VASCULITIS

SUMMARY

1. Vasculitis is the inflammation of blood vessel walls that can lead to narrowing, obstruction, ischemia, or aneurysm formation.

2. Vasculitis is classified by the size of blood vessels affected and the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs).

3. Most common ANCA-positive vasculitis: Wegner's granulomatosis, microscopic polyangitis, Churg-Strauss syndrome.

4. Caused by either immune complex deposition or complement activation.

5. Frequently present(s) with include myalgias/arthralgias, neuropathy, fever, malaise, and weight loss. Consider vasculitis in a patient with palpable purpura or mononeuritis multiplex!

6. ESR & CRP may be elevated. Diagnosis is confirmed with biopsies or angiograms.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].