Vasculitides Flashcards
What is the name given to vasculitis classification by vessel size?
Chapel-Hill classification
List the general clinical features associated with vasculitis.
- Fever, weight loss, myalgia, arthralgia
- Purpuric ulcers, livedo reticularis
- Nailbed infarcts, gangrene of digits
- Episcleritis, visual loss
- Epistaxis, naal crusting, stridor, deafness
- Haemoptysis, dyspnoea
- Angina or MI, HF, pericarditis
- Malabsorption
- HTN, haematuria, proteinuria, renal failure
List the subtypes of vasculitis and their classification.
Large
- Takayasu
- GCA
- PMR
Medium
- PAN
- Kawasaki
Small
- ANCA associated
- Immune complex associated
Mixed vessel
- Behcet’s
These are all primary types of vasculitis. Secondary causes include infection, malignancy, SLE and RhA, drugs (levamisole - contaminant of cocaine).
What investigations should be done in general for vasculitides?
- Urine dip and careful exam
- ANA
- ANCA
- Biopsy
- FDG-PET
What is mononeuritis multiplex and what is a common cause?
MNM = progressive motor and sensory deficits in the distribution of specific peripheral nerves
Causes: most commonly due to vasculitis, which may be either systemic or isolated to the nerves. Other causes include hypersensitivity reactions to drugs or infections, or direct viral or bacterial infection of nerves.
Why is Behcet’s termed a mixed vascultis?
Affects both veins and arteries and different vessel sizes
Most other vasculitides only affect the arteries
What is RS3PE?
Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema = a type of PMR onset RhA. Identified by symmetric polyarthritis, synovitis, acute pitting edema (swelling) of the back of the hands and/or feet, and a negative serum rheumatoid factor
What are the differentials for a purpuric rash?
Vascular - vasculitis e.g. HSP/IgA vasculitis
Infective - meningococcal sepsis
Autoimmune - SLE
Other
What are the main features of HSP?
- Purpuric rash
- Glomerulonephritis
- GI involvement
- Arthritis
- Usually in children
What medication and dose is first line for PMR?
15mg prednosolone daily
NB: methotrexate can be used as a steroid sparing agent in PMR
Which condition is associated with antibodies against proteinase 3 (PR3)
PR3 Abs have high specificity for granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s)
What are the features of GPA?
Involvement of:
- Upper airway
- Lower airway
- Renal
What is GCA?
Temporal arteritis is large vessel vasculitis which overlaps with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Histology shows changes that characteristically ‘skips’ certain sections of the affected artery whilst damaging others.
What are the clinical features of GCA?
- typically patient > 60 years old
- usually rapid onset (e.g. < 1 month)
- headache (found in 85%)
- jaw claudication (65%)
- visual disturbances
- tender, palpable temporal artery
- around 50% have features of PMR: aching, morning stiffness in proximal limb muscles (not weakness)
- also lethargy, depression, low-grade fever, anorexia, night sweats
What are the visual disturbances seen in GCA?
- amaurosis fugax
- blurring
- double vision
Vision testing is a key investigation in patients with suspected temporal arteritis
This is secondary to anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Which arteries are most commonly affected in GCA?
- Temporal artery
- Masseter arteries - results in claudication
What investigations are done for GCA?
- ESR - >50mm/hr
- CRP- elevated
- USS of temporal and axillary arteries
- +/- Biopsy - skip lesions
NB: CK and EMG - normal
What is a major complication of GCA?
Ischaemic optic neuropathy due to involevement of the ophthalmic artery
What is the management of GCA?
URGENT high-dose steroids - Prednisolone 40mg daily
If there are eye symptoms –> IV methylprednisolone then give 60mg prednisolone daily + same day ophthal review
+/- bisphosphonates - for bone protection
+/- aspirin - sometimes given, little evidence
Which biological treatment may be used for GCA and what is its MOA?
Tocilizumab - anti-IL6
What is the prognosis with GCA?
There should be a dramatic response once steroids are started, if not the diagnosis should be reconsidered
Visual damage is often irreversible
Which areteries are scanned in GCA?
- Temporal artery
- Axillary artery to confirm diagnosis
What are the clinical features of Takayasu’s arteritis?
- upper and lower limb claudication on exertion
- systemic features of a vasculitis e.g. malaise, headache
- unequal blood pressure in the upper limbs - a difference in blood pressure of >10 mmHg on each arm may be significant
- carotid bruit and tenderness
- absent or weak peripheral pulsesaortic regurgitation (around 20%)
Who is most affected by Takayasu’s arteritis?
It is more common in younger females (e.g. 10-40 years) and Asian people