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http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/vas/
What Is Vasculitis?
Vasculitis (vas-kyu-LI-tis) is a condition that involves inflammation in the blood vessels. he
condition occu!s if you! immune system attacks you! blood vessels by mistake. his mayhappen as the !esult of an infection" a medicine" o! anothe! disease o! condition.
#Inflammation$ !efe!s to the body%s !esponse to in&u!y" including in&u!y to the blood vessels.
Inflammation may involve pain" !edness" wa!mth" swelling" and loss of function in the
affected tissues.
In vasculitis" inflammation can lead to se!ious p!oblems. 'omplications depend on which
blood vessels" o!gans" o! othe! body systems a!e affected.
Overview
Vasculitis can affect any of the bodys blood vessels. hese include a!te!ies" veins" and
capilla!ies. !te!ies ca!!y blood f!om you! hea!t to you! bodys o!gans. Veins ca!!y blood
f!om you! o!gans and limbs back to you! hea!t. 'apilla!ies connect the small a!te!ies and
veins.
If a blood vessel is inflamed" it can na!!ow o! close off. his limits o! p!events blood flow
th!ough the vessel. *a!ely" the blood vessel will st!etch and weaken" causing it to bulge. his
bulge is known as an aneu!ysm(+-u-!ism).
Vasculitis
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,igu!e shows a no!mal a!te!y with no!mal blood flow. he inset image shows a c!oss-
section of the no!mal a!te!y. ,igu!e shows an inflamed" na!!owed a!te!y with dec!eased
blood flow. he inset image shows a c!oss-section of the inflamed a!te!y. ,igu!e ' shows an
inflamed" blocked (occluded) a!te!y and sca!!ing on the a!te!y wall. he inset image shows a
c!oss-section of the blocked a!te!y. ,igu!e shows an a!te!y with an aneu!ysm. he inset
image shows a c!oss-section of the a!te!y with an aneu!ysm.
he dis!uption in blood flow caused by inflammation can damage the bodys o!gans. igns
and symptoms depend on which o!gans have been damaged and the e0tent of the damage.
ypical symptoms of inflammation" such as feve! and gene!al aches and pains" a!e common
among people who have vasculitis.
Outlook
he!e a!e many types of vasculitis" but ove!all the condition is !a!e. If you have vasculitis" the
outlook depends on:
he type of vasculitis you have
1hich o!gans a!e affected
2ow 3uickly the condition wo!sens
he seve!ity of the condition
!eatment often wo!ks well if it%s sta!ted ea!ly. In some cases" vasculitis may go into!emission. 4*emission4 means the condition isnt active" but it can come back" o! 4fla!e"4 at
any time.
ometimes vasculitis is ch!onic (ongoing) and neve! goes into !emission. Long-te!m
t!eatment with medicines often can cont!ol the signs and symptoms of ch!onic vasculitis.
*a!ely" vasculitis doesnt !espond well to t!eatment. his can lead to disability and even
death.
5uch is still unknown about vasculitis. 2oweve!" !esea!che!s continue to lea!n mo!e about
the condition and its va!ious types" causes" and t!eatments.
Types of Vasculitis
he!e a!e many types of vasculitis. 6ach type involves inflamed blood vessels. 2oweve!"
most types diffe! in whom they affect and the o!gans that a!e involved.
he types of vasculitis often a!e g!ouped based on the si7e of the blood vessels they affect.
Mostly Large Vessel Vasculitis
hese types of vasculitis usually" but not always" affect the body%s la!ge! blood vessels.
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Behet's Disease
eh8ets (beh-'26) disease can cause !ecu!!ent" painful ulce!s (so!es) in the mouth"
ulce!s on the genitals" acne-like skin lesions" and eye inflammation called uveitis (u-ve-I-tis).
he disease occu!s most often in people aged 9 to ;. 5en a!e mo!e likely to get it" but italso can affect women. eh8ets disease is mo!e common in people of 5edite!!anean" 5iddle
6aste!n" and ,a! 6aste!n descent" although it !a!ely affects lacks.
