Description

Vasculitis is inflammation and irritation, the so-called inflammation of the blood vessels. The inflammation can cause the walls of the blood vessels to thicken. This thickening can narrow the blood vessels. If the narrowing restricts blood flow, which may cause damage to organs and tissues.

There are many types of vasculitis. Most of them are rare. Vasculitis might affect just one organ, or several. The condition can be short-term or long-term.

Vasculitis can affect any person. But some types are more common among people in certain age groups. Some types may improve without treatment. Most of the types of need for treatment with medications to control the inflammation and prevent breakouts.

Symptoms

The symptoms of most types of vasculitis may include:

  • Fever.
  • The pain of a headache.
  • Fatigue.
  • The loss of weight.
  • The aches and pains.

Other symptoms depend on the affected part of the body:

  • The digestive system. If vasculitis affects the stomach or intestines, can have pain after eating. The ulcers, and tears, called perforations are possible. Can cause blood in the stool.
  • The ears. Dizziness, ringing in the ears, or sudden hearing loss can occur.
  • The eyes. Vasculitis can make the eyes look red. You can itch or burn. Giant cell arteritis can cause double vision and a short course or blindness in one or both eyes. This is sometimes the first sign of the disease.
  • The hands or feet. Some types of vasculitis can cause numbness or weakness in a hand or a foot. The palms of the hands and soles of the feet may swell or harden.
  • Lungs. This can cause difficulty breathing or coughing up blood.
  • Of the skin. Bleeding under the skin that may appear as red spots. Vasculitis can also cause bumps or open sores on the skin.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your health care professional if you have symptoms that concern you. Some types of vasculitis get worse quickly. The early diagnosis is the key to get the treatment that works.

Causes

The experts don't know the exact cause of the vasculitis. Some types are linked to the genes of a person. Others are the result of which the immune system attacks cells of the blood vessels by mistake. The causes of this immune system reaction may include:

  • Infections, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
  • Cancers of the blood.
  • Immune system diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma.
  • Reactions to certain medications.

Risk factors

Vasculitis can happen to anyone. Factors that may increase the risk of certain types include:

  • Age. Giant cell arteritis is rare before the age of 50. Kawasaki disease is most common in children under 5 years of age.
  • The history of the family. Behcets disease, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and Kawasaki disease can run in families.
  • Life style choices. The use of illicit drugs such as cocaine may increase your risk of developing vasculitis. Smoking tobacco may increase the risk of Buerger's disease. This applies primarily to the people who are assigned male at birth who are under the age of 45 years.
  • Drugs. Medications such as hydralazine, allopurinol (Lopurin, Zyloprim) , minocycline (Arestin, Minocin, others), and propylthiouracil can sometimes cause vasculitis.
  • Infections. Have hepatitis B or C may increase the risk of vasculitis.
  • Immune conditions. People who have conditions in which the immune system to attack their own bodies by mistake you may be at increased risk of vasculitis. These conditions include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma.
  • The sex assigned at birth. Giant cell arteritis is more common in people assigned female at birth. This disease is more common in people who are assigned male at birth.

Complications

Vasculitis complications depend on the type of vasculitis, and how bad it is. Complications can also be linked to the side effects of prescription drugs to treat the condition. The complications of vasculitis include:

  • The organ damage. Some types of vasculitis can damage important organs.
  • The blood clots and aneurysms. A blood clot can form in a blood vessel, blocking the flow of blood. Rarely, vasculitis causes a blood vessel to weaken and bulge, forming an aneurysm (AN-yoo-riz-um).
  • The loss of vision or blindness. This can be a complication of giant cell arteritis, which is not treated.
  • Infections. Some of the medications used for the treatment of vasculitis can weaken your immune system. This can make you more prone to infections.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis begins with a medical history and a physical examination. You can have one or more of the tests and procedures. These can diagnose vasculitis or rule out other conditions that cause some of the same symptoms. Tests and procedures may include:

  • Blood tests. These tests can detect signs of inflammation, such as a high level of C-reactive protein. A complete blood count can tell you if you have enough red blood cells. Other blood tests, such as antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) of the test, you can look for certain antibodies. These tests can help to diagnose vasculitis.
  • Imaging tests. Imaging tests can show which the blood vessels and the organs affected. You can also help your healthcare provider know how you respond to treatment. Imaging tests for vasculitis include X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography (PET).
  • X-rays of the blood vessels. During this procedure, called angiography, a catheter flexible that resembles a thin straw goes in an artery or vein. A special dye in the catheter. X-rays are taken as the dye fills the artery or vein. The x-rays show the contours of the blood vessels.
  • The biopsy. This is a surgery in which a healthcare provider removes a small sample of tissue from the affected area of your body. Your health care professional, then examines the tissue of signs of vasculitis.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to control the inflammation and irritation, called inflammation. It also aims to manage the conditions that may be the cause of the vasculitis.

