Vasculitis

Question 1

What is vasculitis?

Answer 1

Inflammatory blood vessel disorder

Question 2

What are the symptoms of vasculitis?

Answer 2

Fever, weight loss, malaise, fatigue, diminished appetite, sweats
MSK - arthralgia, myalgia, proximal muscle weakness
CNS/PNS - headaches, visual loss, tinnitus, stroke
ENT - nose bleeds, ulcers
Heart/lung - pericarditis, cough
Renal - haematuria

Question 3

What are the signs of vasculitis?

Answer 3

Skin - palpable purpura, digital ulcers, gangrene, nail bed capillary changes
Cardiopulmonary - crackles, pleural rubs, murmurs, arrhythmias
Abdominal - organomegaly

Question 4

What can vasculitis happen secondary to?

Answer 4

Infections, drugs, malignancy or connective tissue diseases

Question 5

What investigations are done in vasculitis?

Answer 5

FBC, U+E, LFT, CRP, ESR
ANA, ANCA, RF
CXR, CT, MRI, arteriography

Question 6

What is the management of vasculitis?

Answer 6

Rule out infection, stop offending drug
1st line - corticosteroids
2nd line - cytotoxic medications, immunomodulatory or biologic agents (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, azathioprine, rituximab)