ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Vasculitis

What is vasculitis?

4 May 2021

It refers to a group of diseases characterized by blood vessels (arteries and veins) inflammation, which causes a narrowing of the ducts, decreasing the amount of blood that flows through them, with the possible involvement of organs and tissues.

There are various types of vasculitis, the causes of which are uncertain, but it is believed to be an autoimmune condition associated mainly with genetics, although it has been found that in some cases it is due to viral infections such as hepatitis B and C, leukemia, and reactions to specific drugs.

Vasculitis can be mild or severe, putting the person’s life at risk, and appears once or several times in different years.

Most frequent types of vasculitis: 

  • Cryoglobulinemia.
  • Henoch-Schönlein purpura.
  • Kawasaki disease.
  • Buerger disease.
  • Behcet disease.
  • Giant cell arteritis.
  • Takayasu’s arteritis.

Signs and symptoms Vasculitis

Vasculitis can greatly impair blood flow to tissues throughout the body, causing damage to various organs. So it has varied symptoms:

  • Numbness or weakness in a hand or foot.
  • Tiredness.
  • Bluish color on the fingers and toes.
  • Nasal congestion and pain.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Aching joints.
  • High fever.
  • General discomfort.
  • Red spots, nodules, or sores on the skin.
  • Decreased body weight.
  • Coughing fits.

Development of local symptoms concerning the affected organ:

  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Partial or total loss of vision.
  • Hearing loss
  • Abdominal pain.
  • Chest pain.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Kidney failure.
  • Pulmonary insufficiency.
  • Motor problems.
  • Blood in the urine or stool.

Potential risks:

  • Permanent damage to the structure or function of the compromised area.
  • Tissue infections.
  • Necrosis.

Diagnosis and treatment Vasculitis

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a complete physical examination, will request blood and urine tests, as well as various diagnostic tests, such as: 

  • Angiography.
  • C-reactive protein test.
  • X-rays.
  • MRI.
  • Computed tomography.
  • Ultrasound.

Treatment consists mainly of the administration of various drugs, usually corticosteroids, the dose of which will depend on the degree of involvement of the specific organ.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Vasculitis

Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • rheumatology.org
  • linforeuma.com
  • medlineplus.gov
  • msdmanuals.com
  • topdoctors.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • Gálvez VJF, Martínez OJF, Vásquez BSP, et al. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis: microscopic polyangiitis. Rev Cub de Reu. 2020;22(Suppl: 1):.
  • Mercado U, Arzola E, Sepúlveda R. Lo que deberías conocer acerca de las vasculitis de vasos pequeños asociadas con ANCA. Med Int Mex. 2021;37(5):827-833.
  • Yeom SJH, Barboza MM, Pérez-Rojas R. Vasculitis primaria del sistema nervioso central: reporte de un caso. Rev Med Cos Cen. 2020;86(630):50-53.
  • Sánchez SS, Navarro BAL, López SEA. Vasculitis IgA en el adulto. Informe de caso. Medisur. 2021;19(1):175-181.

How can we help you?

    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.