Autoimmune vasculitis, often referred to simply as vasculitis, is a set of autoimmune conditions affecting the blood vessels. There are several different types of autoimmune vasculitis, but each one causes swelling and inflammation of the blood vessels. Autoimmune vasculitis is a chronic condition without a cure that stems from the immune system attacking itself.
As your blood vessels get thicker and more swollen, it is harder for blood to travel through them and get to organs, your brain, and other important parts of the body. This can lead to high blood pressure, organ failure, aneurysms, and other conditions that could result in death. As such, autoimmune vasculitis is a life-threatening medical condition that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Currently, medications are the primary treatment for autoimmune vasculitis. Medications are used to mitigate the potentially harmful and fatal side effects of vasculitis and to keep the condition in check. Here are some of the drugs that are used.
ACE inhibitors are medications that relax the walls and muscles of blood vessels, which can help reduce swelling and inflammation. This, in turn, can increase blood flow and prevent damage to organs, the brain, and the heart. Benazepril and captopril are two of the most common ACE inhibitors for vasculitis.
The main symptom of autoimmune vasculitis is that it causes inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels. This swelling, in turn, causes the many dangerous side effects that result from inadequate blood flow.
To combat the inflammation and swelling of vasculitis, your doctor will likely prescribe you a corticosteroid, such as prednisone or budesonide. However, because corticosteroids only treat the symptoms of vasculitis rather than the disease itself, other medications are necessary.
Immunosuppressants, sometimes referred to as biologics, are medications that suppress the immune system. This can keep it from attacking itself and causing the inflammation and swelling of blood vessels that make vasculitis so dangerous. Currently, azathioprine and methotrexate are two immunosuppressants used to treat autoimmune vasculitis.
While medications are primary treatment options for autoimmune vasculitis, they have unwanted side effects, as do most medications.
Side effects will vary from medication to medication.
In addition to medications, people with autoimmune vasculitis may also need surgery to repair certain blood vessels. This is especially true when an aneurysm forms within one of the vessels, resulting in a dangerous bulge. Surgery is used to remove the aneurysm and to restore healthy blood flow.
Surgery may also be necessary to repair or replace internal organs that are damaged because of inadequate blood flow. Finally, if there is a serious blockage that is impeding blood flow, you may require a vascular bypass graft. A vascular bypass graft is where a surgeon builds a new artery or vein to reroute blood flow around a blockage.
While there is no known cure for autoimmune vasculitis, there are medications and surgical procedures that can help mitigate symptoms. These treatments also help people with autoimmune vasculitis live fairly long and normal lives. However, because of the ever-present danger of blood clots and organ failure, it is important to have regular checkups with your doctor and continue treatment for as long as necessary.