Symptom Guide To Microscopic Polyangiitis

Microscopic polyangiitis is a rare disease with an unknown cause, though it seems to be a form of vasculitis, the inflammation of the blood vessels. While little information is known about microscopic polyangiitis specifically, there's a general understanding of how vasculitis affects the body. As such, medical professionals are reasonably confident that they understand how microscopic polyangiitis progresses. The disorder is rooted in a dysfunctional immune system, although it's not clear how the immune system came to be so dysfunctional. Microscopic polyangiitis is also called ANCA-associated vasculitis. ANCA antibodies mistakenly attack benevolent enzymes that reside within white blood cells. The result is severe damage to the white blood cells and the flooding of enzymes through the blood vessels, causing serious damage.