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What is Vasculitis? |
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Symptoms
Vasculitis is an inflammatory condition which afflicts the blood vessels. Also referred to as angiitis, it can change the internal structure of blood vessels; it may thicken, weaken, constrict or scar them. The swollenness can either be brief (acute) or prolonged (chronic), and it can get worse enough so as to interfere with the ample flow of blood to the tissues and organs which depend on it. An insufficient blood supply can lead to damage and is eventually fatal. The symptoms vary, and are dependent on which region of the extensive network of blood vessels are afflicted, but there a several indications which are present regardless of the type of vasculitis the patient bears: fever, a tendency to tire easily, and an unexplained weight loss; problems associated with the nerves (such as a loss of sensation or weakness), painful muscles and joints, and a decreased appetite.
Causes
Vasculitis occurs when the blood vessels swell, causing layers of the interior walls to thicken. This causes the vessels to constrict, thereby limiting and reducing the flow of blood which runs through it. Since blood is the primary carrier and distributor of oxygen and nutrients which are essential to tissue functioning, the afflicted areas suffer with the insufficiency. Sometimes blood can clot in an afflicted vessel, further causing obstruction to blood flow. The blood vessel may also be weakened, leading to the formation of a bulge (aneurysm); this can be fatal if it ruptures. For the majority of its types, the cause is largely unknown – these are referred to as primary vasculitides. In other forms, infections are the identifiable cause; the types which occur as a result of an underlying condition (such as lupus, hepatitis, or rheumatoid arthritis) are known as secondary vasculitides.
Diagnosis
The indications of vasculitis bear close similarities with other conditions, so making a distinct diagnosis is particularly difficult. The doctor has to rule it out from other potential causes, and may employ several diagnostic procedures in accordance with a physical exam and a medical history evaluation. Blood tests may check for the patient’s erythrocyte sedimentation rate, measuring how fast red blood cells descend to the bottom of a test tube (a rapid drop indicates an inflammation). Imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans may also be performed for an up-close view of the arteries, or a sample of the afflicted vessel may be retrieved for analysis.
Treatment Info
Treatment for vasculitis essentially involves medications for easing the inflammation and the symptoms caused by it. Treatment may opt for the use of corticosteroids like prednisone and methylprednisone, usually for extended periods of gradually-reducing doses. Cytotoxic drugs (azathioprine or cyclophosphamide) may be employed for severe cases which do not respond efficiently to corticosteroids; these aim to suppress the swollenness of the vessels. For milder symptoms of the disease, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed (aspirin, ibuprofen), although these don’t usually afford total relief in many cases, and prolonged intake can lead to bleeding of the digestive tract. The patient will have to undergo regular blood tests in order for the doctor to evaluate the body’s development and reaction to the treatment.
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