vasculopathies

Vasculopathies refer to diseases or disorders of the blood vessels — including arteries, veins, and capillaries — that affect blood flow, cause inflammation, narrowing, blockage, or bleeding, and can impact any organ system.

These conditions can be primary (standalone diseases) or secondary (resulting from other diseases like diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune disorders).

Types of Vasculopathies

1. Atherosclerosis

• Chronic artery narrowing due to cholesterol plaque buildup.

• Can lead to:

  • Heart attack (if coronary arteries affected)

  • Stroke (if cerebral arteries affected)

  • Peripheral artery disease (legs)

2. Vasculitis

• Inflammation of blood vessels, often due to autoimmune causes.

• May affect small, medium, or large vessels.

• Common types:

  • Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis) – can cause vision loss, scalp tenderness.

  • Takayasu arteritis – affects aorta and its branches.

  • Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) – affects medium-sized arteries.

  • ANCA-associated vasculitis – includes GPA (Granulomatosis with polyangiitis), MPA, EGPA.

3. Cerebral Vasculopathies

• Disorders of brain blood vessels, such as:

  • Cerebral amyloid angiopathy

  • Moyamoya disease

  • CADASIL (genetic small vessel disease)

  • Can lead to strokes, microbleeds, dementia-like symptoms

4. Thrombotic Vasculopathy

• Clot formation within blood vessels without inflammation.

• Can be due to:

  • Hypercoagulable states (e.g., antiphospholipid syndrome)

  • Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)