VIRAL VASCULITIS - PATHOGENESIS AND TREAT MENT

Some viruses are unquestionably the cause of vasculitis, by different mechanisms : circulating immune complexes, cryoglobulinemia and/or dir ect infection of the blood vessel. The main viruses responsible for va sculitis are hepatitis B & C viruses, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19 and human immunodeficiency virus. Viral vasculitis are clinically prot ean, most of the time similar to idiopathie vasculitis. The manifestat ions due to the virus itself are sometimes hidden and vasculitis may r eveal the viral infection. In some cases of viral vasculitis, particul arly in hepatitis virus-induced vasculitis, antiviral therapy may help in controlling the disease. A viral etiology must be considered durin g atypical vasculitis.