L47 Vasculitis Flashcards
What is vaculitis?
Inflammation involving blood vessels, typically arteries
When should vasculitis be on the differential?
- Presence of constitutional symptoms
2. Symptoms suggestive of specific organ involvement
Generally, what happens in vasculitis?
Inflammation in the vessels leads to thickening, infiltration of immune cells, giant cell formation, thrombosis formation, and narrowing of the lumen. This leads to occlusion and ischemia.
What types of vasculitis affect large vessels?
- Giant cell arteritis
2. Takayasu arteritis
What types of vasculitis affect medium vessels?
- Polyarteritis nodosa
2. Kawasaki disease
What types of vasculitis affect small vessels - ANCA associated?
- Granulomatosis with polyangitis
- Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis
- Microscopic polyangitis
What types of vasculitis affect small vessels - immune complex associated?
- IgA vasculitis
2. Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis
What is another name for giant cell arteritis?
Temporal arteritis
Discuss the epidemiology of giant cell arteritis.
- Typically affects people >50 (mean: 70-75 years)
- 2/3 female
- Most common primary vasculitis
- Highest incidence in Scandinavian populations
Of the four general presentations, what is the common presentation of giant cell arteritis?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
What are the symptoms of PMR?
- Significant stiffness in the proximal joints (shoulders, hips)
- Pain in the proximal joints and muscles
- Prolonged morning stiffness
What are the 4 presentations of giant cell arteritis?
- Cranial arteritis
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Nonspecific inflammatory disease (constitutional symptoms)
- Large vessel vasculitis
What are the symptoms seen in cranial arteritis?
Headache, visual loss (up to 20%), scalp/temporal tenderness, claudication of jaw and tongue muscles
What are the nonspecific inflammatory disease symptoms?
Fever, night sweats, malaise, weight loss, anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis (ESR and CRP usually high)
What are the large vessel vasculitis symptoms?
Asymptomatic, signs of ischemia may be absent
Where does giant cell arteritis occur?
Aorta, femoral, iliac, subclavian, temporal
What causes giant cell arteritis?
Cause is unknown, but it involves chronic, usually granulomatous inflammation of large and medium arteries. It involves the innate and adapative immune systems, and TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IFN-gamma are involved.
Describe the morphology of giant cell arteritis.
- Patchy/skip lesions
- Lumen occlusion, sometimes thromboses
- Granulomatous inflammation
Describe the granulomatous inflammation seen in giant cell arteritis.
- Found within the inner media centered on the internal elastic membrane
- Infiltrate of lymphocytes, macrophages, and giant cells
- Fragmentation and destruction of internal elastic lamina
What is a granuloma?
Collection of localized inflammatory cells
What is a giant cell?
Union of multiple macrophages
How is giant cell arteritis diagnosed?
- History and physical
- Biopsy temporal arteries
- No specific markers or serolies
- Elevated ESR and CRP indicate inflammation
- Angiogram if large vessels involved
Temporal artery biopsy carries risk of ___.
False negatives
Giant cell arteritis can cause ___.
Aneurysms
What is another name for Takayasu arteritis?
Pulseless disease
What vessels are affected in Takayasu arteritis?
Large and medium vessels
Discuss the epidemiology of Takayasu arteritis.
- Patients are younger than 50 years of age
2. Very rare
What vessels are affected in Takayasu arteritis?
Classically affects the aortic arch and arch vessels, including the subclavian artery; 1/3 also involve remainder of aorta and its branches, pulmonary, renal, and coronary arteries