Vasculitis

Summary

Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels. It happens when the body’s immune system attacks the blood vessel by mistake. It can happen because of an infection, a medicine, or another disease. The cause is often unknown.

Vasculitis can affect arteries, veins and capillaries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body’s organs. Veins are the vessels that carry blood back to the heart. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels that connect the small arteries and veins.

When a blood vessel becomes inflamed, it can:

• Narrow, making it more difficult for blood to get through.
• Close off completely so that blood can’t get through.
• Stretch and weaken so much that it bulges. The bulge is called an aneurysm. If it bursts, it can cause dangerous bleeding inside the body.

Symptoms of vasculitis can vary, but usually include fever, swelling and a general sense of feeling ill. The main goal of treatment is to stop the inflammation. Steroids and other medicines to stop inflammation are often helpful.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Genetics

• Adenosine deaminase 2 deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Granulomatosis with polyangiitis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Diagnosis and Tests

• Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCA) Test National Library of Medicine
• C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test National Library of Medicine
• CT Angiography (CTA) Radiological Society of North America
• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) National Library of Medicine
• MR Angiography (MRA) Radiological Society of North America

Patient Handouts

• Aortic angiography Medical Encyclopedia
• Cerebral angiography Medical Encyclopedia
• Henoch-Schonlein purpura Medical Encyclopedia
• Hypersensitivity vasculitis Medical Encyclopedia
• Necrotizing vasculitis Medical Encyclopedia
• Polyarteritis nodosa Medical Encyclopedia
• Takayasu arteritis Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• Autoimmune Association Autoimmune Association
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Specifics

• Buerger’s Disease Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
• Central Nervous System Vasculitis Vasculitis Foundation
• Cryoglobulinemia Vasculitis Foundation
• Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis, formerly Churg-Strauss Syndrome (EGPA) Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
• Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
• Isolated Aortitis Vasculitis Foundation
• Microscopic Polyangiitis Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
• Polyarteritis Nodosa Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
• Rheumatoid Vasculitis Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
• Takayasu’s Arteritis Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
• Urticarial Vasculitis Vasculitis Foundation

Encyclopedia

• C-reactive protein Medical Encyclopedia
• Collagen vascular disease Medical Encyclopedia
• Cryoglobulinemia Medical Encyclopedia
• Cryoglobulins Medical Encyclopedia
• Purpura Medical Encyclopedia
• Splinter hemorrhages Medical Encyclopedia
• Upper airway biopsy Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Vasculitis National Institutes of Health

Treatments and Therapies

• Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
• Methotrexate Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
• Prednisone Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center

Related Issues

• Immune System and Its Link to Rheumatic Diseases American College of Rheumatology

Children

• Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Vasculitis National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
• Kawasaki Disease: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Journal Articles

• Vasculitis

Start Here

• Vasculitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Vasculitis American College of Rheumatology
• Vasculitis in the Nervous System National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• What is Vasculitis? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Reference Desk

• Vasculitis Terms A to Z Vasculitis Foundation