Vasculitis and Vasculopathies

Under a microscope, vascular disorders are recognised as haemorrhagic, occlusive or inflammatory in nature. Haemorrhagic conditions show minimal pathology apart from red cell extravasation and include physiological states. Vascular occlusion can be due to various deposits, such as red cell thrombi, immunoglobulins, cholesterol and calcium. Identifying the nature of the deposits helps to direct further management. Vasculitis may affect small and/or medium sized vessels. The approach begins with identifying the predominant inflammatory cell type and presence of leukocytoclasia. A number of vasculitis and vasculopathies are part of systemic syndromes, underscoring the importance of accurate diagnosis.