Types of Vasculitis
There are many different disorders that are
classified as types of vasculitis. Although all of these disorders include
inflammation of the blood vessels, most differ from each other in terms of what
populations of people and which organs they affect.
Behcets Disease
Behcets disease can affect any part of the body because
it can occur in vessels of any size or type. Commonly affected organs include
the eyes, the mouth, and the genitals. Patients with this type of vasculitis
are often younger than those with other types, many times in their twenties and
thirties. The HLA-B51 gene allele is often associated with Behcets
disease, but not everyone with the gene will develop the disease. Behcets
is more common in individuals of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, or Far Eastern
descent, but is usually not found in Blacks.
Buergers Disease
Buergers disease typically affects blood flow
to the hands and feet. Buergers disease is also known as thromboangiitis
obliterans and is more likely to occur in smokers than nonsmokers.
Central Nervous System Vasculitis
Central nervous system vasculitis affects the brain
and sometimes the spinal cord.
Churg-Strauss Syndrome
Churg-Strauss syndrome can affect many different
organs, but it most commonly affects the lungs, skin, kidneys, and heart. Many
people who are diagnosed with Churg-Strauss syndrome also have
asthma.
They may have had preexisting, newly diagnosed, or recently worsened asthma
when diagnosed with Churg-Strauss syndrome.
Cryoglobulinemia
Common signs and symptoms of cryoglobulinemia
(KRI-o-GLOB-u-luh-NE-me-uh) are a rash on the lower limbs, arthritis, and nerve
damage. Type 1 cryoglobulinemia is often associated with lymphoma, while Type 2
cryoglobulinemia is often associated with hepatitis C infection.
Giant Cell Arteritis
Common symptoms of
giant cell arteritis include headache, fever, blurred vision,
and pain in the jaw, shoulders, or hips. It is the most common form of
vasculitis that occurs in adults older than 50 years. It is more likely to
occur in people of Scandinavian origin, but can occur in people of any
race.
Henoch-Schonlein Purpura
Henoch-Schonlein purpura most commonly affects the
skin, kidneys, joints, and stomach. It is the most common form of vasculitis
found in children, but can occur at any age. When seen in children, it often
follows an upper respiratory infection. It is not usually a chronic disease,
and full recovery is common.
Microscopic Polyangiitis
Microscopic polyangiitis (POL-e-an-je-i-tis) most
commonly affects the kidneys, skin, and nerves, but it can affect any organ in
the body.
Polyarteritis Nodosa
Polyarteritis nodosa (POL-e-ar-ter-i-tis no-DO-suh)
most commonly affects the kidneys, skin, and nerves, but it can affect any
organ in the body. It is most common in people in their thirties and forties.
Men are twice as likely as women to get polyarteritis nodosa. In some cases, it
is associated with chronic hepatitis B infection or a very specific type of
leukemia known as hairy cell leukemia.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Polymyalgia rheumatica (POL-e-mi-AL-je-a ROO-ma-ti-kuh) most
commonly affects the large joints in the body, such as the shoulders and hips.
It often occurs along with giant cell arteritis.
Rheumatoid Vasculitis
Rheumatoid vasculitis can affect many different
organs, including the eyes, skin, hands, and feet. It commonly occurs in
patients who have severe rheumatoid arthritis.
Takayasus Arteritis
Takayasu (Tock-e-AH-sue) arteritis (ar-ter-I-tis)
affects the aorta (the largest blood vessel in the body) and its branches,
which carry blood away from the heart. It typically occurs in Asian women
younger than 40.
Wegeners Granulomatosis
Wegeners granulomatosis (GRAN-u-lo-ma-TO-sis)
can occur anywhere in the body. It most commonly affects the upper respiratory
tract (nose, sinuses, and throat), lungs, and kidneys. It is most common in
people who are middle-aged and older. |