Types of vasculitis
All types of vasculitis cause inflammation of the blood vessels, but the symptoms and treatments can vary widely depending on which blood vessels and organs are affected. Some types of vasculitis can affect blood vessels of any size, while others are limited to just one part of the body, like the skin or brain.
Large vessel vasculitis affects the body’s biggest arteries, primarily the aorta and its major branches.
Medium vessel vasculitis involves medium-sized arteries, often those that carry blood to major organs.
Small vessel vasculitis affects tiny blood vessels, often in the skin, kidneys, or nerves. It’s linked to certain immune system reactions.
Single-organ vasculitis (SOV) is a type of blood vessel inflammation that affects only one organ or part of the body. Unlike other forms of vasculitis that involve many organs, SOV stays limited to just one area.
- Central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis attacks vessels in the brain or spinal cord.
- Cutaneous vasculitis attacks vessels in and under the skin.
Variable vessel vasculitis can affect blood vessels of any size throughout the body. Some related conditions, like IgG4-related disease, are included in this category because they can affect blood vessels of different sizes.
- Behçet’s disease commonly affects the mouth, eyes, and genitals.
- Cogan’s syndrome often inflames vessels of the eye and inner ear.