Tag: Vasculitis

In 2021, the FDA granted Tavneos (avacopan) orphan drug designation for treating the rare autoimmune condition ANCA-associated vasculitis. This designation and subsequent distribution model answer the question: Is avacopan a specialty drug? Yes, avacopan is officially a specialty medication, a designation that impacts its access, handling, and cost for patients.

According to research, illicit drug use is a well-established risk factor for brain hemorrhages, especially among younger adults. This raises a critical question: what drug can cause a brain aneurysm to rupture? While a drug doesn't directly create a weakened vessel wall, certain medications and illicit substances can dramatically increase the risk of a pre-existing aneurysm rupturing by impacting blood pressure or vascular health.

While many people associate purpura with physical injury, a significant number of cases are surprisingly linked to drug side effects. This article explores what medications could cause purpura and the various ways these reactions can manifest in the skin, from mild bruising to more severe bleeding.

According to the American Heart Association, drug abuse is a known risk factor for stroke, and this includes the formation and rupture of aneurysms. This guide addresses the critical question of **what drugs can cause an aneurysm**, exploring both illicit substances and specific pharmacological agents that can lead to this dangerous condition.

Before the advent of effective treatment, polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) was often fatal within months. The first line treatment for polyarteritis nodosa is highly dependent on disease severity and is primarily centered around immunosuppressive therapy to control the destructive inflammation of medium-sized blood vessels. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the treatment approaches for PAN, from initial induction to long-term remission management.

In 2017, ACTEMRA became the first FDA-approved treatment specifically for giant cell arteritis (GCA), marking a significant advancement in managing this condition. This biologic medication offers a crucial steroid-sparing option for adults living with GCA by targeting a key inflammatory pathway.

Early and aggressive treatment of temporal arteritis is crucial, as visual loss can be irreversible. Therefore, understanding what is the best medicine for temporal arteritis involves recognizing that immediate, high-dose corticosteroid therapy is the gold standard for preventing this devastating complication. Subsequent management often combines tapering steroids with steroid-sparing agents.

Over 80% of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal arteritis, experience significant side effects from long-term steroid treatment. This has driven the search for effective alternatives to steroids for temporal arteritis, with approved biologics and other immunosuppressants now offering powerful steroid-sparing options.

Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) affects approximately 20 in 100,000 individuals over the age of 50. For patients with GCA, understanding the mechanism of action of tocilizumab is key to appreciating how this targeted therapy helps manage the disease. Tocilizumab works by blocking the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), thereby inhibiting the immune system's inflammatory response that damages the blood vessels in GCA.

Drug-induced purpura can occur after prolonged medication use, sometimes developing months or even years into therapy. It is essential for patients and healthcare professionals to be aware of **what medications can cause purpura spots** to enable a timely and accurate diagnosis, preventing potentially severe complications.