hypersensitivity vasculitis

vasculitis

 [vas″ku-li´tis]

inflammation of a blood or lymph vessel; see arteritis, lymphangitis, and phlebitis. Called also angiitis.

Churg-Strauss vasculitis churg-strauss syndrome.

hypersensitivity vasculitis a group of systemic necrotizing vasculitides thought to represent hypersensitivity to an antigenic stimulus, such as a drug, infectious agent, or exogenous or endogenous protein; all disorders in this group involve the small vessels.

necrotizing vasculitis see systemic necrotizing vasculitis.

nodular vasculitis a chronic vasculitis of unknown etiology found predominantly below the knees, especially on the calves in young and middle-aged women, characterized by the presence of painful, reddish blue nodular lesions that may ulcerate, leaving scars, or resorb, leaving atrophic depressions. In the late stages, there is replacement of the subcutaneous fat by fibrosis and atrophy (wucher atrophy).

systemic necrotizing vasculitis any of a group of disorders characterized by inflammation and necrosis of blood vessels, occurring in a broad spectrum of cutaneous and systemic disorders. It includes Churg-Strauss syndrome, polyarteritis nodosa, the various kinds of hypersensitivity vasculitis, and other conditions. Called also necrotizing vasculitis.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

cu·ta·ne·ous vas·cu·li·tis

an acute form of vasculitis that may affect the skin only, but also may involve other organs, with a polymorphonuclear infiltrate in the walls of and surrounding small (dermal) vessels. Nuclear fragments are formed by karyorrhexis of the neutrophils.
See also: leukocytoclastic vasculitis.

Synonym(s): hypersensitivity vasculitis

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

hypersensitivity vasculitis

Allergic vasculitis Immunology An immune dysfunction and systemic vasculitis characterized by small vessel involvement of the skin–accompanied by palpable purpura, leukocytoclastic inflammation, often also of the GI tract and kidney; HV may be associated with a drug reaction, bacterial infection, or underlying malignancy. See Vasculitis.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.