VASCULITIS AND ITS VARIOUS PRESENTATIONS: A CASE SERIES

Abstract

Vasculitis involves a wide spectrum of clinicopathological process with reactive damage to the involved blood vessels. There is loss of vessel integrity instigating haemorrhage & luminal compromise leading to ischemia and necrosis of the tissue supplied by the involved vessels. It may affect varied size and type of blood vessels at different locations. This case series include three cases of vasculitis affecting different organs with varied presentations. Biopsies of three patients with unusual presentations were studied. Their complete history, physical examinations, laboratory investigations including serology were analysed and clinically correlated. The patients presented with different duration of symptoms varying from as short as 1-week days to 6 weeks. Skin lesions were present in two cases. Serology and autoimmune disease markers were negative in all cases except CD56 seen in 10% of plasma in rst case, ANA + was seen in second case and Weakly positive Mi-2 and borderline positive Scl-70 antibodies was seen in third case. Elevated CRP, CRP were seen in all cases. However, pathological features were in concordance with the clinical diagnosis of vasculitis. They were further classied as vasculitis mimicking multiple myeloma, Vasculitis with gastrointestinal manifestation and Henochschonlein purpura. Vasculitis though a rare disease may manifest as an acute or chronic condition. It needs timely diagnosis by clinicopathological examination to aid in further management. It is important to assess the clinical severity in primary and secondary vasculitis, as it determines morbidity and mortality.