title: Vasculitis--an overview.
abstract: The systemic vasculitides are a diverse group of conditions surrounded by a degree of mythology. Much of the apparent complexity of these disorders is due to application of illogical and rigid classification schemes. This overview has focused on the need to understand the terminology used to describe the vasculitides and their presenting clinical syndromes. The important role of the detection of autoantibodies to neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens (ANCA) in the diagnostic assessment of patients suspected of having a systemic vasculitis has been highlighted. Finally, the replacement of the dogmatic application of purportedly 'disease-specific' therapeutic protocols with a balanced assessment of the risk-benefit ratio of therapeutic strategies in an individual patient has been encouraged.
authors.affiliation: Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria.
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Boyce
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000145:classification