Infectious agents & direct microbial invasion
By Linda on Dec 6, 2009 in Infections | comments(0)
Infectious agents have been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of various
vasculitides via numerous and overlapping mechanisms including direct microbial
invasion of endothelial cells, immune complex mediated vessel wall damage and
stimulation of autoreactive B and/or T cells through molecular mimicry and
superantigens. While the causative role of hepatitis B virus in polyarteritis
nodosa and hepatitis C virus in mixed cryoglobulinemia is clearly established,
evidence for the association of other infectious agents with vasculitis,
including human immunodeficiency virus, parvovirus B19, cytomegalovirus,
varicella zoster virus, Staphylococcus aureus, rickettsiaceae, Treponema
pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi, among numerous others, is accumulating. The
spectrum of association of infectious agents; bacteria, viruses and parasites,
with systemic vasculitides, will be reviewed herewith. Continued
