Vasculitis owing to infection

A variety of pathogens show a predilection for blood vessels within the nervous system. Vasculitis, nonvasculitic vasculopathy, and infection- related aneurysms contribute to morbidity and mortality through ischemia, infarction, and hemorrhage. Vasculitis that is temporally related to infection should raise the possibility of direct organism involvement. Treatment should always include antimicrobial therapy directed against the responsible pathogen. Future studies are needed to clarify the role of appropriate adjunctive therapy to reduce damage mediated by host immune- inflammatory responses.