OTHER FORMS OF VASCULITIS AND PSEUDOVASCULITIS

Behcet's syndrome can involve all sizes and kinds of blood vessels. Th ere is an association between arterial involvement and venous thrombos is. Pulmonary arterial aneurysms and neurological involvement have a d efinite influence on mortality. Male sex and young age are indicators of a more severe disease course. Immunosuppressive treatment early in the disease may affect the long term prognosis favourably. Patients wi th familiar Mediterranean fever may develop manifestations of vasculit is. The most common associations are with Schonlein-Henoch purpura and polyarteritis nodosa. In some patients the diagnosis of vasculitis pr ecedes that of familial Mediterranean fever. Kawasaki disease, althoug h rare, can be seen in adults. The coronary sequela of childhood disea se can affect the prognosis later in life. Many conditions, like myxom a, cholesterol embolism, and calciphylaxis may mimic vasculitic syndro mes. These conditions should always be kept in mind because their path ophysiology and treatment are different from true vasculitides.