Vasculitis is essentially an inflammation of the vessel wall. It can be either infectious or non-infectious (autoimmune).
Generally, "vasculitis" is often mentioned on its own, referring to the latter (non-infectious) form. It is classified based on the vessel size (large vessels such as the aorta and its branches, medium vessels, and small vessels).
Mechanisms
- Immune complex deposition
- Neutrophil-mediated (ANCAs; pauci-immune)
- Anti-endothelial activity
Small vessel vasculitides
Small vessel vasculitides include:
- ANCA-associated vasculitides:
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegner's granulomatosis)
- Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-strauss syndrome)
- Microscopic polyangiitis
- Immune-complex vasculitides:
- IgA vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein purpura)
- Goodpasture syndrome
- Essential cryoglobulinemic vasculitis
ANCA-associated vasculitides
These are vasculitides without the presence of immune complexes, but rather they are