3). Medium vessel vasculitis.  Classical histological changes include fibrinoid necrosis of the vessel wall accompanied by a chronic inflammatory infiltrate. It is segmental in nature and, characteristically, affected and unaffected vessels may be seen in the same section. As in large vessel vasculitis, there is loss of large portions of the elastic lamina, various numbers of giant cells and granulomata and development of long-term fibrosis and aneurysms. Small vessel vasculitis.  Vasculitic lesions are seen typically in the capillary beds. This may involve skin, lungs and kidney, with necrosis, fibrin deposition and leucocytoclasia,

i.e. cell debris, and a mixture of neutrophils and lymphocytes. Henoch–Schonlein purpura, cryoglobulinaemia and vasculitis associated with collagen vascular disease typically demonstrate deposition of immune complexes, whereas ANCA-positive buy Torin 1 vasculitides do not [53]. The classic Wegener’s granulomatosis granulomatous lesion is seen in the lung, but is not always present and vasculitis may be

indicated only by the presence of capillaritis with haemorrhage. Granulomatous lesions are not see more always present and may be a late feature of disease development [55]. Figures 4–7 demonstrate the histological changes of vasculitic neuropathy, skin, kidney and nasal lesions, respectively. Figure 8 shows the rash of Henoch–Schonlein purpura and Fig. 9 demonstrates a skin granulomatous lesion in Wegener’s granulomatosis. Celecoxib Imaging has a dual role in the assessment of vasculitis by providing information on vessel pathology for large and medium vessel vasculitis and by characterizing organ damage in small vessel vasculitis. Figure 10 shows consolidation and a granulomatous lesion in a chest X-ray in Wegener’s granulomatosis. Imaging in large vessel vasculitis may demonstrate active inflammation

in the vessel wall or structural changes; stenosis, aneurysms and occlusions. If vessel wall inflammation is detected early in the disease course, prompt treatment may prevent irreversible structural changes [56]. Angiography is the current gold standard imaging for Takayasu’s arteritis, which demonstrates structural but not arterial wall changes. Newer imaging techniques provide better information about vessel wall inflammation. MRI demonstrates early vascular inflammation by increased wall thickness, oedema and mural contrast enhancement in Takayasu’s arteritis [57] and giant cell arteritis [58]. Colour duplex ultrasonography demonstrates vessel wall oedema with a characteristic halo sign in giant cell arteritis and can also demonstrate stenosis and occlusions [59]. However, it is highly operator-dependent [60]. Both techniques have potential for diagnosis and monitoring large vessel vasculitis and potentially replacing current standard investigations. However, large prospective studies correlating radiological findings with pathological features and clinical changes are lacking.