[Vasculitis of viral origin. Pathogenesis and therapeutic implications].

Some viruses are unquestionably the cause of vasculitis, by different mechanisms: circulating immune complexes, cryoglobulinemia and/or direct infection of the blood vessel. The main viruses responsible for vasculitis are hepatitis B & C viruses, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19 and human immunodeficiency virus. Viral vasculitis are clinically protean, most of the time similar to idiopathic vasculitis. The manifestations due to the virus itself are sometimes hidden and vasculitis may reveal the viral infection. In some cases of viral vasculitis, particularly in hepatitis virus-induced vasculitis, antiviral therapy may help in controlling the disease. A viral etiology must be considered during atypical vasculitis.