Page 169 - The Vasculitides, Volume 1: General Considerations and Systemic Vasculitis

In: The Vasculitides, Volume 1 ISBN: 978-1-63463-110-5
Editors: David S. Younger © 2015 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Chapter 7

Classification of Pediatric Vasculitides

Ezgi Deniz Batu, M.D.1 and Seza Ozen, M.D.2,?

1Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University
School of Medicine, Sihhiye/Ankara, Turkey

2From the Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Hacettepe
University School of Medicine, Sihhiye/Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

The primary childhood systemic vasculitides are uncommon with the exception of
Henoch-Schönlein purpura/IgA vasculitis and Kawasaki disease. Although children and
adults share many characteristics in vasculitis, they differ in certain aspects. For many
years, pediatricians relied upon adult classification schemes for their patients in spite of
invalidated criteria. We present current proposed criteria for childhood vasculitides that
provides investigators and clinicians alike with valuable insights and classification tools
which we expect will improve our present and future understanding of the
etiopathogenesis and diagnostic approach to these disorders.

Introduction

Vasculitis is characterized by the inflammation of the blood vessels leading to vascular
stenosis, occlusion, aneurysm, or rupture [1]. The caliber of vessels involved by the vasculitic
process was an important aspect of nosology and classification of vasculitides in the Revised
2012 Chapel Hill Consensus Conference (CHCC) [2] resulting in the designation of small-,
medium, or large-size vessel vasculitis (SVV, MVV, LVV) respectively, as well as the
predilection for a specific organ systems, however childhood vasculitis was not specifically
addressed. It is now known that the types of vasculitis and their course tends to differ in

? Corresponding author: Seza Ozen, M.D. Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Hacettepe University, Sihhiye/
Ankara 06410 Turkey. E-mail: [email protected].

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