Vnitr Lek 2026, 72(4):268-274 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2026.052

Vasculitides - a fast diagnostic-therapeutic guide for internists

Jakub Videman, Martina Skácelová, Pavel Horák

III. interní klinika - nefrologická, revmatologická a endokrinologická, FN a LF UP Olomouc

Vasculitides represent a broad group of diseases characterized by inflammatory involvement of the vessel wall. Primary vasculitides are categorized according to the caliber of the affected vessels. Symptoms of primary vasculitides are significantly heterogeneous and vasculitides should be included in a broader differential diagnostic consideration of many clinical scenarios. The diagnosis of vasculitides is usually challenging, based on the synthesis of clinical, laboratory, and radiographic findings, evidence of organ damage, and often requiring biopsy verification. A wide range of immunosuppressive agents is used in therapy. Oftentimes, the possibility of a secondary etiology should be considered - an association with (another) systemic connective tissue disease, an infectious disease, or as a paraneoplastic manifestation.

Keywords: vasculitides, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, ANCA-associated vasculitis, giant cell arteritis.

Accepted: June 11, 2026; Published: June 24, 2026  Show citation