[Vasculitis in childhood].

1. Vasculitis syndromes in children present with special features. The hypersensitivity vasculitides predominate with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura as a typical representative. Within the polyarteritis-nodosa-group we can distinguish an infantile form with involvement of coronary vessels. This disease resembles Kawasaki's syndrome. 2. The different vasculitis syndromes show a great variety in their clinical presentation; overlapping syndromes are possible. Diagnosis, however, is mostly based on clinical features, supported by laboratory data. In doubtful cases histologic and immunohistologic findings can prove helpful. Their diagnostic value should only be interpreted together with the clinical picture. Since specific findings are often missing we have to exclude all similar diseases. Especially systemic juvenile chronic arthritis, connective tissue diseases, several infections and sometimes malignancies have to be considered. 3. For the future we expect further differentiation and identification of new disease entities, thus hoping for a better classification.