Microscopic polyangiitis

Microscopic polyangiitis is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis that primarily affects small blood vessels. It is commonly associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and can damage the kidneys, lungs, skin, and nerves.

ANCA-associated vasculitis: A group of small-vessel vasculitides associated with antibodies against neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens. Microscopic polyangiitis belongs to this group, alongside granulomatosis with polyangiitis and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis: A kidney syndrome in which glomerular filtration rapidly declines, often with crescent formation. It is a common severe presentation when microscopic polyangiitis affects the kidneys.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis: An ANCA-associated small- and medium-vessel vasculitis marked by necrotizing granulomatous inflammation. Unlike microscopic polyangiitis, it commonly causes granulomatous disease of the upper and lower respiratory tracts.
Jacob Churg: A pathologist who helped establish clinicopathologic distinctions among systemic vasculitides. His work contributed to recognizing microscopic polyangiitis as distinct from classic polyarteritis nodosa.
Myeloperoxidase: A neutrophil enzyme that generates antimicrobial oxidants and is a major target of myeloperoxidase-ANCA. Antibodies against this enzyme are common in microscopic polyangiitis and can activate neutrophils.
Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage: Bleeding into multiple lung air spaces, often causing breathlessness, anemia, and oxygen deficiency. This pulmonary emergency can accompany microscopic polyangiitis and requires urgent recognition.
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: A vasculitis associated with asthma, eosinophilia, and inflammation of small and medium vessels. Asthma and prominent eosinophilia distinguish this related ANCA-associated disease.
Lotte Strauss: A pathologist known for research on allergic granulomatosis and related vasculitic disease. Her collaboration with Churg shaped early classification of small-vessel vasculitides.
Neutrophil extracellular traps: Webs of DNA and antimicrobial proteins released by activated neutrophils to trap microbes. Their components can expose autoantigens and contribute to ANCA formation and vascular inflammation.
Purpura: Purple skin discoloration caused by blood leaking from small vessels into the skin. Palpable purpura can signal the cutaneous small-vessel inflammation of microscopic polyangiitis.

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