Vasculitis

Vasculitis is a heterogeneous group of disorders linked by the primary finding of inflammation within blood vessel walls. At least 20 forms of systemic vasculitis are recognized currently. Vasculitis is classified first by the size of blood vessel involved—small (capillaries and postcapillary venules), medium (muscular arteries and arterioles), or large (the aorta and its major branches).

Signs & Symptoms Nausea Vomitting Purpura Weight loss Lethargy As the disease progresses, multifocal neurologic deficits appear in 80% of the patients.

Common Types of Vasculitis Behcet’s Disease Beurger’s Disease Central Nervous System Vasculitis Churg-Strauss Syndrome Cryoglobulinemia Giant Cell Arteritis Henroch-Schoenlein Purpura Microscopic Polyangitis Polyarteritis Nodosa Polymyalgia Rheumatica Rheumatoid Vasculitis Sjögren’s syndrome Systemic lupus erythematosus Takayasu’s Arteritis Wegener’s Granulomatosis

Common Causes of Vasculitis Signs & Symptoms Churg-Strauss syndrome Asthma-like features followed by multiple-organ system involvement including GI, skin, kidneys, CNS, heart Systemic lupus erythematosus Malar rash, oral ulcers, photosensitivity, arthralgia, renal failure, anemia, ANA positive Rheumatoid arthritis Arthritis involving hand joints, radiological evidence of joint erosion, rheumatoid factor positive Giant cell arteritis “Pulseless disease,” fever, weight loss, syncope, visual field defects Sjögren’s syndrome Dry mouth, dry eyes, involvement of lung, liver, pancreas, joints Lymphoma Fever, weight loss, night sweats, lymph node enlargement, hepatosplenomegaly Polyarteritis nodosa Fever, weight loss, arthralgia, renal failure, myocardial infarction

Risk Factors Infections Connective Tissue Disorders Substance Abuse Herpes zoster Hepatitis C Mycoplasma HIV Connective Tissue Disorders Substance Abuse Men > Women Ages 30-40 most common

References Hajj Ali RA, Calabrese LH: Central nervous system vasculitis.  Curr Opin Rheumatol  2009; 21:10-18. Jennette JC, Falk RJ, Andrassy K, et al. "Nomenclature of systemic vasculitides. Proposal of an international consensus conference". Arthritis Rheum. 1994; 37(2):187–92 Ferri F. F. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. 1st ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2011.