Infections that cause vasculitis.

An infectious cause has long been suspected for most forms of vasculitis. In most cases vascular damage has been ascribed to immune-mediated mechanisms rather than direct microbial toxicity. Evidence cited in this review provides further support for a causal role of infection in the vasculitides by strengthening the link between group A streptococci and hepatitis B virus with polyarteritis nodosa and Kawasaki syndrome. It is anticipated that the application of new molecular technology will provide definitive evidence for the role of infection in the etiopathogenesis of the vasculitides.