Vasculitis Flashcards
What is vasculitis?
Inflammation of blood vessels
How can vasculitis be classified? (2)
- Size of vessel
- ANCA positive or negative
What are the two major categories of large vessel vasculitis?
- Giant cell arteritis
- Takayasu arteritis
Which arteries are most common for giant cell arteritis to affect?
- Temporal artery (most common)
- Opthalmic artery
- Facial artery
The endothelium is generally directly attacked with molecular mimicry in which two classes of vasculitis?
- Large vessel
- Medium vessel
The endothelium is generally indirectly attacked in which class of vasculitis?
Small vessel
(N.b Henloch-Scholein purpura is an exeption to this rule)
What happens to the vessel walls due to the inflammation is vasculitis?
- Inflammatory processes cause tissue factor and collagen to be exposed (endothelial cells die)
- Thrombosis occurs
- Vessel walls weak leading to aneurysm
- Fibrosis due to fibrin deposition occurs as part of the healing process
- Both thrombosis and fibrosis narrow the vessel lumen reducing blood flow
Ultimately, vasculitis leads to less ______ _____
Bloof flow
Why does jaw claudication occur with giant cell arteritis?
The facial artery is affected and less blood flow to the face occurs
Giant cell arteritis is most common in what age group and sex?
Women > 50
What is found in the elastic lamina in a patient with giant cell arteritis?
Granulomas or “giant cells”
When taking a biopsy for giant cell arteritis, why is a negative result not able to rule out the condition?
Giant cell arteritis is segmental
Takayasu arteritis is most common in which age group and sex?
Asian women < 40
Takayasu arteritis generally affects which arteries?
Those off of the aortic arch
In patients with Takayasu arteritis, what is found in the internal elastic lamina?
Granulomas or “giant cells”
What are some common medium vessel arteritides?
- Kawasaki disease
- Polyarteritis nodosa
Kawasaki disease generally affects people of what age?
< 5
(boys more than girls)
What are the symptoms of Kawasaki disease?
Conjuctivitis (sparing the limbus)
Rash over body
Adenopathy (large or swollen lymph nodes)
Strawberry tongue
Hands and feet swelling
Fever
(Patients crash and burn)
Kawasaki disease is usually _____ __________
Self limiting
How can Kawasaki disease be treated?
IV Ig
Aspirin (monitor very closely for Reye syndrome)
What is the pathogenesis behind polyarteritis nodosa?
Immune cells directly attack the endothelial cells
This is an example of molecular mimicry as the antibodies produced are designed to takle hepatitis B
Polyarteritis nodosa causes ___________ necrosis
Transmural
Fibrinoid necrosis occurs with polyarteritis nodosa which leaves the vessels prone to what?
Aneurysm
Upon angiogram, polyarteritis nodosa has a very distinctive appearance. What is this appearance?
“String of beads”