Therapy of resistant systemic necrotizing vasculitis. Polyarteritis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, Wegener's granulomatosis, and hypersensitivity vasculitis group disorders.

The systemic necrotizing vasculitides represent a difficult group of diseases from a therapeutic perspective. Even with successful therapy patients often experience a high degree of disease and treatment morbidity. Refractory disease, or that which fails to respond to standard therapy, is particularly challenging. A clinical approach to several vasculitic syndromes is outlined in this article with emphasis given to therapies supported by controlled investigations and those supported by consensus opinion where available.