Systemic vasculitis is a group of heterogeneous, disabling disorders. Great interest has recently arisen in pathophysiology, clinical phenotypes and therapy of large- and small-vessel vasculitis. The general work hypothesis has been to promote research focused on disease-related pathogenetic pathways, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, thus leading...

Mycoplasma is a virulent organism that is known to primarily infect the respiratory tract; however, affection of the skin, nervous system, kidneys, heart and bloodstream has been observed in various forms, which include Stevens Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, encephalitis, renal failure, conduction system abnormalities and hemolytic anemia. Small vessel vascul...

Allergic granulomatous angiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome) is a variant of systemic vasculitis characterized by pulmonary and systemic small vessel vasculitis, extra-vascular granulomas and eosinophilia. Clinical features include presence of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis with constitutional symptoms such as fever and weight loss. Multisystem involvement includes pulmonary infiltrations, m...

Granuloma faciale (GF) is a rare cutaneous disorder categorized as a localized form of small-vessel vasculitis. Clinically, it manifests as single or multiple well-demarcated red-brown plaques, papules and nodules, nearly always confined to the face. Herein, we report a 39-year-old man with multiple red-brown infiltrated plaques on face and extrafacial lesions on back, shoulders and both arms. ...

Many forms of necrotizing small vessel vasculitis manifest glomerulonephritis, pulmonary hemorrhage and cutaneous purpura. Because the histologic appearance of the vasculitic lesions is similar in these conditions, early pathologists and clinicians resorted to categorizing small vessel vasculitides based on vessel size and systemic distribution. Not surprisingly, due to the tremendous overlap i...