*esea!che!s believe that a gene called the 2L-
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akayasus a!te!itis is a systemic disease. systemic disease is one that affects you in a
gene!al o! ove!all way.
ymptoms of akayasus a!te!itis may include ti!edness and a sense of feeling unwell" feve!"
night sweats" so!e &oints" loss of appetite" and weight loss. hese symptoms usually occu!
befo!e othe! signs develop that point to a!te!itis.
Mostly Me#iu$ Vessel Vasculitis
hese types of vasculitis usually" but not always" affect the body%s medium-si7ed blood
vessels.
Buerger's Disease
ue!ge!s disease " also known as th!omboangiitis (2*@5-bo-an-&ee-I-tis) oblite!ans"
typically affects blood flow to the hands and feet. In this disease" the blood vessels in the
hands and feet tighten o! become blocked. s a !esult" less blood flows to the affected tissues"which can lead to pain and tissue damage.
*a!ely" ue!ge!s disease also can affect blood vessels in the b!ain" abdomen" and hea!t. he
disease usually affects men aged 9 to ; of sian o! 6aste!n 6u!opean descent. he disease
is st!ongly linked to ciga!ette smoking.
ymptoms of ue!ge!s disease include pain in the calves o! feet when walking o! pain in the
fo!ea!ms and hands with activity. @the! symptoms include blood clots in the su!face veins of
the limbs and *aynauds phenomenon.
In seve!e cases" ulce!s may develop on the finge!s and toes" leading to gang!ene. he te!m
4gang!ene4 !efe!s to the death o! decay of body tissues.
u!gical bypass of the blood vessels may help !esto!e blood flow to some a!eas. 5edicines
gene!ally don%t wo!k well to t!eat ue!ge!%s disease. he best t!eatment is to stop using
tobacco of any kind.
e!tral )ervous "yste$ Vasculitis
'ent!al ne!vous system ('+) vasculitis usually occu!s as a !esult of a systemic vasculitis.
systemic vasculitis is one that affects you in a gene!al o! ove!all way.
Ve!y !a!ely" vasculitis affects only the b!ain and/o! spinal co!d. 1hen it does" the condition is
called isolated vasculitis of the cent!al ne!vous system o! p!ima!y angiitis (an-&ee-I-tis) of the
cent!al ne!vous system.
ymptoms of '+ vasculitis include headaches" p!oblems thinking clea!ly" changes in mental
function" o! st!oke-like symptoms" such as muscle weakness and pa!alysis (an inability to
move).
*awasaki Disease
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Cawasaki (C2-wah-2-ke) diseaseis a !a!e childhood disease in which the walls of the
blood vessels th!oughout the body become inflamed. he disease can affect any blood vessel
in the body" including a!te!ies" veins" and capilla!ies.
Cawasaki disease also is known as mucocutaneous (myu-ko-kyu--ne-as) lymph node
synd!ome. his is because the disease is associated with !edness of the mucous memb!anes inthe eyes and mouth" !edness of the skin" and enla!ged lymph nodes. (5ucous memb!anes a!e
tissues that line some o!gans and body cavities.)
ometimes the disease affects the co!ona!y a!te!ies" which ca!!y o0ygen-!ich blood to the
hea!t. s a !esult" a small numbe! of child!en who have Cawasaki disease may have se!ious
hea!t p!oblems.
olyarteritis )o#osa
?olya!te!itis nodosa (?@L-e-a!-te!-I-tis no-@-suh) can affect many pa!ts of the body. his
diso!de! often affects the kidneys" the digestive t!act" the ne!ves" and the skin.
ymptoms often include feve!" a gene!al feeling of being unwell" weight loss" and muscle and
&oint aches" including pain in the calf muscles that develops ove! weeks o! months.
@the! signs and symptoms include anemia(a low !ed blood cell count)" a lace- o! web-like
!ash" bumps unde! the skin" and stomach pain afte! eating.
*esea!che!s believe that this type of vasculitis is ve!y !a!e" although the symptoms can be
simila! to those of othe! types of vasculitis. ome cases of polya!te!itis nodosa seem to be
linked to hepatitis o! ' infections.
