Vasculitis Treatment Specialist Karimnagar

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Vasculitis
Vasculitis is inflammation of the blood vessels.
It happens when the body's immune system attacks
the blood vessel by mistake. It is rare disease.
Vasculitis can affect arteries, veins and
capillaries. Arteries are vessels that carry
blood from the heart to the body' organs. Veins
carry blood back to the heart. Capillaries are
smallest blood vessels that connect the small
arteries and veins. Vasculitis are 3 types- based
on size of vessel inflamed, which varies in
symptoms, severity and duration Large vessel
vasculitis- Takayasu arteritis, gaint cell
arteritis Medium vessel vasculitis -
Kawasaki disease, PAN (Polyarteritis Nodosa)
Small vessel vasculitis- Wegners (GPA),
churgstrauss, HSP etc. Most types of vasculitis
are rare, and the causes are generally unknown.
Vasculitis affects persons of both sexes and all
ages. Vasculitis can be mild or severe, or even
leads to death. Patients can have one episode of
vasculitis or repeated episodes over years. A few
forms of vasculitis affect certain age groups
only. Example Kawasaki disease occurs only in
children. IgA Vasculitis (Henoch-Schonlein) is
much more common in children than adults. giant
cell arteritis occurs only in adults over 50
years old. Vasculitis leads to poor blood flow to
organs, such as the lungs, nerves, kidney and
skin. Thus, vasculitis has a wide range of signs
and symptoms, such as Shortness of breath
and cough, blood in sputum T
ingling,numbness or weakness in a hand or foot
Red spots on the skin (purpura), lumps
(nodules) or ulcers On the other hand,
vasculitis of the kidneys may produce no symptoms
at first but is still a serious problem What
causes vasculitis? We do not know exact causes
most types of vasculitis. Some cases of
vasculitis are due to autoimmune phenomenon,
reactions to medicines, long-term infections
(hepatitis C or hepatitis B virus) Sometimes
vasculitis may be a part of other rheumatic
diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and
Sjogren's syndrome. Diagnosis of vasculitis
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Clinical examination with support of lab test and
biopsy aids in diagnosis of vasculitis Blood
tests- ANCA, CBP, ESR, CRP, urine examination,
Renal function test, viral markers
Biopsysurgical removal of a small piece of
tissue for inspection under a microscope
Angiographya type of CT/MRI to look for
abnormalities of blood vessels To find
small-vessel vasculitis, we most often do a
biopsy of the skin or a kidney. Detection of
medium-vessel vasculitis happens by either biopsy
(of skin, nerve or brain) or angiography.
Angiography also is the test that often finds
large-vessel vasculitis. A few forms of
vasculitis, such as Behcet's disease and Kawasaki
disease, are usually detected based on a
collection of clinical findings rather than
biopsy or angiography. A positive ANCA test can
help detect these types of vasculitis
granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's),
microscopic polyangiitis or eosinophilic
granulomatosis with polyangiitis
(Churg-Strauss). Vasculitis Treatment Steroids
are main drugs for treating most forms of
vasculitis to reduce inflammation. The dose and
length of treatment depend on how severe the
disease is and how long the patient has had it.
Immune-suppressive drug- Rheumatologist use these
drugs to decrease the dose of steroids to
minimise the side effects. This is called
steroid-sparing treatment. For severe
disease endangering vital organs, we use
Cyclophosphamide or Rituximab infusion For
less serious vasculitis, we use methotrexate,
azathioprine, Mycophenolate, tacrolimus or other
immune-suppressing drugs. Some patients with
the most severe diseases often requires receive
plasma exchange (Plasmapheresis) or Intravenous
immunoglobulin (IVIg). Surgery Damage from
severe vasculitis sometimes require surgery like
vascular bypass grafting (a surgery to redirect
blood flow around a blockage in a blood vessel).
Depending on where the damage is, other possible
operations are sinus surgery or a kidney
transplant. Living with vasculitis Vasculitis can
be short term or life-long. Rheumatologist
focuses on preventing permanent damage to vital
organs (such as the lungs, kidneys and brain) and
the
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nerves. Side effects from medications, especially
glucocorticoids, also can be troubling. Patients
taking immunosuppressant's are at risk of
infections. Follow your doctor's advice on how to
reduce your infection risk. Fortunately, with
current treatments, the outcome for patients with
vasculitis is often good