Other conditions that mimic or are associated with systemic vasculitides

Some conditions can present with an associated true vasculitis or have features that mimic vasculitis. Conditions associated with true vasculitis include:

• inflammatory connective tissue diseases (eg systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis)
• Behçet syndrome, Cogan syndrome
• viral infections (eg hepatitis C, hepatitis B)
• syphilitic aortitis
• malignancy—paraneoplastic syndrome(s)
• drugs.

Conditions that mimic vasculitis include:

• infections (eg sepsis, endocarditis)
• thromboembolic manifestations associated with
  • infection (eg septic emboli)
  • malignancy
  • use of illicit drugs, especially intravenous use (eg cocaine and amfetamine)
  • cholesterol emboli
• atrial myxoma—associated with peripheral embolisation, cardiac outflow obstruction and constitutional symptoms (eg weight loss, fever).