Mostly "$all Vessel Vasculitis
hese types of vasculitis usually" but not always" affect the body%s small blood vessels.
hurg+"trauss "y!#ro$e
'hu!g-t!auss synd!ome is a ve!y !a!e diso!de! that causes blood vessel inflammation. he
diso!de! also is known as alle!gic angiitis and g!anulomatosis (>*+-u-lo-ma-@-sis).
'hu!g-t!auss synd!ome can affect many o!gans" including the lungs" skin" kidneys" ne!voussystem" and hea!t. ymptoms can va!y widely. hey may include asthma" highe! than no!mal
levels of white blood cells in the blood and tissues" and abno!mal lumps known as
g!anulomas (g!an-yu-L@-mas).
,sse!tial Mi-e# ryoglo.uli!e$ia
6ssential mi0ed c!yoglobulinemia (C*I-o->L@-u-luh-+6-me-uh) can occu! alone o!
with a systemic vasculitis. systemic vasculitis is one that affects the body in a gene!al o!
ove!all way.
#'!yoglobulinemia$ !efe!s to abno!mal p!oteins in the blood. hese p!oteins fo!m a gel whena blood sample is e0posed to tempe!atu!es lowe! than no!mal body tempe!atu!e.
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ymptoms often include &oint achesD weaknessD ne!ve changes" such as numbness" tingling"
and pain in the limbsD kidney inflammationD and a !aised" bumpy" !eddish-pu!ple skin !ash
known as palpable pu!pu!a (?A**-pu!!-ah).
lthough essential mi0ed c!yoglobulinemia can occu! with othe! conditions" most often it%s
linked to ch!onic hepatitis ' infection.
/e!och+"ch0!lei! urpura
2enoch-chEnlein pu!pu!a (2?) is a type of vasculitis that affects the smallest blood
vessels in the skin" &oints" intestines" and kidneys. hese blood vessels a!e called capilla!ies.
ymptoms often include stomach pain" aching and swollen &oints" and signs of kidney
damage" such as blood in the u!ine. nothe! symptom is a b!uise-like !ash that mostly shows
up as !eddish-pu!ple blotches on the lowe! legs and buttocks (although it can appea!
anywhe!e on the body).
2? is most common in child!en" but it also can affect teens and adults. In child!en" about
half of all cases follow a vi!al o! bacte!ial uppe! !espi!ato!y infection. 5ost people get bette!
in a few weeks and have no lasting p!oblems.
/yperse!sitivity Vasculitis
2ype!sensitivity vasculitis affects the skin. his condition also is known as alle!gic vasculitis"
cutaneous (ku--ne-us) vasculitis" o! leukocytoclastic (LA-ko-si-@6-klas-tic) vasculitis.
common symptom is !ed spots on the skin" usually on the lowe! legs. ,o! people who a!ebed!idden" the !ash appea!s on the lowe! back.
n alle!gic !eaction to a medicine o! infection often causes this type of vasculitis. topping
the medicine o! t!eating the infection usually clea!s up the vasculitis. 2oweve!" some people
may need to take anti-inflammato!y medicines" such as co!ticoste!oids" fo! a sho!t time.
hese medicines help !educe inflammation.
Microscopic olya!giitis
5ic!oscopic polyangiitis (?@L-e-an-&ee-I-tis) affects small blood vessels" pa!ticula!ly those
in the kidneys and lungs. he disease mainly occu!s in middle-aged peopleD it affects menslightly mo!e often than women.
he symptoms often a!ent specific" and they can begin g!adually with feve!" weight loss" and
muscle aches. ometimes the symptoms come on suddenly and p!og!ess 3uickly" leading to
kidney failu!e.
If the lungs a!e affected" coughing up blood may be the fi!st symptom. ometimes
mic!oscopic polyangiitis occu!s with a vasculitis that affects the intestinal t!act" the skin" and
the ne!vous system.
he signs and symptoms of mic!oscopic polyangiitis a!e simila! to those of 1egene!sg!anulomatosis (anothe! type of vasculitis). 2oweve!" mic!oscopic polyangiitis usually
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doesnt affect the nose and sinuses o! cause abno!mal tissue fo!mations in the lungs and
kidneys.
he !esults of ce!tain blood testscan suggest inflammation. hese !esults include a highe!
than no!mal e!yth!ocyte sedimentation !ate (6*)D lowe! than no!mal hemoglobin (266-
muh-glow-bin) and hematoc!it (hee-5-oh-c!it) levels (which suggest anemia)D and highe!than no!mal white blood cell and platelet (?L6-let) counts.
lso" mo!e than half of the people who have mic!oscopic polyangiitis have ce!tain antibodies
(p!oteins) in thei! blood. hese antibodies a!e called antineut!ophil cytoplasmic
autoantibodies (+'). +' also occu! in people who have 1egene!s g!anulomatosis.
esting fo! +' cant be used to diagnose eithe! of these two types of vasculitis. 2oweve!"
testing can help evaluate people who have vasculitis-like symptoms.
Wege!er's %ra!ulo$atosis
1egene!s g!anulomatosis is a !a!e type of vasculitis. It affects men and women e3ually"
but it occu!s mo!e often in 1hites than in f!ican me!icans. his type of vasculitis can
occu! at any age" but it%s mo!e common in middle-aged people.
1egene!s g!anulomatosis typically affects the sinuses" nose" and th!oatD the lungsD and the
kidneys. he condition also can affect othe! o!gans.
In addition to inflamed blood vessels" the affected tissues also develop abno!mal lumps called
g!anulomas. If g!anulomas develop in the lungs" they can dest!oy the lung tissue. he damage
can be mistaken fo!pneumoniao! even lung cance!.
ymptoms of 1egene!s g!anulomatosis often a!en%t specific. hey can begin slowly with
feve!" weight loss" and muscle aches. ometimes the symptoms come on suddenly and
p!og!ess !apidly" leading to kidney failu!e. If the lungs a!e affected" coughing up blood may
be the fi!st symptom.
he !esults of ce!tain blood tests can suggest inflammation. hese !esults include a highe!
than no!mal 6*D lowe! than no!mal hemoglobin and hematoc!it levels (which suggest
anemia)D and highe! than no!mal white blood cell and platelet counts.
nothe! test looks fo! antip!oteinase-F (an antineut!ophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (+'))in the blood. 5ost people who have active 1egene!s g!anulomatosis will have this antibody.
small po!tion may have anothe! +' known as antimyelope!o0idase-specific +'.
2aving eithe! +' antibody isnt enough on its own to make a diagnosis of 1egene!s
g!anulomatosis. 2oweve!" testing fo! the antibodies can help suppo!t the diagnosis in patients
who have othe! signs and symptoms of the condition.
biopsy of an affected o!gan is the best way fo! you! docto! to make a fi!m diagnosis.
biopsy is a p!ocedu!e in which you! docto! takes a small sample of you! body tissue to
e0amine unde! a mic!oscope.
Other )a$es for Vasculitis
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ngiitis
!te!itis
What auses Vasculitis?
Vasculitis occu!s if you! immune system attacks you! blood vessels by mistake. 1hat causes
this to happen isnt fully known.
!ecent o! ch!onic (ongoing) infection may p!ompt the attack. Gou! body also may attack its
own blood vessels in !eaction to a medicine.
ometimes an autoimmune diso!de! t!igge!s vasculitis. utoimmune diso!de!s occu! if the
immune system makes antibodies (p!oteins) that attack and damage the bodys own tissues o!
cells. 60amples of these diso!de!s include lupus" !heumatoid a!th!itis" and scle!ode!ma. Gou
can have these diso!de!s fo! yea!s befo!e developing vasculitis.
Vasculitis also may be linked to ce!tain blood cance!s" such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Who Is at (isk for Vasculitis?
Vasculitis can affect people of all ages and !aces and both se0es. ome types of vasculitis
seem to occu! mo!e often in people who:
2ave ce!tain medical conditions" such as ch!onic hepatitis o! ' infection
2ave ce!tain autoimmune diseases" such a lupus" !heumatoid a!th!itis" andscle!ode!ma
moke
What &re the "ig!s a!# "y$pto$s of Vasculitis?
he signs and symptoms of vasculitis va!y. hey depend on the type of vasculitis you have"
the o!gans involved" and the seve!ity of the condition. ome people may have few signs and
symptoms. @the! people may become ve!y sick.
ometimes the signs and symptoms develop slowly" ove! months. @the! times" the signs andsymptoms develop 3uickly" ove! days o! weeks.
"yste$ic "ig!s a!# "y$pto$s
ystemic signs and symptoms a!e those that affect you in a gene!al o! ove!all way. 'ommon
systemic signs and symptoms of vasculitis a!e:
,eve!
Loss of appetite
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1eight loss
,atigue (ti!edness)
>ene!al aches and pains
Orga!+ or Bo#y "yste$+"pecific "ig!s a!# "y$pto$s
Vasculitis can affect specific o!gans and body systems" causing a !ange of signs and
symptoms.
"ki!
If vasculitis affects you! skin" you may notice skin changes. ,o! e0ample" you may have
pu!ple o! !ed spots o! bumps" cluste!s of small dots" splotches" b!uises" o! hives. Gou! skin
also may itch.
1oi!ts
If vasculitis affects you! &oints" you may ache o! develop a!th!itis in one o! mo!e &oints.
Lu!gs
If vasculitis affects you! lungs" you may feel sho!t of b!eath. Gou may even cough up blood.
he !esults f!om a chest 0 !aymay show signs that suggestpneumonia" even though that may
not be what you have.
%astroi!testi!al Tract
If vasculitis affects you! gast!ointestinal t!act" you may get ulce!s (so!es) in you! mouth o!
have stomach pain.
In seve!e cases" blood flow to the intestines can be blocked. his can cause the wall of the
intestines to weaken and possibly !uptu!e (bu!st). !uptu!e can lead to se!ious p!oblems o!
even death.
"i!uses2 )ose2 Throat2 a!# ,ars
If vasculitis affects you! sinuses" nose" th!oat" and ea!s" you may have sinus o! ch!onic
(ongoing) middle ea! infections. @the! symptoms include ulce!s in the nose and" in some
cases" hea!ing loss.
,yes
If vasculitis affects you! eyes" you may develop !ed" itchy" bu!ning eyes. Gou! eyes also may
become sensitive to light" and you! vision may blu!. *a!ely" ce!tain types of vasculitis may
cause blindness.
Brai!
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If vasculitis affects you! b!ain" symptoms may include headaches" p!oblems thinking clea!ly"
changes in mental function" o! st!oke-like symptoms" such as muscle weakness and pa!alysis
(an inability to move).
)erves
If vasculitis affects you! ne!ves" you may have numbness" tingling" and weakness in va!ious
pa!ts of you! body. Gou also may have a loss of feeling o! st!ength in you! hands and feet and
shooting pains in you! a!ms and legs.
/ow Is Vasculitis Diag!ose#?
Gou! docto! will diagnose vasculitis based on you! signs and symptoms" you! medical histo!y"
a physical e0am" and test !esults.
"pecialists I!volve#
epending on the type of vasculitis you have and the o!gans affected" you! docto! may !efe!
you to va!ious specialists" including:
!heumatologist (&oint and muscle specialist)
n infectious disease specialist
de!matologist (skin specialist)
pulmonologist (lung specialist)
neph!ologist (kidney specialist)
neu!ologist (ne!vous system specialist)
ca!diologist (hea!t specialist)
n ophthalmologist (eye specialist)
u!ologist (u!ina!y t!act and u!ogenital system specialist)
Diag!ostic Tests a!# roce#ures
5any tests a!e used to diagnose vasculitis.
Bloo# Tests
lood testscan show whethe! you have abno!mal levels of ce!tain blood cells and antibodies
(p!oteins) in you! blood. hese tests may look at:
2emoglobin and hematoc!it. low hemoglobin o! hematoc!it level suggests anemia"a complication of vasculitis. Vasculitis can inte!fe!e with the bodys ability to make
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enough !ed blood cells. Vasculitis also can be linked to inc!eased dest!uction of !ed
blood cells.
ntineut!ophil cytoplasmic antibodies (+'). hese antibodies a!e p!esent in
people who have ce!tain types of vasculitis.
6!yth!ocyte sedimentation !ate (6*). high 6* may be a sign of inflammation in
the body.
he amount of '-!eactive p!otein ('*?) in you! blood. high '*? level suggests
inflammation.
Biopsy
biopsy often is the best way fo! you! docto! to make a fi!m diagnosis of vasculitis. u!ing
a biopsy" you! docto! will take a small sample of you! body tissue to study unde! a
mic!oscope. 2e o! she will take the tissue sample f!om a blood vessel o! an o!gan.
pathologist will study the sample fo! signs of inflammation o! tissue damage. pathologist
is a docto! who speciali7es in identifying diseases by studying cells and tissues unde! a
mic!oscope.
Bloo# ressure
?eople who have vasculitis should have thei! blood p!essu!e checked !outinely. Vasculitis that
damages the kidneys can cause high blood p!essu!e.
3ri!alysis
,o! this test" youll p!ovide a u!ine sample fo! analysis. his test detects abno!mal levels of
p!otein o! blood cells in the u!ine. bno!mal levels of these substances can be a sign of
vasculitis affecting the kidneys.
,*% 4,lectrocar#iogra$5
n6C>is a simple" painless test that !eco!ds the hea!ts elect!ical activity. Gou might have
this test to show whethe! vasculitis is affecting you! hea!t.
,chocar#iography
6choca!diog!aphyis a painless test that uses sound waves to c!eate a moving pictu!e of you!
hea!t. he test gives info!mation about the si7e and shape of you! hea!t and how well you!
hea!t chambe!s and valves a!e wo!king.
hest 6 (ay
chest 0 !ayis a painless test that c!eates pictu!es of the st!uctu!es inside you! chest" such as
you! hea!t" lungs" and blood vessels. bno!mal chest 0-!ay !esults may show whethe!
vasculitis is affecting you! lungs o! you! la!ge a!te!ies (such as the ao!ta o! the pulmona!y
a!te!ies).
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hbp/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ekg/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ekg/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/echo/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cxray/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hbp/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ekg/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/echo/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cxray/7/29/2019 Jurding Vasculitis
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Lu!g 7u!ctio! Tests
Lung function tests measu!e how much ai! you can b!eathe in and out" how fast you can
b!eathe ai! out" and how well you! lungs delive! o0ygen to you! blood.
Lung function tests can help you! docto! find out whethe! ai!flow into and out of you! lungsis !est!icted o! blocked.
&.#o$i!al 3ltrasou!#
n abdominal ult!asound uses sound waves to c!eate a pictu!e of the o!gans and st!uctu!es in
you! abdomen. he pictu!e may show whethe! vasculitis is affecting you! abdominal o!gans.
o$pute# To$ography "ca!
computed tomog!aphy (to-5@>-!ah-fee) scan" o! ' scan" is a type of 0 !ay that c!eates
mo!e detailed pictu!es of you! inte!nal o!gans than a standa!d 0 !ay. he !esults f!om this testcan show whethe! you have a type of vasculitis that affects you! abdominal o!gans o! blood
vessels.
Mag!etic (eso!a!ce I$agi!g
magnetic !esonance imaging (5*I) test uses !adio waves" magnets" and a compute! to
c!eate detailed pictu!es of you! inte!nal o!gans.
&!giography
ngiog!aphy (an-&ee-@>-!a-fee) is a test that uses dye and special 0 !ays to show blood
flowing th!ough you! blood vessels.
he dye is in&ected into you! bloodst!eam. pecial 0-!ay pictu!es a!e taken while the dye
flows th!ough you! blood vessels. he dye helps highlight the vessels on the 0-!ay pictu!es.
octo!s use angiog!aphy to help find out whethe! blood vessels a!e na!!owed" swollen"
defo!med" o! blocked.
/ow Is Vasculitis Treate#?
!eatment fo! vasculitis will depend on the type of vasculitis you have" which o!gans a!e
affected" and the seve!ity of the condition.
?eople who have seve!e vasculitis a!e t!eated with p!esc!iption medicines. *a!ely" su!ge!y
may be done. ?eople who have mild vasculitis may find !elief with ove!-the-counte! pain
medicines" such as acetaminophen" aspi!in" ibup!ofen" o! nap!o0en.
he main goal of t!eating vasculitis is to !educe inflammation in the affected blood vessels.
his usually is done by !educing o! stopping the immune !esponse that caused the
inflammation.
Types of Treat$e!t
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/lft/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/lft/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/lft/7/29/2019 Jurding Vasculitis
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'ommon p!esc!iption medicines used to t!eat vasculitis include co!ticoste!oids and cytoto0ic
medicines.
'o!ticoste!oids help !educe inflammation in you! blood vessels. 60amples of co!ticoste!oids
a!e p!ednisone" p!ednisolone" and methylp!ednisolone.
octo!s may p!esc!ibe cytoto0ic medicines if vasculitis is seve!e o! if co!ticoste!oids dont
wo!k well. 'ytoto0ic medicines kill the cells that a!e causing the inflammation. 60amples of
these medicines a!e a7athiop!ine" methot!e0ate" and cyclophosphamide.
Gou! docto! may p!esc!ibe both co!ticoste!oids and cytoto0ic medicines.
@the! t!eatments may be used fo! ce!tain types of vasculitis. ,o! e0ample" the standa!d
t!eatment fo! Cawasaki disease is high-dose aspi!in and immune globulin. Immune globulin
is a medicine that%s in&ected into a vein.
'e!tain types of vasculitis may !e3ui!e su!ge!y to !emove aneu!ysmsthat have fo!med as a!esult of the condition. (n aneu!ysm is an abno!mal bulge in the wall of a blood vessel.)
/ow a! Vasculitis Be reve!te#?
Gou cant p!event vasculitis. 2oweve!" t!eatment can help p!event o! delay the complications
of vasculitis.
?eople who have seve!e vasculitis a!e t!eated with p!esc!iption medicines. *a!ely" su!ge!y
may be done. ?eople who have mild vasculitis may find !elief with ove!-the-counte! pain
medicines" such as acetaminophen" aspi!in" ibup!ofen" o! nap!o0en.
,o! mo!e info!mation about vasculitis t!eatments" go to 42ow Is Vasculitis
Livi!g With Vasculitis
he outcome of vasculitis is ha!d to p!edict. It will depend on the type of vasculitis you have"
which o!gans a!e affected" and the seve!ity of the condition.
If vasculitis is diagnosed ea!ly and !esponds well to t!eatment" it may go away o! go into
!emission. 4*emission4 means the condition isnt active" but it can come back" o! 4fla!e"4 at
any time.
,la!es can be ha!d to p!edict. Gou may have a fla!e when you stop t!eatment o! change you!
t!eatment. ome types of vasculitis seem to fla!e mo!e often than othe!s. lso" some people
have fla!es mo!e often than othe!s.
ometimes vasculitis is ch!onic (ongoing) and neve! goes into !emission. Long-te!m
t!eatment with medicines often can cont!ol ch!onic vasculitis" but no cu!e has been found.
*a!ely" vasculitis doesnt !espond well to t!eatment. his can lead to disability o! even death.
O!goi!g are
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/arm/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/vas/treatment.htmlhttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/arm/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/vas/treatment.html7/29/2019 Jurding Vasculitis
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he medicines used to t!eat vasculitis can have side effects. ,o! e0ample" long-te!m use of
co!ticoste!oids may lead to weight gain" diabetes " weakness" a dec!ease in muscle si7e" and
osteopo!osis (a bone-thinning condition). Long-te!m use of these medicines also may
inc!ease you! !isk of infection.
Gou! docto! may ad&ust the type o! dose of medicine you take to lessen o! p!event the sideeffects. If you! vasculitis goes into !emission" you! docto! may ca!efully withd!aw you!
medicines. 2oweve!" he o! she will still need to ca!efully watch you fo! fla!es.
