Vasculitis

The vasculitides comprise a heterogeneous group of diseases with the common histopathologic feature of inflammation and necrosis of blood vessel walls . The etiologic factors associated with triggering of endothelial injury in clude: infections, drugs, autoantibodies, malignancies, abnormal circulatin g proteins, and underlying systemic disease. Half of all cases, however, do not present a clear etiology or association and ore considered idiopathic. The varied causes coupled with the myriad of clinical presentations and an imperfect classification system can make the diagnosis of specific forms o f vasculitis difficult. Physicians need to integrate clinical assessment wi th laboratory data in order to differentiate between the disorders where th e vasculitic process represents a benign, self-limited disease From those t hat may be severe or even life threatening. Rapid and accurate diagnosis le ads to optimal treatment options.