Vasculitis
Vasculitis means "inflammation of the blood vessels".
Inflammation is your immune system's natural response to injury or infection. It causes swelling, and can help the body deal with invading germs.
But in vasculitis, for some reason the immune system attacks healthy blood vessels, causing them to become swollen and narrow. This may be triggered by an infection or medication, although often the cause is unknown.
Vasculitis can range from a minor problem that just affects the skin, to a more serious illness that causes problems with organs such as the heart or kidneys.
There are many types of vasculitis – covered below.
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome)
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, also called Churg-Strauss syndrome, is a type of vasculitis that mainly affects adults aged 30 to 45.
It can cause:
- asthma
- allergic rhinitis (cold-like symptoms caused by allergies)
- a high temperature (fever)
- muscle and joint pain
- tiredness
- loss of appetite and weight loss
It can also affect the nerves, causing weakness, pins and needles or numbness, and it sometimes damages the kidneys or heart muscle. It's usually treated with steroid medication.
The Vasculitis UK website has more information about eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis)
Giant cell arteritis is a type of vasculitis that often affects the arteries in the head and neck. It mostly occurs in adults over the age of 50.
It's sometimes called temporal arteritis because the arteries around the temples are often affected.
It can cause:
- aching and soreness around the temples
- jaw muscle pain while eating
- headaches
- double vision or vision loss
It also commonly occurs alongside polymyalgia rheumatica (see below). The main treatment is steroid medication.
Read more about giant cell arteritis.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis)
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, also called Wegener's granulomatosis, is a type of vasculitis that mainly affects blood vessels in the nose, sinuses, ears, lungs and kidneys. It mainly affects middle-aged or elderly people.
It can cause:
- a high temperature (fever)
- night sweats
- inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis)
- nosebleeds and crusting of the nose
- shortness of breath and coughing up blood
- kidney problems
It's a serious condition that can be fatal if left untreated, as it can lead to organ failure. It's usually treated with steroid medication or other medicines that reduce the activity of the immune system.
Read more about granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Henoch-Schönlein purpura
Henoch-Schönlein purpura is a rare type of vasculitis that usually occurs in children and can affect the skin, kidneys or bowel. It's thought to be triggered by the body reacting to an infection.
It can cause:
- a rash that looks like small bruises or reddish-purple spots
- joint pain
- tummy (abdominal) pain
- diarrhoea and vomiting
- blood in urine or poo
It's not usually serious and tends to get better without treatment.
Read more about Henoch-Schönlein purpura.
Kawasaki disease
Kawasaki disease is a rare condition that can occur in children under five. The trigger is thought to be an infection, although the exact cause is not fully understood.
It can cause:
- a high temperature (fever) that lasts for more than five days
- a rash
- swollen glands in the neck
- red fingers or toes, red eyes, and redness of the lips, tongue or mouth
Kawasaki disease can affect the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart, so some children experience heart problems.
It usually needs to be treated in hospital with aspirin and a treatment called immunoglobulin.
Read more about Kawasaki disease.
Microscopic polyangiitis
Microscopic polyangiitis is a rare and potentially serious long-term type of vasculitis that most often develops in middle-aged people.
It can affect any organ, but particularly affects the lungs, kidneys and nerves.
It can cause:
- a rash
- shortness of breath and coughing up blood
- red and sore eyes
- pins and needles or numbness
- kidney problems
It's usually treated with steroid medication or other medicines that reduce the activity of the immune system.
The Vasculitis UK website has more information about microscopic polyangiitis.
Polyarteritis nodosa
Polyarteritis nodosa is a rare type of vasculitis that particularly affects the arteries supplying the gut, kidneys and nerves. It tends to develop in childhood or in middle-aged people.
It can sometimes be triggered by an infection, such as hepatitis B, but the exact cause is uncertain.
It can cause:
- muscle and joint pain
- tummy (abdominal) pain, particularly after eating
- a rash
- pins and needles or numbness
- bleeding and ulcers in the gut
It can be very serious if not treated. The main treatment is steroid medication, and sometimes other medicines that reduce the activity of the immune system.
The Vasculitis UK website has more information about polyarteritis nodosa.
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Polymyalgia rheumatica is a type of vasculitis that's closely related to giant cell arteritis (see above). It mostly occurs in adults over 50 and is more common in women than men.
It can cause:
- pain and stiffness in the shoulders, neck and hips, which is often worse after waking up
- a high temperature (fever)
- extreme tiredness
- loss of appetite and weight loss
- depression
The main treatment is steroid medication, which is usually used in lower doses than for giant cell arteritis.
Read more about polymyalgia rheumatica.
Takayasu arteritis
Takayasu arteritis is a type of vasculitis that mainly affects young women. It's very rare in the UK. It affects the main artery from the heart, as well as the major arteries branching off it.
It can cause:
- extreme tiredness
- a high temperature (fever)
- weight loss
- muscle and joint pain
- dizziness
- shortness of breath
- painful, numb or cold limbs
Treatment is usually with steroid medication.
The Vasculitis UK website has more information about Takayasu arteritis.
Other types of vasculitis
Other types of vasculitis include:
- Behçet's disease – typically causes mouth ulcers and genital ulcers, and is more common in people from Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, China and Japan
- Buerger's disease – affects blood vessels in the legs and arms, leading to reduced blood flow to the hands and feet; it's closely linked to smoking
- Cogan's syndrome – inflammation of the blood vessels in the inner ears and eyes
- cryoglobulin-associated vasculitis – associated with proteins in the blood called cryoglobulins and can occur after a hepatitis C infection; it causes a rash on the lower limbs, joint pain, nerve damage, tummy (abdominal) pain and kidney problems
- hypersensitivity vasculitis – usually caused by a reaction to a medication, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or certain antibiotics, and results in a temporary rash
- primary angiitis of the central nervous system – inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain
- rheumatoid vasculitis – vasculitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis
Click on the links above for more information on these types of vasculitis.
