Treatment
Patients of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) are treated with drugs that suppress immunity. Treatment could result in a complete cure or the patient may suffer from relapses. Drugs used to treat Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) are:
- Prednisone, a corticosteroid plus cyclophosphamide, an anticancer and immunosuppressant drug, constitute the main treatment in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA). This combination is effective, however, it has resulted in some cases of bladder cancer.
- Other drugs like methotrexate, azathioprine and mycofenolate mofetil have been used to substitute cyclophosphamide after initial treatment.
- Drugs like cyclosporin, chorambucil, levoflunamide and immunoglobulins may be tried out if the above drugs cannot be used in the patient.
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- Complications like infections especially Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and cancers may occur during treatment.
- Trimethoprim – sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic may be useful to prevent upper airways disease.
- Dilatation of the windpipe with injection of corticosteroid may be needed in patients with obstruction of the windpipe.
