Vasculitides

Vasculitides are a group of disorders that involve vasculitis, the term for vascular inflammation. Each vasculitis is different, and the sequelae of vasculitides are quite variable depending on the organs involved, the size of the blood vessels involved, the type of underlying inflammatory process, and, of course, specific patient factors. Regardless of the etiology, vasculitis will result in decreased blood flow and likely vascular damage; eventually, it will result in occlusion with ischemia leading to necrosis and damage to tissue.

Often, Vasculitideare considered systemic and tend to involve many organ systems, as blood vessels are ubiquitous in the human body. Therefore, it is extremely important for every physician to be aware of their manifestations. Often, the initial manifestations are as innocuous as a skin rash but may go on to cause multi-organ compromise. Laboratory testing, imaging, and tissue samples (biopsy) may all be required to make a diagnosis of vasculitis.