Vasculitis | Parkview Health

Rheumatology

Vasculitis is inflammation of the blood vessels. This inflammation can damage and narrow the blood vessels, causing a rash, a change in sensation, fatigue, or other symptoms.

Vasculitis has many possible causes, including allergic reactions and certain diseases, such as lupus.

Bleeding from the blood vessel may cause bruises or blood spots under the skin. Vasculitis can decrease blood supply to tissues or organs, causing blood clots, pain, tissue damage, and organ malfunction.

Treatment depends on the cause of the vasculitis. Some cases may be self-correcting. Treatment may include anti-inflammatory medicine.

What can you expect when you have vasculitis?

Vasculitis can cause a wide variety of symptoms. Which ones you have will depend on what blood vessels are involved and how serious the problem is.

Some common symptoms are:

Fever.
Losing weight and not feeling hungry.
General tiredness.
General aches and pains.
Pain and swelling in an arm, a leg, or some other body part where the blood vessels are inflamed.

For some people, the problem is short-term. For others it is long-term, or chronic.

This problem may also go away, only to come back again later.

How is vasculitis treated?

The main goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation in the blood vessels.

Mild cases may go away on their own. Sometimes over-the-counter pain medicine helps. For more severe cases, a doctor might prescribe medicine that reduces inflammation.

Find a rheumatology provider

Parkview Health has rheumatology providers on the Parkview Regional Medical Center campus.

See our providers