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How It Is Treated

There is no cure for EGPA, but treatment can reduce symptoms, decrease the risk of organ damage, and improve your quality of life. EGPA can affect multiple organs including the lungs, and you may need to work with more than one healthcare provider to manage your disease. To guide your treatment plan, your healthcare provider will review your disease severity, the organs involved, current medications, and other health conditions.

Types of Medications to Treat EGPA

Your healthcare provider may prescribe more than one medication to manage your disease. Medications to treat EGPA come in multiple forms such as a pill, infusion (meaning you will receive the medication through an IV) and subcutaneous (meaning you will receive the medication by an injection in your arm or another part of the body). 

Anti-Inflammatories

Corticosteroids are often the first-line treatment for people with EGPA. You may be treated on a higher dose of this medication, then gradually given lower doses, as your symptoms improve. While tapering off steroids, you will be closely monitored by your healthcare provider. 

Approved for: Reducing inflammation or swelling in the body.

Delivery method: Pill.

Frequency: Daily. You will be tapered off the medication as symptoms improve however some people may need long-term low-dose prednisone to maintain control of their lung disease. 

Side effects: Steroids can have serious side effects especially if taken long term and may include increased risk of infection, weight gain, high blood pressure, bone loss, and eye problems. 

Approved for: Reducing inflammation or swelling in the body.

Delivery method: Infusion.

Frequency: Depends on disease severity. May be weekly or more frequent. 

Side effects: Steroids can have serious side effects especially if taken long term and may include increased risk of infection, weight gain, high blood pressure, bone loss, and eye problems. 

Immunosuppressants

Immune lowering medications decrease your immune system’s activity and reduce inflammation or swelling. These medications can be used in combination with corticosteroids and may be used as an add on treatment option.

Approved for: Treating rheumatoid arthritis, certain cancers, Pemphigus Vulgaris, Granulomatosis with Polyangitis (GPA) and Microscopic Polyangitis (MPA).

Delivery method: Infusion.

Frequency: May be given once weekly for 4 weeks or once every 2 weeks for 2 doses to induce remission. If you are in remission, you will be given 2 infusions, 2 weeks apart. Then you will be given 1 infusion every 6 months. 

Side effects: May include infusion-related reactions, infections, body or back aches, diarrhea, night sweats, flushing or reddening, sores in the mouth and anxiousness. 

Approved for: Treating certain cancers and nephrotic syndrome.

Delivery method: Pill or infusion.

Frequency: Daily in pill form or as an infusion every few weeks. 

Side effects: May include nausea, vomiting, loss of weight or appetite, stomach pain, diarrhea, hair loss, sores of the mouth, changes in skin color, and growth or color of finger or toenails. 

Approved for: Treating severe psoriasis, arthritis, and certain types of cancers. 

Delivery method: Pill or injection. 

Frequency: May be on a rotating schedule. Your healthcare provider will tell you the schedule for this medication. 

Side effects: May include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, swollen glands, decreased appetite, redness in the eyes, hair loss. 

Approved for: Treating rheumatoid arthritis and after a kidney transplant to keep the body from rejecting the kidney.

Delivery method: Pill.

Frequency: Daily.

Side effects: May include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Approved for: Preventing transplant organ rejection. 

Delivery method: Pill.

Frequency: Daily.

Side effects: May include constipation, nausea, vomiting, difficulty falling asleep, pain in the back muscles or joints, gas, headaches, tingling on the skin, swelling of the hands, arms, feet, and lower legs, and tremors.

Biologics

Biologics or monoclonal antibodies are a type of medication that target the inflammation caused by eosinophils, or type of white blood cells, in your immune system. These medications may help you achieve remission and reduce the use of anti-inflammatories or steroids.

Approved for: Treating severe, eosinophilic asthma by targeting and reducing the number of eosinophils in the body. Mepolizumab became the first FDA-approved treatment of EGPA in 2017. 

Delivery method: Injection.

Frequency: Every 4 weeks.

Side Effects: May include headache, dry or itchy skin, back pain, muscle spasms, mouth or joint pain, and nasal dryness. 

Approved for: Treating severe, eosinophilic asthma by targeting and reducing the number of eosinophils in the body. Benralizumab received FDA approval to treat EGPA in 2024. 

Delivery method: Injection.

Side effects: May include headache and sore throat.

Frequency: Every 4 weeks for the first 3 doses, then once every 8 weeks.

Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effects and stay up to date with your healthcare appointments and lab work.

Managing EGPA

Managing EGPA includes lifestyle changes and good health practices. Your healthcare provider will carefully monitor you to see how your EGPA is responding to treatment, watch for signs of infection and adjust your medications as needed. Taking immunosuppressants can increase your risk of infection. Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider about recommended vaccinations to help protect you from preventable respiratory infections.

EGPA is a chronic condition, meaning even if you achieve remission and no longer have symptoms, you may still need to take your EGPA medication and have follow up appointments with your provider. 

Lifestyle changes and good health practices include: 

Finding Support

An important part of managing your disease is having emotional support. It is not uncommon for people being treated for serious diseases like EGPA to feel anxious or upset. Tell your healthcare provider if your mood changes as treatment for your emotional health may make your EGPA treatment plan easier to follow. 

It can also be helpful to find a community or support group of others living with chronic disease to connect with. Here are a few free options available to you:

For More Information

The Vasculitis Foundation has information available to help support for people diagnosed with EGPA.   

  • Understanding Your Lung Health: EGPA

    Download
  • Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA) Symptom and Side Effect Tracker

    Download

Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel.

Page last updated: November 22, 2024

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