Vascular arteritides in women.

The vasculitides are multiple clinical disease states that are characterized by inflammation of the wall of blood vessels. They are typically classified by the size of the vessel that is affected. Some of the vasculitides are more commonly identified in women, such as the large-vessel vasculitides. In addition, the incidence of some of the medium and small-vessel vasculitides in women has increased during the past several decades. These inflammatory conditions specifically affecting women will be reviewed here. The implications that pregnancy may have on various vasculitides will also be highlighted.