Vasculitis:A general term for a group of uncommon diseases that featureinflammationof thebloodvessels. Each of the vasculitis diseases is defined by characteristic distributions of bloodvesselinvolvement, patterns oforganinvolvement, andlaboratorytest abnormalities. The actual causes of these vasculitis diseases are usually not known, butimmune systemabnormality is a common feature. Examples of vasculitis include Kawasaki disease, Behcet's disease, polyarteritis nodosa,granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Takayasu's arteritis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis), and Henoch-Schonlein purpura. Vasculitis can also accompany infections, such as hepatitis B; exposure to chemicals, such as amphetamines and cocaine; cancers, such as lymphomas and multiple myeloma; and rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis andsystemic lupus erythematosus. Laboratory testinginapatientwith active vasculitis generally indicates inflammation in the body, and depending on the degree of organ involvement, a variety of organ function tests can beabnormal. The ultimatediagnosisfor vasculitis is typically established after abiopsyof involved组织demonstrates the pattern of blood vessel inflammation. Treatment depends on the type and severity of the illness and the organs involved. Treatments are generally directed toward stopping the inflammation and suppressing theimmunesystem. Typically,cortisone相关的药物,如prednisone, are used, as are other immune-
suppression drugs, such ascyclophosphamide(brand name:Cytoxan). Also known as angiitis and vasculitides (the plural form of vasculitis).
