Vasculitis

Vasculitis: Vasculitis is a general term for a group of uncommon diseases which feature inflammation of the blood vessels. The blood vessels of the body are referred to as the vascular system. The blood vessels are composed of arteries that pass oxygen- rich blood to the tissues of the body and veins which return oxygen- depleted blood from the tissues to the lungs for oxygen. Each of the vasculitis diseases (also, as a group, called vasculitides) is defined by characteristic distributions of blood vessel involvement, certain patterns of organ involvement, and laboratory test abnormalities. The word vasculitis is derived from the Latin "vasculum", vessel + "- itis", inflammation. Another term for vasculitis is angiitis. The actual cause of these vasculitis diseases is usually not known. However, immune system abnormality is a common feature. Examples of vasculitis include Kawasaki disease, Behcet's disease, polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener's granulomatosis, TakayasuÆs arteritis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis), and Henoch Schonlein purpura. Vasculitis can also accompany infections (such as hepatitis B), exposure to chemicals (such as amphetamines and cocaine), cancers (such as lymphomas and multiple myeloma), and rheumatic diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus). Laboratory testing in a patient with active vasculitis generally indicates inflammation in the body. Depending on the degree of organ involvement, a variety of organ function tests can be abnormal. The ultimate diagnosis for vasculitis is typically established after a biopsy of involved tissue demonstrates the pattern of blood vessel inflammation. The treatment of the various forms of vasculitis depends on the severity of the illness and the organs involved. Treatments are generally directed toward stopping the inflammation and suppressing the immune system. Typically, cortisone-related medications, such as prednisone, are used. Additionally, other immune suppression drugs, such as cyclophosphamide (CYTOXAN) and others, are considered. The management of vasculitis is an evolving field in medicine. The ideal programs for monitoring and treatment will continue to improve as disease patterns and causes are defined by medical research.