Update on vasculitis: an overview and dermatological clues for clinical and histopathological diagnosis – part I

• Published in: Anais brasileiros de dermatología 2020-05, Vol.95 (3), p.355-371
• Main Authors: Morita, Thâmara Cristiane Alves Batista, Trés, Gabriela Franco S., Criado, Roberta Fachini Jardim, Sotto, Mirian Nacagami, Criado, Paulo Ricardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis; Classification; DERMATOLOGY; Diagnosis; Female; Humans; Male; Necrosis; Purpura; Review; Skin Diseases, Vascular - classification; Skin Diseases, Vascular - diagnosis; Skin Diseases, Vascular - pathology; Syndrome; Systemic vasculitis; Vasculitis; Vasculitis - classification; Vasculitis - diagnosis; Vasculitis - pathology; Vasculitis, leukocytoclastic, cutaneous
• ISSN: 0365-0596; 1806-4841; 1806-4841
• DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2020.01.003

The term vasculitis refers to the inflammation of vessel walls. It may range in severity from a self-limited disorder in one single organ to a life-threatening disease due to multiple organ failure. It has many causes, although they result in only a few histological patterns of vascular inflammation. Vessels of any type and in any organ can be affected, a fact that results in a broad variety of signs and symptoms. Different vasculitides with indistinguishable clinical presentations have quite different prognosis and treatments. This condition presents many challenges to physicians in terms of classification, diagnosis, appropriate laboratory workup, and treatment. Moreover, it compels a careful follow-up. This article reviews the Chapel-Hill 2012 classification, etiology, recent insights in pathophysiology, some important dermatological clues for the diagnosis and summarizes treatment of some of these complex vasculitis syndromes.