OnlineMedEd - Rheumatology: Vasculitis Flashcards
What three arteries are most commonly affected in giant cell arteritis?
- Ophthalmic
- External carotid
- Temporal (which is a branch of the external carotid)
Patients with giant cell arteritis present with what symptoms?
- Jaw claudication and temporal tenderness (temporal artery effects)
- Vision changes (ophthalmic artery effects)
How is giant cell arteritis diagnosed?
With biopsy, although if you see vision changes, jaw claudication, and temporal tenderness you should skip the biopsy and treat with steroids
Summarize Takayasu.
- Large vessel arteritis
- Affects the aortic arch and immediate branches (e.g., subclavian artery)
- Presents in young women (less than 40)
- Often shows extremely weak or imperceptible pulses on exam
How can Takayasu be definitively diagnosed?
With an angiogram
Run through Kawasaki syndrome.
Remember the CRASH and Burn mnemonic: •Conjunctivitis •Rash •Adenopathy •Strawberry tongue •Hand and foot edema, erythema, and desquamation •Burn = fever for 5 days or more
How is Kawasaki syndrome treated?
IVIG and aspirin
What organ systems does polyarteritis nodosa target?
- Gut (leading to mesenteric ischemia)
- Skin
- Renal (leading to renal failure)
Which vasculitis disorder presents with neural symptoms?
Polyarteritis nodosa (which can cause mononeuritis multiplex: an asymmetric loss of motor and sensory function)
Polyarteritis nodosa is associated with ______________.
hepatitis B
Examiners like you to know that treatment of HBV typically improves the course of PAN.
How can polyarteritis nodosa be definitively diagnosed?
Angiogram showing aneurysms in medium-sized vessels
Polyarteritis nodosa is treated with ________________.
steroids and cyclophosphamide
The new term for Wegener’s is _________________.
granulomatosis with polyangiitis
GPA typically presents with ________________.
hemoptysis, hematuria, and sinus erosions/ulcers/damage
How is GPA treated?
Steroids and cyclophosphamide (for aggressive cases)
Microscopic polyangiitis is essentially ________________.
Wegener’s with pANCA
Churgg-Strauss is essentially ______________.
pANCA with eosinophilia
What is cryoglobulinemia?
A hepatitis C immune complex vasculitis that affects the small vessels. It presents with purpura and low complement.
How can cryoglobulinemia be treated?
- Plasmapheresis
- Steroids or cyclophosphamide
- Treat the HCV
Henoch-Schonlein purpura can be definitively diagnosed with ________________.
biopsy of the purpura
Cyclophosphamide can be used for which of the vasculitides?
Small and medium (i.e., not GCA or Takayasu)
