What are the main symptoms or signs of Vasculitis: inflammation of blood vessels?

Common signs vary from person to person. The article above lists the symptoms to watch for, how they progress, and when they need medical attention.

When should you see a doctor for Vasculitis: inflammation of blood vessels?

See a doctor if symptoms last more than a few weeks, get worse quickly, stop you doing everyday things, or if you notice sudden pain, breathing trouble, fainting or bleeding.

Conditions

Vasculitis: inflammation of blood vessels

Different diseases, one common mechanism

Dr. Camille Roux

Internal medicine physician

6 min read

Medical illustration of Vasculitis: inflammation of blood vessels

In simple terms

How large, medium and small vessel vasculitis present, and why early treatment protects organs.

What it is, in plain words

Vasculitis means inflammation of blood vessel walls. The vessels become narrowed, blocked or weakened, so the tissue they supply is starved of blood. The symptoms depend entirely on which vessels are affected, which is why these diseases look so different from one another.

Signs to look out for

General signs: fever, weight loss, night sweats and profound fatigue
Giant cell arteritis: new headache in someone over 50, scalp tenderness, jaw pain on chewing, sudden visual loss
Small vessel disease: purple non-blanching spots on the legs, blood or protein in urine, nosebleeds and sinus crusting, coughing blood
Nerve involvement: sudden foot drop or wrist drop
Kawasaki disease in children: prolonged fever, red eyes, rash and peeling fingertips

Why it happens

Some forms are primary and autoimmune, others are triggered by infections such as hepatitis B or C, by medicines, or by other rheumatic diseases.

How doctors confirm it

Investigations include inflammatory markers, urine analysis for blood and protein, ANCA and other antibodies, imaging such as ultrasound of the temporal artery, CT or PET, and biopsy of an affected vessel or organ.

Treatments and solutions

High-dose corticosteroids started immediately in sight-threatening or organ-threatening disease, before biopsy results
Tocilizumab as a steroid-sparing treatment for giant cell arteritis
Rituximab or cyclophosphamide for ANCA-associated vasculitis, followed by maintenance therapy
Treating the underlying infection when the vasculitis is secondary
Bone protection, gastric protection and infection prophylaxis during long steroid courses

Living with it day to day

Relapses are common, so know your own early warning signs, keep monitoring urine and blood tests, and never stop steroids abruptly.

When to seek medical help

Seek emergency care for sudden loss of vision, coughing blood, rapidly reduced urine output, or new weakness of a limb.

This article explains general health information in simple language. It does not replace advice from your own doctor.

The words explained

Medical terms used above, in everyday language.

Inflammation: The body's reaction to injury or irritation: redness, swelling, heat or pain.
Symptom: A sign you can feel or see that something is wrong, like pain, tiredness or a rash.
Antibody: A protein your body makes to recognise and neutralise a specific germ.
Relapse / flare-up: A moment when symptoms come back or get worse again.

When should you see a doctor?

Your symptoms last more than a few weeks or keep coming back.
They get worse quickly, or stop you doing everyday things.
You notice sudden pain, breathing trouble, fainting or bleeding — seek urgent care.
You already take medication and want to change anything about it.

This article explains general health information. It does not replace advice from your own doctor.

Frequently asked questions

What is Vasculitis: inflammation of blood vessels?: How large, medium and small vessel vasculitis present, and why early treatment protects organs.
What are the main symptoms or signs of Vasculitis: inflammation of blood vessels?: Common signs vary from person to person. The article above lists the symptoms to watch for, how they progress, and when they need medical attention.
When should you see a doctor for Vasculitis: inflammation of blood vessels?: See a doctor if symptoms last more than a few weeks, get worse quickly, stop you doing everyday things, or if you notice sudden pain, breathing trouble, fainting or bleeding.

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