Vasculitis (angiitis) involves inflammation of blood vessels. The inflammatory changes can lead to necrosis, occlusion, and aneurysm formation, with resultant infarction and hemorrhage. Vasculitis may be generalized or restricted. The process may be confined to arteries (arteritis) or veins (phlebitis), with preferential involvement of small, medium, or large blood vessels. Infection is a well-recognized cause of secondary vasculitis;<sup>11 Calabrese L.H. Vasculitis of the central nervous system Rheum Dis Clin North Am 1995 ;  21 : 1059-1076

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 59 Lie J.T. Primary (granulomatous) angiitis of the central nervous system: A clinicopathologic analysis of 15 new cases and a review of the literature Hum Pathol 1992 ;  23 : 164-171  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 60 Lie J.T. Vasculitis associated with infectious agents Curr Opin Rheumatol 1996 ;  8 : 26-29  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 89 Somer T., Finegold S.M. Vasculitides associated with infections, immunization, and antimicrobial drugs Clin Infect Dis 1995 ;  20 : 1010-1036  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> many different agents have been implicated (Table 1). It is important to have a high index of suspicion for infection as the cause of vasculitis, because treatment can be directed at the underlying organism. General clues to infectious vasculitis are associated fever, abnormality of the peripheral leukocyte count, and recent or current extraneural infection. This review considers pathogenetic mechanisms of infection-related vasculitis, the different pathogen categories and specific etiologic agents, and the syndrome of selective vasculitis of the retina and peripheral nervous system (PNS).