What is vasculitis?

Vasculitis is a blanket used for a number of diseases, all of which are characterized by inflammation of the walls of blood vessels. It is not a common set of diseases, but it is certainly a reason for concern. Some forms of this condition include Wegener's granulomatosis, Behcet's disease, Kawasaki's disease, Churg-Strauss syndrome, Henoch Schonlein Purpura and Takayasu arteritis. It can also be referred to as angiitis and more specific subgroups can be called either arteritis if arteries are inflamed or venulitis if they are lived. Different forms require different treatments, but generally use steroid treatment at some point to help in recovery. Medicines such as prednisone can be used during initial treatment, as well as immune suppressing substances such as cytoxan. Treatment of this condition is still evolving in a modern medical area, but largely all -treatment focuses on reducing inflammation in arteries and focusing on the organs that have been influenced and helping them to function better.

This condition is usually divided into three main categories: a small blood vessel, a middle vessel and a large vessel. The type of small blood vessel includes Churg-Strauss syndrome and Henoch Schonlein Purpura and may target blood vessels in organs such as skin and lungs. Vasculitis of the middle vessel includes Wegener's granulomatosis and medium attacks as such in the heart and the respiratory system. The type of large container includes Takayas arteritis and primarily affects the aortic blood vessels.

Initial diagnosis of vasculitis is usually performed by laboratory work performed on blood or other body fluids. Depending on the form, irregularities may occur in any number of organs. Once vasculitis is suspected, initialdiagnosis is either confirmed or rejected on the basis of a tissue biopsy from that organ. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the inflammation of the blood vessels will be obvious. Alternative to physical biopsy for medium andGreat vasculitis is the type of X -ray known as arteriography, but in general the biopsy is preferred to provide more evidence.

vasculitis may develop seemingly spontaneously, or can accompany many other diseases or high -risk activities. These include certain types of cancer such as lymphoma; rheumatoid diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis; the use of some chemicals such as cocaine; and certain infections, most often hepatitis B.