Symptoms of Vasculitis

Symptoms vary widely depending on which vessels and organs are affected. Common presentations include:

• Fever, fatigue and unexplained weight loss
• Skin changes — rash, purpura, ulcers, or nodules
• Limb pain, numbness or weakness from nerve involvement
• Shortness of breath, cough or chest pain if lungs are affected
• Blood in urine, reduced urine output or kidney dysfunction
• Headache, visual changes or stroke-like symptoms with cerebral involvement

Types & Common Causes

Vasculitis is classified by the size of affected vessels and by specific syndromes. Some well-known types include:

• Large-vessel vasculitis — e.g., Giant Cell (Temporal) Arteritis, Takayasu arteritis
• Medium-vessel vasculitis — e.g., Polyarteritis nodosa, Kawasaki disease
• Small-vessel vasculitis — e.g., ANCA-associated vasculitis (GPA, MPA), IgA vasculitis (Henoch–Schönlein purpura)

Causes may include autoimmune reactions, infections, medications, or malignancies. In many cases, the exact trigger is unknown and the disease is considered idiopathic.

Diagnosis of Vasculitis

Diagnosis requires careful clinical evaluation and targeted investigations to confirm vessel inflammation and organ involvement. Typical tests include:

• Detailed history and physical examination
• Blood tests (ESR, CRP, CBC, renal and liver panels)
• Autoimmune serology (ANCA, ANA, complement levels, cryoglobulins)
• Urinalysis to detect kidney involvement
• Imaging — ultrasound, CT angiography, MR angiography or PET-CT for vessel assessment
• Tissue biopsy (skin, nerve, kidney or temporal artery) — gold standard to confirm vasculitis in many cases

Multidisciplinary collaboration (rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology, neurology) is often necessary for complete evaluation.

Treatment & Management of Vasculitis

Treatment goals are to suppress vessel inflammation, treat organ complications, and prevent relapses. Regimens vary with type and severity but often include:

• High-dose corticosteroids for rapid control of inflammation
• Immunosuppressive agents (methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate) for maintenance
• Cyclophosphamide or rituximab for severe organ-threatening disease
• Plasma exchange in selected cases (e.g., rapidly progressive renal failure)
• Supportive care — blood pressure control, renal support, infection prevention

Long-term follow-up is essential to monitor treatment response, taper medications safely, and detect relapses or therapy side effects.

Prevention, Self-Care & Monitoring

Because vasculitis can be chronic and relapsing, patients should adopt measures that support overall health and enable early detection of flares:

• Regular follow-up visits and laboratory monitoring
• Vaccinations as advised (timed around immunosuppression)
• Prompt treatment of infections and avoiding exposure when immunosuppressed
• Healthy lifestyle — balanced diet, exercise, smoking cessation
• Report new symptoms early (fever, weight loss, unexplained rashes, hematuria, shortness of breath)

Why Choose Dr. Aditi Patankar Deshpande for Vasculitis Care?

Dr. Aditi Patankar Deshpande offers specialised care for vasculitis with a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach. With expertise in systemic autoimmune diseases and experience managing complex, organ-threatening cases, she provides accurate diagnosis, evidence-based treatment plans, and close long-term monitoring to preserve organ function and improve patient outcomes.