title: Primary and secondary vasculitic neuropathy.
abstract: Necrotizing vasculitis occurs as a primary phenomenon in connective tissue disorders and cognate fields, including polyarteritis nodosa and the Churg and Strauss syndrome variant, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus and Wegener's granulomatosis. In all these conditions focal and multifocal neuropathy occur as a consequence of destruction of the arterial wall and occlusion of the lumen of small epineurial arteries. Vasculitis may also complicate the course of other conditions ranging from infection with the HIV and with the B and C hepatitis viruses to diabetes and sarcoidosis. Pathologically polymorphonuclear cells are present in the infiltrates of the vessel wall in primary necrotizing vasculitis, while in secondary vasculitis the inflammatory infiltrate is mainly composed of mononuclear cells. In all instances symptomatic vasculitis requires corticosteroid to control the inflammatory process and prevent further ischemic nerve lesions.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurologie, Hôpital de Bicêtre (Université Paris XI), 94275, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. gerard.said@bct.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lacroix
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000473:pathology; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000473:pathology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014777:Virus Diseases
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones