Vasculitides Flashcards
What is the most common arteriitis in adults?
temporal (giant cell) arteritis
What is temporal (giant cell) arteritis?
What vessels does it typically effect and what changes occur in the vessel?
granulomatous, large vessel vasculitis
Vessels:
-carotid branches (cranial arteries) , particularly temporal artery
Changes:
- segmental granulomatous changes, multinucleated giant cells
- fibrosis
What is the clinical presentation of temporal (giant cell) arteritis?
Constitutional Sx:
- fever, malaise, weight loss
- headache (temporal A.; actually occurs along artery which may also be TTP)
- visual changes (ophthalmic A.); **sudden loss of vision**
- jaw claudication (facial A.)
What is the epidemiology of temporal (giant cell) arteritis?
- more common in females
- older adults (>50)
- european descent
What are diagnostic features of temporal (giant cell) arteritis?
-segmental granulomatous changes noted on temporal A. biopsy (because of segemental nature, false negative biopsy can occur)
-elevated ESR
What is the treatment and prognosis for temporal (giant cell) arteritis?
-corticosteroids upon ***suspicion of disease*** to prevent blindness (even before biopsy)
What are major complications of temporal (giant cell) arteritis?
- sudden onset, potentially permanent blindness; this is why you treat upon suspicion before biposy confirmation
- aortic aneurysm
- ischemic stroke
What other condition is often present with temporal (giant cell) arteritis?
-polymyalgia rheumatica (arthralgia and myalgia of shoulder and pelvic girdles)
What is Takayasu arteritis?
What vessels does it typically effect and what changes occur in the vessel?
granulomatous, large vessel vasculitis
Vessels:
-aortic arch at branching points (crainal and upper ext As.)
Changes:
- smooth tapered stenosis
- granulomatous changes of aortic arch, multinucleated giant cells
- fibrosis
What is the epidemiology of Takayasu arteritis?
- more common in females
- adolescents to mid adults (15-45)
- more common Asians (Takayasu is Japanese -> Asian)
“young asian women”
What is the clinical presentation of Takayasu arteritis?
Constitutional Sx:
- fever, malaise, weight loss
- decreased radial/brachial pulses (“pulseless disease”)
- vision changes; “copper-wiring” retinopathy
- HTN (renal A.)
What are diagnostic features of Takayasu arteritis?
- smooth stenosis on angiography
- elevated ESR
What is the treatment and prognosis for Takayasu arteritis?
- corticosteroids
- typically regresses but aquired permanent changes (vision and neuro deficits) will remain
What is a major differentiating factor between temporal arteritis and Takayasu arteritis?
age; Takayasu <50 and temporal >50
- very similar with constitutional s/x, visual changes, and neuro s/x
- very similar histology
What is polyarteritis nodosa?
What vessels does it typically effect and what changes occur in the vessel?
necrotizing systemic medium vessel arteritis
Vessels:
- muscular, medium arteries suppling most organs
- ***lungs spared***
Changes:
- transmural inflammation w/ fibrinoid necrosis (early) -> fibrous aneurysms (“string of pearls”; hence nodosa) (late)
- multiple, diffuse lesions (hence polyarteritis) found in varying stages
What is the clinical presentation of polyarteritis nodosa?
Constitutional Sx:
-fever, malaise, weight loss
Symptoms are manifestaions of organ ischemia** and **variable
- ulcers and gangrene
- HTN (renal A.)
- abdominal pain with melena (mesenteric As.)
- mononeuritis multiplex (foot drop)
What is the epidemiology of polyarteritis nodosa?
-more common in males
-young adults
What are diagnostic features of polyarteritis nodosa?
- multiple microaneurysms “string of pearls” on angiography
- fibrinoid necrosis on biopsy
-positive hepatitis B
What other condition is often present with polyarteritis nodosa?
hepatitis B infection; positive for HBsAg (hepaitits B surface Ag
What is the treatment and prognosis for polyarteritis nodosa?
- corticosteroids
- cyclophosphamide
**fatal if not treated**