Necrotising vasculitis

There is no completely satisfactory classification of vasculitic conditions that may cause necrotising vasculitis.

Some conditions that may present in this manner include:

• polyarteritis nodosa
• giant cell arteritis
• granulomatous conditions e.g. Wegener's granulomatosis
• rheumatic and collagen disease: - rheumatoid arthritis - SLE - rheumatic fever - dermatomyositis - systemic sclerosis
• leukocytoclastic i.e. neutrophilic infiltrate with nuclear fragmentation: - HSP - erythema nodosum or nodular vasculitis - hypocomplimentaemic vasculitis
• infective: - septicaemia, septic emboli - cutaneous arteritis during rash of typhus fever, meningococcaemia, scarletina, etc
• extension of perivascular inflammation e.g. cellulitis, erysipelas

Reference

1. Jennette JC, Falk RJ, Bacon PA, et al. 2012 revised International Chapel Hill consensus conference nomenclature of vasculitides. Arthritis Rheum. 2013 Jan;65(1):1-11