It is an inflammatory disease of the veins. It is the inflammation that develops in the vessels that are responsible for the nutrition of organs and tissues and the circulation required for their functions, due to autoimmune causes, and damage to these tissues. Vasculitides can sometimes be limited to a single organ or tissue, such as leukocytoclastic vasculitis limited to the skin. Or, by affecting both the arteries and veins, both large-scale and capillary, they can cause life-threatening failure in many organs, such as: Wegener's granulomatosis, Churge-Strauss vasculitis, Polyarteritis Nodosa, Takayasu' vasculitis.
They can cause a wide variety of symptoms: numbness in the hands and feet, skin rash, shortness of breath, cough, bleeding with urine or stool, eye redness, sudden loss of vision, sudden paralysis, edema, etc.
What causes vasculitis? Does it happen?
It is known that genetic factors are very important in the development of vasculitis. However, the fact that predisposed genes suddenly start producing proteins that cause disease development depends on factors such as environmental factors, which we call epigenetic factors, smoking, and Hepatitis B and C virus infection. The gene region, which was not active until then, starts to work by being triggered by the epigenetic factor, and since the protein structures it produces are perceived as foreign by our immune system, they are tried to be eliminated, which causes inflammation to begin and develop.
>Who gets vasculitis?
It can be seen in all genders and all age groups. Some types may be more common at certain ages or genders. For example, Kawasaki Disease is more common in the childhood age group, and Temporal arteritis is more common in the older age group.
How is vasculitis diagnosed?
A good history taking and examination are the basic diagnostic methods. Blood tests, advanced imaging tests and tissue biopsy may be required to support this. These tests are necessary both to classify vasculitis and to determine the organs and systems it affects. Our treatment will be shaped according to these data.
Vasculitis syndrome Classification is generally done according to the size of the affected vessel. Large vessel vasculitides: temporal arteritis and Takayasu, medium vessel vasculitides: polyarteritis nodosa, Kawasaki disease, small vessel vasculitides: ANCA-related vasculitides (such as Wegener's Granulomatosis, Churge Strauss Syndrome, macroscopic polyangiitis), other rheumatic diseases and vasculitides secondary to cancer, all vessel types Vasculitis that persists: Behçet's disease, vasculitides that remain in a single organ area: isolated central nervous system vasculitis… etc.
How are vasculitides treated?
As soon as vasculitis is diagnosed, the first agent to be given is cortisone preparations. These are the drugs that will most quickly prevent the progression of the disease and the development of organ-tissue damage. After vasculitis is typified and the affected organ-tissue distribution is determined, one or more of the long-acting agents we call DMARDs can be selected. Surgical intervention may be required in some cases, albeit rare, in cases where vasculitis develops.
Since the organ system involvement that can be affected by the diseases under the heading of vasculitis is very wide, patients should be closely monitored, use medications regularly, and take medication without consulting a doctor. It is very important that they do not reduce the dose or stop taking the medication altogether. It is very important that they make all the necessary and recommended life changes to live a healthy life.
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