Infection-associated immune complex vasculitis (Q96637)

Certain infections may directly trigger an inflammatory vasculitic process. Infective vasculitis has a wide variety of causes, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses, spirochetes, and rickettsiae. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis predominantly involving the skin with occasional involvement of other organ systems may be a minor component of many infections. Compelling laboratory and spontaneously occurring animal models of this disease, combined with the known associations among HBV, HCV, and vasculitis in humans, suggest that, in the future, additional links between infection and systemic vasculitis may be established.