Cardiovascular Complications of Vasculitis

Vasculitis represent a broad spectrum of autoimmune blood vessel disease, which eventually leads to inflammation-mediated stenosis, thrombosis, occlusion, and aneurysmal dilation. The incidence of cardiovascular complications in patients with systemic vasculitis has been well documented in the literature. Regardless of the initiating trigger, cardiovascular complications arise secondary to sustained inflammation, pro-thrombotic states, vascular damage, and accelerated atherosclerosis. The advances in therapy have improved survival timelines and increased the rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In this chapter, based on the vessel size involvement, we discuss the common pathophysiology and cardiovascular complications arising in various vasculidities.