About this topic
Vasculitis causes swelling in the blood vessels. This happens when the immune system attacks the blood vessels by mistake. Vasculitis can affect any of the bodys blood vessels. If the blood vessels are damaged, blood may not be able to get to parts of the body where it is needed. This can cause organ and tissue death. There are many types of vasculitis. Some may be very mild and last only a short time. Others may be more serious or even life-threatening and last for a long time. ‚
Some people have vasculitis along with some other illness, like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Sometimes, an infection or some other drug you are taking can cause this problem. Signs depend on the type of vasculitis you have. Some include fever, feeling tired, or joint and muscle pain. You may have numbness or weakness in parts of your body, like the hands or feet. Red spots may appear on your skin. Early diagnosis and treatment will give you a better outcome. Drugs may be needed to keep it under control. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Rest when tired. Walking and doing aerobics are good things to do to keep your body strong. Talk to your doctor about a program that is right for you.
- Talk with your doctor if you are having any side effects from the drugs you are taking.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. You may need more tests. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Control the immune system
- Kill the cells that are causing the inflammation
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Organ or tissue damage
- Brain, heart, or kidney problems
- Skin ulcers
- Vasculitis comes back
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Problems breathing or feeling short of breath
- Hands or feet feeling numb or weak
- Feeling very tired or weak
- Feeling anxious, having a low mood or lots of stress
Helpful tips
Join a support group. Learn how others have coped with this health problem. ‚
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what I can do to help keep my body strong.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have trouble breathing, or my hands or feet are numb or weak.
Where can I learn more?
American College of Rheumatology ‚
http://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Diseases_And_Conditions/Vasculitis/ ‚
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/vas/ ‚
National Organization for Rare Diseases ‚
https://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/705/viewAbstract ‚
The Vasculitis Foundation ‚
http://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/education/forms/vasculitis/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