1. Vasculitis

2. 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).

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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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.