Vasculitis
What is Vasculitis ?
Vasculitis involves swelling and irritation, called inflammation, of blood vessels. The inflammation can cause the walls of the blood vessels to thicken. This thickening can narrow the vessels. If the narrowing restricts blood flow, it can damage 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 lasting. Vasculitis can affect anyone. But some types are more common among people in certain age groups. Some types may improve without treatment. Most types need treatment with medicines to control the inflammation and prevent flares.
Symptoms
- Trouble breathing
- Coughing
- Numbness or tingling
- Rashes
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Weight loss.
- Weakness
- Joint pain
- Abdominal (stomach) pain
- Kidney problems
- Strokes
Cause
Experts don’t know the exact cause of vasculitis. Some types are linked to a person’s genes. Others result from the immune system attacking blood vessel cells by mistake. Causes of this immune system reaction may include Infections, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Blood cancers. Immune system diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and scleroderma. Reactions to certain medicines.
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 younger than 5 years old. Family history, Behcets disease, granulomatosis with polyangiitis and Kawasaki disease can run in families. Lifestyle choices, Using illicit drugs such as cocaine can increase your risk of getting vasculitis. Smoking tobacco can increase risk of Buerger disease. This applies mainly to people assigned male at birth who are younger than 45. Medicines, Medicines such as hydralazine, allopurinol (Lopurin, Zyloprim) , minocycline (Arestin, Minocin, others) and propylthiouracil sometimes can cause vasculitis. Infections, Having hepatitis B or C can increase the risk of vasculitis. Immune conditions, People who have conditions in which their immune systems attack their own bodies by mistake may be at higher risk of vasculitis. These conditions include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma. Sex assigned at birth, Giant cell arteritis is much more common in people assigned female at birth. Buerger disease is more common in people assigned male at birth.
When to see a Doctor
Make an appointment with your healthcare professional if you have symptoms that worry you. Some types of vasculitis get worse quickly. Early diagnosis is the key to getting treatment that works.