Xavier Bosch • Manuel Ramos-Casals •
Munther A. Khamashta
Editors

2014

Systemic autoimmune diseases are complex multisystemic illnesses whose management may involve any specialty, although the most closely involved physicians are normally rheumatologists and internists. The majority of systemic autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, progressive systemic sclerosis, primary Sjo¨gren syndrome, inflammatory myopathies, and ANCA-associated vasculitis, have been treated principally with cytotoxic agents and corticosteroids, which, although effective in improving disease manifestations and survival, produce severe adverse events and do not prevent relapses, while a varying proportion of patients are refractory to treatment.