Autoimmune Vasculitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels. This inflammation can cause the vessels to thicken, which leads to a reduced width in the passageway of the vessel. Blood flow is often thereby restricted to organs and tissues, leading to organ and tissue damage.
There are various kinds of Vasculitis, most of them rare. This condition can impact only one organ, or it might impact several organs of the body. The condition might last for a short time, or it could be a long-term health issue for a patient.
The most common symptoms of Autoimmune Vasculitis are:
If the condition is impacting a specific system in the body, the symptoms will be more specific. For those whose digestive system is impacted, pain after eating can be a common symptom, and ulcers and perforations might be present. Blood might also show up in the stool in these patients.
Those with vasculitis in the ears might experience hearing loss, dizziness, or ringing in the ears. If the condition is impacting the eyes, a patient might have red, itchy eyes that burn. They could also have double vision or sudden blindness in one or both eyes.
The hands and feet might be numb as well, or the skin on the extremities might harden or swell. Bleeding under the skin is common and can appear as red spots, open sores, or lumps. If the lungs are affected, shortness of breath is a common symptom, and some patients even cough up blood.
The exact cause of vasculitis is not well understood. There is likely to be a genetic tie-in for the condition, and some people with autoimmune conditions are more susceptible as well. The risk factors for Autoimmune Vasculitis are:
Diagnosis of this condition typically starts with taking a full health history of the patient. Blood tests are usually done to look for signs of inflammation in the body, such as high levels of C-reactive protein. These tests can also reveal if the body has enough red blood cells.
Imaging tests are often done to make sure that patient symptoms are not caused by other things like tumours or abnormalities within the structures of the body. Ultrasound, CT scans, MRI, and PET scans can all be used to assess the health and condition of the organs that are affected by this condition.
X-rays might also be used to look at the outlines of blood vessels. If your doctor needs more information about the health of specific tissues in the body, a biopsy might be taken.
There are many instances where prevention of this condition is not possible. However, you can protect yourself by stopping smoking and by avoiding the use of drugs like cocaine. If you have a family history of vasculitis, you might want to speak with your doctor about preventative measures that you might be able to take to help avoid complications from this condition.
Treatment of Autoimmune Vasculitis involves various modalities, but you will usually need to take a corticosteroid drug like prednisone to calm and suppress the immune system. The type of vasculitis can impact the other treatments that are used to improve your symptoms. Doctors might prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication like Imuran, CellCept, or Actemra.
If there is a severe problem within the body related to Autoimmune Vasculitis, such as an aneurysm, you will need surgery to block the aneurysm and keep it from rupturing. This is the most significant risk associated with this condition, and patients with Autoimmune Vasculitis need to be monitored for aneurysms on a regular basis.