Sept. 15, 2022 | Vasculitis is an autoimmune disorder that involves inflammation of the blood vessels. The inflammation can cause the walls of the blood vessels to thicken, which reduces the width of the passageway through the vessel. If blood flow is restricted, it can result in organ and tissue damage. There are many types of vasculitis, and they may vary greatly in symptoms, severity and duration. Most types of vasculitis are rare, and the causes are generally not known. Vasculitis affects persons of both sexes and all ages. A few forms of vasculitis affect certain groups of people. For instance, Kawasaki disease occurs only in children. IgA Vasculitis, which is also known as Henoch-Schönlein purpura, is much more common in children than adults. On the other hand, giant cell arteritis occurs only in adults over 50 years of age. Actor Ashton Kutcher recently disclosed that he had a form of vasculitis that affected both his eyesight and his hearing.

Sept. 15, 2022 | The cause of vasculitis is not fully understood by researchers. Vasculitis is classified as an autoimmune disorder, which occurs when the body’s natural defense system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. Researchers believe a combination of factors may trigger the inflammatory process, including infections, medications, genetic or environmental factors, allergic reactions, or another disease. However, the exact cause is usually unknown. There are a number of factors, such as the use of cocaine, that are known to put a person at risk for vasculitis, however. Smoking tobacco, especially if you’re a man younger than 45, can increase your risk of Buerger’s disease. Certain medications, such as hydralazine, allopurinol, minocycline and propylthiouracil, can trigger forms of vasculitis. Having hepatitis B or C can also lead to vasculitis. Most types of the disorder require medications to control the inflammation and prevent flare-ups.

Sept. 15, 2022 | The autoimmune disorder known as vasculitis can cause poor blood flow to tissues throughout the body, such as the lungs, nerves and skin. For this reason, it can have a wide range of signs and symptoms. For example, if your stomach or intestines are affected, you may experience pain after eating. Ulcers and perforations are possible and may result in blood in the stool. Vasculitis can make your eyes look red and itch or burn. Giant cell arteritis can cause double vision and temporary or permanent blindness in one or both eyes. Some types of vasculitis can cause numbness or weakness in a hand or foot. The palms of the hands and soles of the feet might swell or harden. You may develop shortness of breath or even cough up blood if vasculitis affects your lungs. If a blood vessel in the skin with vasculitis is small, the vessel may break and produce tiny areas of bleeding in the tissue. These areas will appear as small red or purple dots on the skin.

Sept. 15, 2022 | Diagnosing vasculitis can be difficult because the condition’s symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses or diseases. A physician may suspect vasculitis when a patient has symptoms and abnormal results of the physical exam, lab tests or both, and there is no other clear cause. Dr. Kyla Shelton of UAMS’ Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, says the size of the affected blood vessel, the organs involved and the age of the patient determines the most likely type of vasculitis. This guides the next steps in confirming the type and the necessary treatment. For instance, to find small-vessel vasculitis, a physician may order a biopsy of the skin or a kidney. Dr. Shelton says a specialized laboratory test can look for specific blood abnormalities like anemia, a high white blood cell count or a high platelet count, all of which can occur when vasculitis is present. Inflammatory markers, which require blood samples, are signs of body-wide inflammation.

Sept. 15, 2022 | The precise treatment of the autoimmune disorder vasculitis depends on the specific type of vasculitis and the areas or organs that are involved. Treatment usually involves two phases, controlling the inflammation to achieve remission, and maintenance to prevent any kind of relapse. Some measures that may be necessary include the use of corticosteroids, such as prednisone. The dose and length of treatment depends on how bad the disease is and how long the patient has had it. These drugs help reduce inflammation but can have long-term side effects. For more serious types of vasculitis, other medications that suppress the immune system are also used. These medicines have their own side effects and these treatments must be watched very closely. Damage from a severe form of vasculitis may require surgery such as a kidney transplant or a vascular bypass grafting to redirect blood flow around a blockage in a blood vessel.