Vasculitis
Vasculitis is a term that describes a wide variety of blood vessel diseases joined together by the presence of irritated blood vessels. Although the causes of blood vessel irritation are unknown, it is clear that the body’s immune system plays an important role in causing the damage in these diseases. There are a wide variety of types of vasculitis, each affecting a different group of arteries and veins. Doctors usually try and make the diagnosis based on the area of the body with blood flow disturbances.
There are two common types of problems seen in vasculitis: blockages in blood flow or ballooning of weak blood vessel (aneurysms). Patients with vasculitis most commonly have symptoms in the joints, skin, lungs, kidneys, digestive tract, sinuses, eyes, and nerves, although any part of the body may be involved. Some common reasons that patients seek medical attention for vasculitis include ulcers (sores) on their hands or feet, rashes, color changes in their skin, and arm muscle pain with activity. Although obvious symptoms like finger color changes in response to cold or jaw pain with eating may make the problems seem local, these diseases involve the whole body and can cause fatigue, weakness, weight loss, and fevers.
Once the diagnosis of vasculitis is raised, doctors used both blood tests and radiology tests to make the diagnosis. Rarely, you will be referred for an angiogram. Most treatments for vasculitis are directed at decreasing the activity of the immune system to reduce the damage done to blood vessels.
Send Feedback to: 
