Value of anti-infective chemoprophylaxis in primary systemic vasculitis: what is the evidence?
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Schleswig Holstein and Klinikum Bad Bramstedt, Oskar Alexander Str. 26, 24576 Bad Bramstedt, Germany
Arthritis Research & Therapy 2009, 11:253 doi:10.1186/ar2826
Published: 28 October 2009Abstract
Although infections are a major concern in patients with primary systemic vasculitis, actual knowledge about risk factors and evidence concerning the use of anti-infective prophylaxis from clinical trials are scarce. The use of high dose glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide pose a definite risk for infections. Bacterial infections are among the most frequent causes of death, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most common isolate. Concerning viral infections, cytomegalovirus and varicella-zoster virus reactivation represent the most frequent complications. The only prophylactic measure that is widely accepted is trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole to avoid Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in small vessel vasculitis patients with generalised disease receiving therapy for induction of remission.
