Vasculitis is inflammation of blood vessels. It causes changes in the blood vessel walls, including thickening, weakening, narrowing or scarring. These changes can restrict blood flow, resulting in organ and tissue damage.
Vasculitis is also known as angiitis and arteritis.
Types
- Behcets disease
- Buergers disease
- Churg-Strauss syndrome
- Cryoglobulinemia
- Giant cell arteritis
- Granulomatosis with polyangitis
- Henoch- Shonlein purpura
- Kawasaki disease
- Takayasus arteritis
Symptoms
- Fever
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- General aches and pains
- Night sweats
- Rash
- Nerve problems, such as numbness or weakness
Causes
The exact cause of vasculitis isn’t fully understood.
- Infections, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C
- Blood cancers
- Immune system diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and scleroderma
- Reactions to certain drugs
- Smoking
- Having chronic hepatitis B or C infections
- Having some types of autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma or lupus
Complications
- Organ damage
- Blood clots and aneurysms
- Vision loss or blindness
- Infections