Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0042384 (vasculitis)
 20,525 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Perturbation of the serum complement system in glomerulonephritis can be the result of classical pathway activation by immune complexes or of C3 activation by the C3-C5 convertase stabilized by the C3 nephritic factor. Low C3 levels can also be the result of diminished C3 synthesis and possibly, in certain circumstances, of C3 convertases deposited on capillary walls. In glomerulonephritis the complement profile is helpful in diagnosis, in following the course of therapy and in providing insights into pathogenesis. Complement profiles must be interpreted recognizing that a pattern resembling classical pathway activation can be produced by idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, that hypogammaglobulinemia can reduce Clq levels, and that a primary deficiency of factor H or I or both, will secondarily produce subnormal levels of C3 and factor B. With these caveats, the complement profiles typical of systemic lupus erythematosus, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, acute glomerulonephritis, acquired Cl inhibitor deficiency, and hypocomplementemic vasculitis syndrome are described.
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PMID:Complement activation in renal disease. 654 95

Eosinophilic vasculitis has been described as part of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS), but it also affects the central nervous system in <10% of cases. However, spinal cord involvement in CSS has not been reported. We report a patient with myelopathic symptoms, with a two-year history of asthma. Laboratory tests revealed leukocytosis, with 31.7% eosinophils. A chest computed tomographic scan and radiography showed patchy bilateral areas of consolidation, predominantly involving the peripheral regions of the lower lobes. Spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed high-signal-intensity lesions at the C3-C5 and T1-T4 spinal levels on T2-weighted images. A microscopic evaluation revealed an eosinophil-rich inflammatory infiltrate with fibroid necrosis of a vessel wall, and granuloma formation in the small veins was not clearly visible. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of eosinophilic vasculitis of the spinal cord associated with CSS, and the patient responded well to steroids.
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PMID:Eosinophilic vasculitis of the spinal cord associated with Churg-Strauss syndrome. 2053 3