ABSTRACT
Introduction 139 Rheumatoid arthritis 139 Systemic lupus erythematosus 141
Vasculitis 143 References 145
The vasculature has a fundamental role in both the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of the autoimmune rheumatic disorders. It is also of interest because premature occlusive atheromatous disease (accelerated atherosclerosis) is now increasingly recognized as a cause of both morbidity and premature mortality in several of the autoimmune rheumatic disorders. A definite association with accelerated atherosclerosis has been noted particularly with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)1 and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).2 In addition in the small vessel vasculitides there is evidence of a generalized impairment of endothelial function at sites distant from clinical involvement. With better control of the inflammatory/immune processes characteristic of these disorders, understanding the mechanisms and addressing issues in the vasculature are now of equal priority.
