Vasculitis* and Giant cell (temporal) arteritis****

Question 1

Definition of vasculitis

Answer 1

Inflamation of walls of vessels.

Question 2

Clinical presentation vasculitis

Answer 2

Constitutional

• Fever
• Malaise
• Arthralgias

Local

• Depends on the vessels involved

Question 3

Aetiology vasculitis

Answer 3

There are two main mechanisms

1. Direct invasion of vascular walls by infectious agents; and
2. Immune mediated mechanisms

Question 4

Temporal arteritis

Answer 4

This is the most common form of systemic vasculitis in adults. The inflammation affects small to large arteries.

Granulomatous arteritis of the aorta and its major branches, especially the extracranial branches of the carotid artery (temporal branch - facial pain and headache) but also vertebral arteries and opthalmic arteries (visual loss - medical emergency can cause blindness) and aorta.

Age >50, associated with polymyalgia rheumatica, HLA-DR, need to treat with high dose steroids as involvement of the opthalmic artery can lead to blindness.