Vasculitis Q & A

Have any clinical trials been done done for GCA using low dose Prednisone alone without Methotrexate? I do not want the side effects of Methotrexate and am able to do fine on low doe Prednisone.

Is it possible to have a sed rate of zero?

I have behcets disease which affects my joints, digestive system , skin and eyes, I have tried azothiaprin but was found to have a gene that means I was unable to break it down and became ill, I have since tried infliximab/methotrexate combination but found that my symptoms were being controlled for less time with each administration. I also started to become very breathless, both these drugs were stopped and I was given fortnightly injections of humira, the effects of which are not lasting above a week methotrexate was re-introduced and the breathlessness returned within days, I am still on the humira and am to be put on to another drug in combination with it in place of the methotrexate, I do not know what yet. I have been on 25mg of prednisolone also for approx 2 yrs now reducing am down to 13mg daily. Can you tell me what alternatives there are to the methotrexate to be used in combination with humira, and also if you think that the reduction in steroids is contributing to dramatic return of symptoms.

I HAVE BEEN DIAGONED WITH TAKAYASU ARTERITIS AND HAVE HAD ARTERIOGRAM AND HAVE BEEN ON PREDNISONE. I STARTED WITH 50MG FOR TWO MONTHS AND HAVE COME DOWN ON IT TO 17 1/2 MG. I STARTED TAKING THE PREDNISONE SIX MONTHS AGO. I HAVE BEEN SEEING A RHEUMATOID ARTHITIS DR. WOULD IT BE BENEFICIAL FOR ME TO VISIT JOHNS HOPKINS FOR A SECOND OPINION FOR LONG TERM CARE.