Vasculitis: Wegener granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, microscopic polyangiitis, polyarteritis nodosa, and Takayasu arteritis.

Identification, diagnosis, and management of the primary vasculitides and their attendant complications is a challenging task for the critical care physician. However, with appropriate therapy, the morbidity and mortality of these diseases can be markedly improved and allow the individual patient to return to their previous functional state.