Vasculitis is inflammation of the blood vessels. There are many types classified according to the blood vessels affected and the symptoms.
Primary vasculitis occurs for unknown reasons. Secondary vasculitis cases have a recognized underlying cause, including infection, allergic reaction, blood cell cancer, or autoimmune disease. Inflammation affects the blood vessels by causing thickening, weakening, narrowing and scarring. Organs, muscles, and other tissue can be damaged if they do not get enough blood.
Most types of vasculitis include the following symptoms:
1. Fever
2. Fatigue
3. Weight loss
4. Muscle and joint pain
5. Loss of appetite
6. Numbness or weakness
The Mayo Clinic web site provides a list of common vasculitis types with their defining characteristics:
Behcet's syndrome.
Vessels affected: all arteries and veins can be affected.
Symptoms: mouth and genital ulcers, eye inflammation, acne-like skin lesions.
Associated with: age range 20 to 40.
Buerger's disease, or thromboangiitis obliterans.
Vessels affected: blood vessels in arms, hands, legs, feet.
Symptoms: Pain in arms, hands, legs, and feet; ulcers on fingers and toes.
Associated with: cigarette smoking.
Churg-Strauss syndrome, or allergic granulomatosis, or allergic angiitis.
Vessels affected: blood vessels in the lungs.
Associated with: asthma.
Cryoglobulinemia.
Vessels affected: various.
Symptoms: purpura rash on lower extremities, arthritis, weakness, nerve damage.
Associated with: hepatitis C infections.
Giant cell arteritis.
Vessels affected: arteries in head, especially in the temples.
Symptoms: headaches, scalp tenderness, jaw pain while chewing, blurred or double vision.
Associated with: polymyalgia rheumatica.
Henoch-Schonlein purpura, or vascular purpura.
Vessels affected: blood vessels in skin joints, bowel, and kidneys.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, blood in the urine, joint pain, purpura rash on buttocks, legs, and feet.
Associated with: occurs mostly in children, but can affect any age.
Polyarteritis nodosa.
Vessels affected: medium sized blood vessels mostly in the skin, heart, kidneys, muscles, and intestines.
Symptoms: purpura rash, skin ulcers, muscle and joint pain, abdominal pain, kidney damage.
Polymyalgia rheumatica.
Vessels affected: blood vessels in large joints.
Symptoms: pain and stiffness in muscles of the hips, thighs, shoulders, upper arms, and neck.
Associated with: giant cell arteritis, older adults.
Rheumatoid vasculitis.
Vessels affected: various.
Symptoms: complications of rheumatoid arthritis.
Takayasu's arteritis.
Vessels affected: largest arteries in the body, including the aorta.
Symptoms: arm weakness or pain with use, decreased or absent pulses, lightheadedness, headaches, and visual disturbances.
Wegener's granulomatosis.
Vessels affected: blood vessels in the nose, sinuses, throat, lungs and kidneys.
Symptoms: shortness of breath, nasal stuffiness, chronic sinusitis, nosebleeds, ear infections.
The Vasculitis Foundation provides further information at http://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/
Reference:
Vasculitis information from the Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vasculitis/DS00513
Linda Fugate is a scientist and writer in Austin, Texas. She has a Ph.D. in Physics and an M.S. in Macromolecular Science and Engineering. Her background includes academic and industrial research in materials science. She currently writes song lyrics and health articles.