Polyarteritis Nodosa and Kawasaki Disease (Medium Vessel Vasculitis) - Symptoms, pathophysiology

Medium Vessel vasculitis. Vasculitis is inflammation of the blood vessels resulting in damaged vessels leading to potential complication such as tissue ischaemia from lumen narrowing or from thromboembolic events from platelet consumption during vessel repair. Primary vasculitides are classified into the size of the blood vessels affected; large vessel, medium vessel and small vessel vasculitis. The medium vessel vasculitis includes polyarteitis nodosa and Kawasaki disease Polyarteritis nodosa is a rare systemic necrotising vasculitis targeting medium sized arteries. PAN has distinct features with particular involvement, vasculitis of the renal and visceral arteries. It is associated with HBV, mononeuritis multiplex and renal infarcts. There is no lung involvement, oesinophils are normal and there is absence of Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. Kawasaki disease is a uncommon systemic vasculitis disease affecting mainly children under the age of 5. Kawasaki disease is a medium sized vasculitis. Kawasaki disease and HSP are the most common primary vasculitides in children. It is more prevalent in Asians or native Pacific Islanders and is the leading cause of childhood acquired heart disease in developed countries which include coronary aneurysms.

Video by: Armando Hasudungan