History and background of vasculitis

The descriptions of previous poorly understood and obscure diseases by early workers, and their insights and discoveries that followed have formed many of the foundations of modern medicine. The original descriptions of inflammatory vascular diseases in particular shaped the cultural context of medical science and provided the catalysts and inspirations that fueled later clinical investigation. The transition from the so called romantic era to the scientific era of medicine in turn mirrored advances in the pathogenesis, treatment and classification of the vasculitides. The stories of the early contributions from Hippocrates to Kussmaul will forever guide clinicians in the fundamental humanity of this discipline.