VIRUSES, THE CAUSE OF
VASCULITIS: Although the majority of
systemic vasculitis are of unknown causes, the responsibility of a
viral infection has been formally demonstrated in some of them and specific treatment can permanently cure them. Each virus incriminated accounts for a particular type of
vasculitis.
HEPATITIS B VIRAL INFECTION (HBV): Is the cause of
polyarteritis nodosa in 36 to 50% of cases. The onset of the symptomatology is acute, usually within a few months following the
infection; it is comparable to that observed in the absence of HBV
infection.
CRYOGLOBULINEMIA RELATED TO THE HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV): The clinical manifestations are those of
systemic vasculitis with particular tropism for the skin (involvement generally inaugural and almost constant), peripheral nerves and the glomerula. They occur fairly late during the
infection.
VASCULITIS ASSOCIATED WITH
HIV INFECTION: There is strong tropism for the peripheral (multi-
neuritis) and central nervous system. During acute
parvovirus B19 infection Vasculitis lesions have occasionally been reported following the viremic phase, generally limited to one or several flares of
vascular purpura predominating on the lower limbs. FOLLOWING
VARICELLA-
HERPES ZOSTER INFECTION:
Vasculitis occasionally develops in the form of a central neurological deficiency (locomotor deficiency with or without
aphasia around one month after an ophthalmologic
herpes zoster) or involving the retina or, more rarely, the skin or the kidneys.
VASCULITIS ASSOCIATED WITH CYTOMEGALOVIRAL
INFECTION: Predominantly observed in immunodepressed patients,
vasculitis after CMV
infection is diffuse and basically involving the digestive tube, notably the colon, the central nervous system and the skin. A RARE COMPLICATION OF AN HTLV1
INFECTION:
Vasculitis of the retina often in the form of necrotic
retinitis is often associated with spasmodic paraparessia.
THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY: