Vasculitis are a set of uncommon diseases in which blood vessels become inflamed. This group includes conditions such as giant cell arteritis (GCA), Kawasaki disease, microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA or Churg-Strauss), and Behcet’s disease.
Inflammation of the blood vessels can disrupt blood flow to important organs like the lungs, kidneys, skin, eyes, and nerves. People with vasculitis might have only one episode or experience repeated flare-ups throughout their lives. While many cases develop due to immune system problems, others may be linked to certain medicines, cancers, or viral infections, including hepatitis B or C.
Vasculitis can cause a variety of symptoms. These may include skin rashes—such as small red spots (purpura), bumps (nodules), or ulcers—along with headaches, vision changes, shortness of breath, cough, and numbness or weakness in the hands or feet. Some people experience joint pain, chronic tiredness, or sinus trouble. Sometimes, vasculitis significantly affects the kidneys without early warning signs. Diagnosis usually requires a rheumatologist, who will consider symptoms, physical examination findings, blood tests, tissue samples, and sometimes scans to look for blood vessel problems.
The initial treatment for vasculitis usually involves glucocorticoids, such as Deltasone, to control inflammation. Milder cases may be managed with medicines like methotrexate (Rheumatrex), azathioprine (Imuran), or other drugs that suppress the immune system. For certain types of vasculitides, newer medications called biologics are prescribed: rituximab (Rituxan) or avacopan (Tavenos) for GPA and MPA, tocilizumab (Actemra) for GCA, mepolizumab (Nucala) or benralizumab (Fasenra) for EGPA, and apremilast (Otezla) for Behcet’s disease. Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) is reserved for the most severe, life-threatening cases. In some patients, severe disease may require procedures such as plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). If blood vessels or organs are badly damaged, surgery—like vascular bypass, sinus operations, or kidney transplant—might be needed.
The main goal in managing vasculitides is to protect organs like the lungs, kidneys, brain, and nerves from lasting harm. People living with vasculitis may also deal with ongoing fatigue, joint pain, or sinus issues. Because medications—especially glucocorticoids—can cause side effects, regular monitoring by a rheumatologist is important. Those taking drugs that lower the immune system must be cautious to avoid infections. Depending on the type of vasculitis, patients might need to see other specialists, such as eye, skin, ear, nerve, kidney, or lung doctors. With proper treatment, most people with vasculitis have a positive outlook.
Source:
American College of Rheumatology. Vasculitis.
https://rheumatology.org/patients/vasculitis
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This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment recommendations specific to your condition.
