Final answer:
Vascular inflammation is triggered by chemicals released due to injury or infection, resulting in increased blood flow and permeability. While vital for immune response, chronic inflammation can lead to harmful conditions like tissue damage and vasculitis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vascular inflammation is set off by substances such as cytokines and histamines released from cells in response to injury or infection. These chemicals lead to vasodilation, increasing blood vessel diameter, and vascular permeability, allowing white blood cells, fluid, and plasma proteins to pass from the bloodstream into the tissue. This results in the classic symptoms of inflammation: redness, heat, swelling, and pain.
While inflammation is a crucial part of the immune response, aiding in the destruction and removal of pathogens, it can become a problem. Chronic inflammation, which may arise from conditions like autoimmune diseases, persistent pathogens, or foreign bodies, can cause tissue destruction and fibrosis. This ongoing inflammatory state can lead to severe issues such as vasculitis, potentially resulting in tissue damage, ischemia, or even necrosis requiring surgical intervention.