prior to randomization (Day 1). These subjects must complete treatment according to local health authority guidelines. 23. History of herpes zoster that resolved less than 2 months prior to enrollment 24. Treatment with rituximab or any other biologic B cell depleting agent within the past 6 months 25. Treatment with alemtuzumab or anti-thymocyte globulin within the last 12 months 26. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin given at an immunomodulatory dosage or plasma exchange within the past 3 months. Patients can be enrolled if they are otherwise eligible and receiving immunoglobulin replacement for hypogammaglobulinemia. 27. Treatment with infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, tocilizumab, or any other biologic agent within the past 3 months or 5 half lives of the agent (whichever is longer)