European League Against Rheumatism/European Vasculitis Study Group recommendations for the management of vasculitis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To discuss the European League Against Rheumatism recommendations in the management of primary systemic vasculitis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Important developments in the classification and treatment of systemic vasculitis have led the European League Against Rheumatism to publish recommendations in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of the small, medium and large-vessel vasculitides. These recommendations resulted from a combination of evidence from systematic analysis of selected studies and the experience of experts in vasculitis when data were not available.

SUMMARY

The purpose of formulating clinical recommendations is to improve quality of care and guide the clinician inexperienced with vasculitis. Nevertheless, patients with vasculitis should be managed by a vasculitis expert whenever possible. As our understanding of this rare and complex group of diseases advances, novel therapeutic options are being developed.