[Acute abdominal vasculitis in rheumatic diseases]

Abstract

Mesenteric vasculitis is the most common abdominal manifestation of vasculitis and can present as acute abdominal pain. Mesenteric vasculitis is most frequent in systemic lupus erythematosus and polyarteritis nodosa in adulthood and immunoglobulin A-vasculitis in childhood. Involvement of other organs is also seen. The diagnosis can be challenging, but detailed clinical assessment in combination with diagnostic tests often identifies the underlying cause. Medical treatment is used, when the abdominal manifestation is considered reversible, while surgery is used in unstable patients or patients with non-reversible conditions.