Vasculitis

Vasculitis

Vasculitis	Diagnosis and classification of vasculitis is based on the findings at biopsy of the affected tissue/organ, together with the clinical picture and the results of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). Extent of disease is assessed by diagnostic imaging; creatinine - plasma , urea - plasma; ALP , AST , ALT , GGT . Activity of disease is evaluated by CRP or ESR , occasionally complement components C3 and C4 . Investigation for the underlying cause may include rheumatoid factor , cryoglobulin , protein electrophoresis, antinuclear antibodies ; hepatitis B virus testing ; hepatitis C virus testing .
Systemic necrotising eg	Clinical assessment, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and complement assist in the differentiation of polyarteritis nodosa from ANCA positive vasculitides which involve a broader range of vessels.
Polyarteritis nodosa
Microscopic polyarteritis
Wegener’s granulomatosis
Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (Kawasaki’s disease)
Churg-Strauss syndrome
Small vessel incl leucocytoclastic
Drug reaction eg
Frusemide
Thiazides
Allopurinol
Connective tissue diseases esp
Rheumatoid arthritis
SLE
Henoch-Schönlein purpura	See also Glomerulonephritis .
Cryoglobulinaemia
Large vessel esp
Giant cell arteritis
Temporal arteritis
Thrombo-angiitis obliterans (Buerger’s disease)
Takayasu’s disease
Erythema nodosum
Behçet’s syndrome