Vasculitis is a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of blood vessel walls. It can affect different organs and is often related to immune damage. Treatment focuses on reducing inflammation and targeting affected organs. Diagnosis is made through lab work and tissue biopsy. It can develop spontaneously or accompany other disorders or high-risk activities.
Vasculitis is an umbrella term used for a number of diseases, all characterized by inflammation of the blood vessel walls. It’s not a common set of illnesses, but it’s definitely a cause for concern. Some forms of this condition include Wegener’s granulomatosis, Behcet’s disease, Kawasaki disease, Churg-Strauss syndrome, Henoch Schonlein purpura, and Takayasu’s arteritis. It can also be referred to as angiitis and more specific subsets may be called arteritis if the arteries are inflamed or venulitis if the veins are inflamed.
The root cause of vasculitis is not known, although in many cases it is related to immune damage. Different forms require different treatments, but generally, steroid treatment is used at some point to aid recovery. In initial treatment, drugs such as prednisone may be used, as well as immunosuppressants, such as Cytoxan. Treatment of this condition is still evolving in the modern medical field, but for the most part all treatments focus on reducing the inflammation in the arteries and targeting the organs that have been affected, helping them to function better.
This condition is usually divided into three main categories: small vessel, medium vessel, and large vessel vasculitis. The small vessel type includes Churg-Strauss syndrome and Henoch Schonlein purpura and can affect blood vessels in organs such as the skin and lungs. Medium vessel vasculitis includes Wegener’s granulomatosis and attacks medium-sized arteries, such as those of the heart and respiratory system. The large vessel type includes Takayasu’s arteritis and mainly affects the vessels of the aorta.
The initial diagnosis of vasculitis is usually made through lab work done on blood or other body fluids. Depending on the shape, irregularities can occur in any number of organs. Once vasculitis is suspected, the initial diagnosis is confirmed or rejected based on a tissue biopsy from the indicated organ. If the diagnosis is confirmed, inflammation of the blood vessels will be evident. An alternative to a physical biopsy for medium and large vasculitis is a type of x-ray known as an arteriography, but a biopsy is generally preferred to provide more evidence.
Vasculitis can develop seemingly spontaneously or can accompany a number of other disorders or high-risk activities. These include some types of cancer, such as lymphoma; rheumatoid diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis; the use of some chemicals, such as cocaine; and some infections, most commonly hepatitis B.
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