Vasculitis Diseases

Question 1

Name the vasculitis diseases we are supposed to know, classifying them based on the size of vessels affected.

Answer 1

Large vessels: Giant cell arteritis and Takayasu’s disease.

Medium vessels: Polyarteritis nodosa and Kawasaki disease.

Small vessels: Wegener’s granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis, Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Question 2

What is C-ANCA and which vasculitis diseases is it associated with?

Answer 2

Cytoplasmic anti-neutrophil antibody: an antibody against Proteinase 3 (PR3), a serine protease in neutrophils (function unknown).

Involved in Wegener’s granulomatosis

Question 3

What is P-ANCA and which vasculitis diseases is it associated with?

Answer 3

Peri-nuclear anti-neutrophil antibody: Ab against myeloperoxidase (MPO).

Involved in microscopic polyangiitis and Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Question 4

Do the ANCAs form immune complexes?

Answer 4

Nope!