Noninflammatory Vasculopathies

A vasculopathy is any disease or condition affecting blood vessels. A vasculopathy that does not involve inflammation as the main cause is termed “noninflammatory.” Inflammatory vasculopathy is also called “vasculitis” and is often treated with steroids and immunosuppression, whereas noninflammatory vasculopathies have different treatments based on the underlying disease. The most common form of noninflammatory vasculopathy is atherosclerosis, followed by dissections, which affect blood vessels of all sizes. We have a chapter dedicated to carotid atherosclerosis and dissections, so this chapter will discuss other important noninflammatory vasculopathies. We will review when to suspect certain conditions, appropriate workup, and management. Patients with complex vasculopathies should be seen by a stroke specialist to determine the diagnosis and proper treatment plans. In addition to a stroke specialist, we will also identify additional consultants who might help manage these patients.