Vasculitis Overview

Inflammation of the blood vessels (arteries, arterioles, veins, venules, capillaries)

Aetiology

• Primary vasculitis results from an inflammatory response that targets the vessel walls and has no known cause

• Secondary vasculitis may be triggered by an infection, a drug, or a toxin and may occur as part of another inflammatory disorder or cancer

Pathophysiology

• Inflammation of the blood vessels can often lead to inflammation, ischaemia and/or necrosis of tissue

Classification of vasculitis

Clinical presentation

• Clinical manifestations are diverse and depend on the size and location of the involved organs and the degree of organ dysfunction and inflammation

• Systemic symptoms are common to all vasculitides - fever, malaise, weight loss, fatigue