What Is Vasculitis?
Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels
in the body. In vasculitis, the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks
the bodys own blood vessels, causing them to become inflamed.
Inflammation can damage the blood vessels and lead to a number of serious
complications.
Vasculitis can affect any of the bodys blood
vessels. These include arteries, veins, and capillaries. Arteries are vessels
that carry blood from the heart to the bodys organs, veins are the
vessels that carry blood back to the heart, and capillaries are the tiny blood
vessels that connect the small arteries and veins.
When a blood vessel becomes inflamed, it can:
- Narrow, making it more difficult for blood to get
through
- Close off completely so that blood cant get
through at all (occlusion)
- In rare cases, stretch and weaken so much that it
bulges (aneurysm) and may possibly burst (aneurysm rupture)
Figure A shows a normal
artery with normal blood flow (the inset image shows a cross-section of the
normal artery). Figure B shows an artery narrowed due to inflammation in the
arterial wall, causing decreased blood flow (the inset image shows a
cross-section of the inflamed artery). Figure C shows a totally occluded
(blocked) artery due to inflammation and scarring in the arterial wall (the
inset image shows a cross-section of the block artery). Figure D shows an
artery containing an aneurysm.
The disruption in blood flow from inflammation can
damage the bodys organs. Specific signs and symptoms depend on which
organ has been damaged and the extent of the damage. Typical signs and symptoms
of inflammation (fever, swelling, and a general sense of feeling ill) are
common among people with vasculitis.
Outlook
The outlook for people who have vasculitis varies
depending on both the type and severity of the vasculitis. The course of a case
of vasculitis can be hard to predict. Treatment is often very effective if
vasculitis is diagnosed and treated early. Vasculitis may disappear or go into
a period of remission. In some cases, it may be a chronic problem, requiring
ongoing treatment, or it may come back (flare) after a period of
remission. In more severe cases, treatment may not help, and vasculitis can
lead to disability or even death.
Much is still unknown about vasculitis. There are
many different types of vasculitis, but overall it is a fairly rare condition
in the general population. Additional research is needed to learn more about
the various types of vasculitis and their causes, treatments, and remission
patterns.
August 2006 |