Vasculitis syndromes cause inflammation of arteries and blood vessels, with different types affecting different sized vessels and organs. Behçet’s syndrome affects young adults and causes inflammation of multiple organ systems, while giant cell arteritis causes inflammation of arteries in the head and is more common in women over 50. Takayasu’s arteritis is rare and affects young women, damaging large blood vessels and causing symptoms such as fatigue and chest pain. Churg-Strauss syndrome restricts blood flow to organs such as the lungs and causes symptoms such as asthma, joint pain, and skin rashes. Corticosteroids can treat symptoms, but there is no cure for any of these syndromes.
There are several types of vasculitis syndrome. Vasculitis syndromes are usually rare and cause inflammation of the arteries and blood vessels in the body. Some types of vasculitis syndrome, such as giant cell arteritis, Behçet’s syndrome, and Takayasu arteritis, affect only larger blood vessels. Microscopic polyangiitis and Churg-Strauss syndrome affect the smallest blood vessels. Some forms of vasculitis syndrome also affect the skin or joints.
Behçet’s syndrome is a type of vasculitis syndrome that typically appears when a person is young, in their 20s and 30s. It is more common in men than in women. The disorder can cause inflammation of a number of organ systems, from blood vessels to the genitals to the eyes.
A common initial symptom of Behçet’s is a mouth ulcer. Behçet’s eye inflammation can lead to blindness if left untreated. There is no cure for Behçet’s disease, but most patients’ symptoms respond to corticosteroids.
Giant cell arteritis, another type of vasculitis syndrome, involves inflammation of the arteries in a person’s head. A headache, particularly pain in the temples, and blurred vision are the most frequent symptoms of the condition. Women over age 50 are at increased risk of giant cell arteritis, especially if they have polymyalgia rheumatica, a type of vasculitis that causes stiffness in the hips and neck.
Takayasu’s arteritis is a rare condition that mostly affects young women under the age of 40 and girls. The disease causes damage to the aorta and other large or medium-sized blood vessels. The initial symptoms of Takayasu’s arteritis involve fatigue and rapid unexplained weight loss. As the disease progresses, a woman may develop high blood pressure, a decreased pulse, and chest pain. Corticosteroids can often treat symptoms, although bypass surgery may be needed in some cases to improve blood flow and reduce symptoms.
When a person has Churg-Strauss syndrome, another type of vasculitis syndrome, inflammation of the smallest blood vessels restricts blood flow to organs such as the lungs. A common symptom of Churg-Strauss syndrome is asthma, which typically appears years before any other symptoms. In the later stages of the disease, a person will have elevated levels of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. In the final stage of the disease, blood vessels throughout the body become inflamed, causing neuropathy, joint pain and skin rashes, among other symptoms. There is no cure for Churg-Strauss syndrome, but corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs can ease a person’s symptoms.
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