1hile you!e being t!eated fo! vasculitis" youll need to see you! docto! !egula!ly. alk with
you! docto! about any new symptoms and othe! changes in you! health" including side effects
of you! medicines.
,$otio!al Issues a!# "upport
Living with a ch!onic condition may cause fea!" an0iety" dep!ession" and st!ess. alk about
how you feel with you! health ca!e team. alking to a p!ofessional counselo! also can help. Ifyou%!e ve!y dep!essed" you! docto! may !ecommend medicines o! othe! t!eatments that can
imp!ove you! 3uality of life.
Hoining a patient suppo!t g!oup may help you ad&ust to living with vasculitis. Gou can see
how othe! people who have the same symptoms have coped with them. alk with you! docto!
about local suppo!t g!oups o! check with an a!ea medical cente!.
uppo!t f!om family and f!iends also can help !elieve st!ess and an0iety. Let you! loved ones
know how you feel and what they can do to help you.
li!ical Trials
he +ational 2ea!t" Lung" and lood Institute (+2LI) is st!ongly committed to suppo!ting
!esea!ch aimed at p!eventing and t!eating hea!t" lung" and blood diseases and conditions and
sleep diso!de!s.
+2LI-suppo!ted !esea!ch has led to many advances in medical knowledge and ca!e. @ften"
these advances depend on the willingness of voluntee!s to take pa!t in clinical t!ials.
'linical t!ials test new ways to p!event" diagnose" o! t!eat va!ious diseases and conditions.
,o! e0ample" new t!eatments fo! a disease o! condition (such as medicines" medical devices"su!ge!ies" o! p!ocedu!es) a!e tested in voluntee!s who have the illness. esting shows whethe!
a t!eatment is safe and effective in humans befo!e it is made available fo! widesp!ead use.
y taking pa!t in a clinical t!ial" you can gain access to new t!eatments befo!e they%!e widely
available. Gou also will have the suppo!t of a team of health ca!e p!ovide!s" who will likely
monito! you! health closely. 6ven if you don%t di!ectly benefit f!om the !esults of a clinical
t!ial" the info!mation gathe!ed can help othe!s and add to scientific knowledge.
If you voluntee! fo! a clinical t!ial" the !esea!ch will be e0plained to you in detail. Gou%ll lea!n
about t!eatments and tests you may !eceive" and the benefits and !isks they may pose. Gou%ll
also be given a chance to ask 3uestions about the !esea!ch. his p!ocess is called info!medconsent.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/redir/disclaimer.htm?http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/clinicaltrials/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/clinicaltrials/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/redir/disclaimer.htm?http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/clinicaltrials/7/29/2019 Jurding Vasculitis
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If you ag!ee to take pa!t in the t!ial" you%ll be asked to sign an info!med consent fo!m. his
fo!m is not a cont!act. Gou have the !ight to withd!aw f!om a study at any time" fo! any
!eason. lso" you have the !ight to lea!n about new !isks o! findings that eme!ge du!ing the
t!ial.
,o! mo!e info!mation about clinical t!ials !elated to vasculitis" talk with you! docto!. Gou alsocan visit the following 1eb sites to lea!n mo!e about clinical !esea!ch and to sea!ch fo!
clinical t!ials:
http://clinical!esea!ch.nih.gov
www.clinicalt!ials.gov
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/studies/inde0.htm
www.!esea!chmatch.o!g
,o! mo!e info!mation about clinical t!ials fo! child!en" visit the +2LI%s 'hild!en and
'linical tudies1eb page.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/redir/disclaimer.htm?http://clinicalresearch.nih.govhttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/redir/disclaimer.htm?http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/studies/index.htmhttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/redir/disclaimer.htm?http://www.researchmatch.org/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/childrenandclinicalstudies/index.phphttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/childrenandclinicalstudies/index.phphttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/childrenandclinicalstudies/index.phphttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/redir/disclaimer.htm?http://clinicalresearch.nih.govhttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/redir/disclaimer.htm?http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/studies/index.htmhttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/redir/disclaimer.htm?http://www.researchmatch.org/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/childrenandclinicalstudies/index.phphttp://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/childrenandclinicalstudies/index.phpRecommended