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The vasculitides are a class of diseases characterised by leukocytic infiltration of the vascular wall with associated reactive damage. Their pathogenesis is complex and wont be expounded here but their sequelae usually come from vessel failure either by occlusion or haemorrhage.
Below is a list of the vasculitides by the 2012 Chappel-Hill classification.
Large vessel vasculitis
The large vessel vasculitides are indications for toculizumab, a monoclonal antibody against IL-6 developed by Osaka University and Chugai Pharmaceutical Corporation. In Takayasu arteritis, adalimumab is first-line.
Giant cell arteritis
Classical teaching is of temporal arteritis. A disease with cranial involvement characterised by giant cells on biopsy of the patient’s temporal artery after he presents with a temporal headache and tenderness. The severe complications are blindness, stroke, and limb ischaemia.
Takayasu arteritis
A disease predominantly of women under 40 affecting the aorta and its branches. Some of the diagnostic criteria are weakened brachial pulse, aortic or subclavian bruits, and stenotic changes on imaging.
Medium vessel vasculitis
Polyarteritis nodosa
Kawasaki disease
ANCA associated small vessel vasculitis
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis
Previously know as Wegener granulomatosis
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
Previously known as Churg‐Strauss syndrome