Most types of vasculitis can return. This is called an outbreak. So that your health care professional may need to follow a long time after your symptoms disappear.

Drugs

Corticosteroids, such as prednisone (Rays), is the most common type of prescription medications to control the inflammation of the vasculitis.

Corticosteroids can have negative side effects. The time it takes, the worse the side effects can be. Side effects may include weight gain, diabetes and weakening of the bones. If you need a corticosteroid, long-term, you get the lowest dose that will be of help.

Your health care professional may add other medications corticosteroids to control the inflammation. That way, you can reduce the dose of corticosteroids more quickly. The drug use depends on the type of vasculitis. Medications can include methotrexate (Trexall), azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), tocilizumab (Actemra), or rituximab (Rituxan).

Of the medications that you need depends on the type of vasculitis you have, how bad it is, that the organs are involved, and any other medical problems that you have.

Surgery

Sometimes, vasculitis makes a balloonlike bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. This is called an aneurysm. This lump may need to be treated with surgery to decrease the risk of breakage. The blockage of the arteries may also require surgical treatment to restore the flow of blood to the affected area.

Coping and support

How to cope with the side effects of the medications you take to treat your vasculitis could be one of the most difficult things about living with the condition. Some of these tips might help:

  • Know about his condition. Learn all you can about vasculitis and its treatment. Learn about the possible side effects of the medicines that you take. Tell your healthcare professional about any changes in your health.
  • Follow your treatment plan. Your plan may include seeing your health care professional often, with more tests and check your blood pressure.
  • Eat well. Eating healthy foods can help prevent some of the problems of your medications may cause. This could include thinning of the bones, high blood pressure and diabetes. Eat mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean meats and fish. If you are taking a corticosteroid medicine, ask your health professional if you need to take a supplement of vitamin D or calcium supplement.
  • Get the shots. Some medications for the treatment of vasculitis increase the risk of infections. These include influenza, pneumonia, shingles, and COVID-19. Keep up-to-date information about vaccines can help. Talk with your healthcare provider about the vaccines you get.
  • Exercise most days of the week.Regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, can help prevent conditions that may be linked to the taking of corticosteroids. These include bone loss, high blood pressure and diabetes. Regular exercise also helps your heart and lungs. Many people also find that exercise improves your mood and sense of well-being. If you're not used to exercising, start and slowly build. Your health care professional can help you plan an exercise program that is right for you.
  • Ask others for help. Family and friends can help you cope with this condition. You may also find it helpful to talk with others who have vasculitis. Ask a member of your health care team about support groups.

Exercise most days of the week. Regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, can help prevent conditions that may be linked to the taking of corticosteroids. These include bone loss, high blood pressure and diabetes. Regular exercise also helps your heart and lungs.

Many people also find that exercise improves your mood and sense of well-being. If you're not used to exercising, start and slowly build. Your health care professional can help you plan an exercise program that is right for you.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with your primary health care provider if you have symptoms that concern you. By vasculitis, you may need to see a specialist. These could include:

  • Rheumatologists who specialize in the joints, muscles, and autoimmune diseases.
  • Neurologists who specialize in the brain and the nervous system.
  • Ophthalmologists who specialize in the eye.
  • Cardiologists who specialize in the heart.
  • Nephrologists, who specialize in the kidneys.
  • Pulmonologists, who specialize in the lungs.
  • The dermatologists who specialize in skin.
  • Urologists, who specialize in the urinary tract and urogenital systems.
  • The otolaryngologist, specializing in the ears and sinuses.

What you can do

To prepare for your appointment:

  • Be aware of any thing that you need to do before your appointment. When you make the appointment, ask if you need to do anything in advance, such as restrict your diet.
  • Send the information of the test. If you go to a specialist, ask your primary health care professional to send your image and the results of the biopsy before the appointment.
  • List of all the symptoms, and when they began.
  • List of the keys of your personal health information. Include other recent health issues or major stresses that he has had. List of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you are taking, including dosage.
  • Ask a family member or friend to go with you. Someone who goes with you can help you remember the information that is obtained.
  • List of questions you want to ask your health care team.

By vasculitis, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What type of vasculitis that I have?
  • What is the cause of my vasculitis?
  • My vasculitis away on its own, or is there a cure?
  • You should see a specialist?
  • What are my treatment options?
  • I have another medical condition. How can I best manage these conditions?
  • Do you have brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you suggest?

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care professional may ask:

  • Make your symptoms to stay with you or they come and go?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of Vasculitis