Abstract
The primary systemic vasculitides are a rare group of inflammatory disorders, where damage is directed against the blood vessels. They range in severity from acute self-limiting illness to chronic life and organ threatening diseases requiring long-term treatment with toxic immunosuppressive regimes. None of them have specific tests and few have hard diagnostic criteria. This review summarises the gastrointestinal features of these diseases, along with their general clinical and epidemiological features and the evidence available to guide in their management.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 215-33 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Best Practice & Research: Clinical Gastroenterology |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2005 |
Keywords
- gastrointestinal tract
- microscopic polyangiitis
- Kawasaki disease
- Churg-Strauss syndrome
- Wegener's granulomatosis
- purpura
- vasculitis
- polyarteritis nodosa
- Takayasu's arteritis
- Schoenlein-Henoch